Creative Warriors

I’m as guilty as anyone for saying “good isn’t good enough.” Our society encourages people to be the best they can be; even capitalism is based on the idea that everything has to be exceptional. But perfectionism can stop us from even beginning. The acceptance that we are good enough now is critical to success in our work. We’re all made up of incongruences, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not good enough or worthy enough to begin. Those of us from diverse backgrounds are especially susceptible to feelings of inadequacy. We have no idea what amazing idea is about to come. To be open to creativity, we have to release the need to know how something will end. The important part is starting. You have to realize that failure is part of the process- it leads to relationships, ideas, and loyalty. If you can’t try, then you at least need to “try to try.” To understand this concept more clearly, I had a conversation with an expert on diversity and self-acceptance: Jessica Pettitt. Jessica, M.Ed., CSP, pulls together