A Lesson on Being ‘Good Enough’ from My Toddler

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Recently, I had a revelation while watching my son, Leo, engage in playtime. He was scattered across the living room floor, surrounded by his toys, and began to insert colored markers into a plastic ball he received for his birthday. The outcome? A delightfully colorful and spiky creation that had him captivated for nearly five minutes—a remarkable feat for a little one!

What struck me most was the sheer joy radiating from him once he finished. His eyes sparkled with excitement, and he broke into applause for his own work. It was a little celebration, completely unprompted.

It’s easy to imagine someone stepping in and suggesting Leo could’ve done more—maybe he should’ve arranged the markers by color or balanced them more artfully. But here’s the thing: Leo wouldn’t have cared. He was already proud of his creation, and it didn’t matter if anyone else noticed or approved. His happiness came from the joy of creating, not from seeking validation.

Reflecting on my own life, I often find myself being overly critical. I’m constantly striving for perfection and feeling disappointed when I don’t measure up to my own high standards. When I finally accomplish something, I still find flaws, focusing on what I could’ve done better instead of celebrating my efforts.

If I were in Leo’s shoes, I would’ve scrutinized my selection of markers, regretting my choices and worrying about the lack of admiration. Why do I let the absence of approval or perfection dictate my self-worth? This mindset drains my joy and leaves me feeling unfulfilled. Chasing after perfection is like trying to catch smoke; it’s simply unattainable.

Many of us are too hard on ourselves, and it’s time to take a page out of Leo’s book. We should allow ourselves to feel joy and pride in our accomplishments, embracing the beauty in our efforts. Whether it’s looking in the mirror and appreciating how we look—even with that one stubborn hair out of place—or recognizing that we tackled a tough day filled with challenges, we need to validate our hard work.

At the end of the day, we should feel at peace knowing that our efforts were enough. Enjoying the completion of a project, regardless of whether anyone else notices, is key. It’s essential to remember that our achievements hold value, even if they don’t meet someone else’s standards.

Maybe, just maybe, if we learn to be less critical of ourselves, we’ll find a little light returning to our lives and even feel comfortable celebrating our successes—perhaps with a little clapping.

In the future, I hope I can remind Leo of this lesson when he comes to me feeling inadequate. I want him to know that it’s okay to take joy in what he’s done, regardless of perfection or external validation.

Let’s not overlook the worth in our actions and who we are—there’s beauty there, and we shouldn’t take it for granted. And who knows? Maybe we’ll find ourselves clapping for our own little victories.

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Summary: Observing my son, Leo, play and find joy in his creation has taught me the importance of embracing our achievements and recognizing our worth beyond perfection. Instead of being our harshest critics, we should celebrate our efforts and allow ourselves to feel good enough, just like our toddlers do.