The Zen of Why It’s Okay Just to Be Okay... for Artists and Everyone

Tranquility Collage

I’m learning to accept myself. I’m still in the process of learning to love who I am. And it’s been refreshing and nice to be able to do that and to be okay. I think my fans have brought that out in me.

— Dua Lipa

For thirty years, I’ve been in the trenches with artists—not wielding a brush myself but wielding a different kind of creative power: the power of helping artists navigate the business side of their passion. My battlefield has been the business side, where I have helped countless artists navigate the sometimes-treacherous waters of marketing and building a sustainable career.

Over countless consulting and brainstorming sessions, I’ve witnessed the relentless pursuit of greatness that burns within many artistic souls. But there’s also a secret I’ve learned—and the one I want to share with you today: It’s okay just to be okay.

Problems Pursuing Perfection

In the constant pursuit of excellence within our creative lives, it’s easy to become entangled in the belief that only perfection carries value. This relentless quest can overshadow the intrinsic worth found in the act of creation itself.

But there’s a liberating truth rooted in Zen philosophy that offers a counterpoint: the…