According to the Merriam Webster dictionary the term ‘inadequate’ is defined as “not enough or good enough or insufficient.”

Well, this description illuminates what many of us experience in so many aspects in our lives. I know that I have felt inadequate several times: inadequate financially, insufficient towards my siblings or not good enough for my partner. Sometimes we do not even need a reason but we end up feeling empty as though we are lacking in so many ways. You look at your body and its not just where you want to be, you look at your house and it just appears never tidy enough or lacking in the appliances you want. Or, you have practiced on your talent but still something is missing, other times your mental state is just broken. The only thing left to do is sit around and mop, sulk and cry.

I believe we feel inadequate when we do not meet our expectations or others expectations of us. Of course we are not tied to meet anybody else’s expectations but somehow human nature drives us into feeling responsible that we should do so. In my own philosophy, I perceive that we feel low, sad, anxious, depressed and inadequate because we feel the need to be perfect. Perfect in our marriages, in our homes, at work, in our talents or to our husbands, parents, relatives and children. In seeking to attain this perfection, we breakdown emotionally.

Well, we both know that the perfect life that we so much seek or dream after is unattainable by all measure. For this reason, how do we handle inadequacy?

We accept that everything is inadequate; that there is no perfection: not even in nature itself. Look at the analogy of an artist. An artist can come up with a piece that he or she believes is a masterpiece and walks out with pride to his/her audience knowing that they would love his/her work. However, the audience behaves the opposite and considers it unworthy. Beaten by his/her emotions -feeling inadequate and untalented- goes to the studio with frustration makes something that he/she would easily throw it out as garbage. Surprisingly, when he/she showcases it, the audience loves it more.

“Who cares about perfection? Even the moon is full of craters. The sea? too salty and dark in depths. The sky?always so infinite. The most beautiful things are not perfect. “ _{Bob Marley}

Life is the like the artist, in that we thrive and become better people through what we deem and feel inadequate. When we see our bodies not looking good, we will cry but work on it and go to the gym leading us to a better healthy lifestyle. When we look at our kids and feel that we cannot give them what they want, we will wake up tomorrow -despite the frustration – and strive to work for their betterment. When we feel empty, we will put on some good music and dance to the fine tunes.

Through feeling inadequate we attain our utopia of overcoming our fears, downfalls and expectations. We march towards body goals, couple goals, marriage goals, education goals among others. Thus, we define inadequacy not as the feeling of insufficiency or not being good enough but as being abundant in strength to overcome our inadequacies.