Not Good Enough

There are days in ballet when the mirror feels like your biggest bully, judging every aspect of your dancing. Every lifted shoulder, every turned-in leg, and every shaky balance scream something louder than the music: you are not good enough.

If you're reading this, maybe you've felt it too — that sinking feeling in your stomach after class when all you can think about is how terrible you were. That ache of wanting to be great, but feeling like you're always falling short.

It makes you wonder whether something you are so passionate about is even worth putting attention into, because the art form doesn't seem to return the same passion you pour into it.

But here’s the truth that took me a long time to accept: feeling not good enough doesn't mean you aren't good enough.

Ballet is hard. It’s one of the most demanding, tiring, and painful art forms and sports in the world. If you think about it, ballet requires you to rely on your toes to support your entire body. It’s also heavily built on discipline, perfectionism, and a relentless pursuit of something always just out of reach. So it makes sense that doubt creeps in. It makes sense that some days feel like defeat.

Your value as a dancer isn't in the height of your arabesque or in how your teacher views you. It’s in the hard work and diligence. It’s in the way you fall in love with the movement, how you push through sore muscles and aches. It's in the courage that makes you dance for yourself.

Progress in ballet is quiet. And sometimes, the biggest leaps aren’t made onstage, but in the mindset shift from I'm not good enough to I'm getting better.

So if today is one of those days—when the mirror is your biggest critic—take a deep breath. Know that you are not alone. And remember: your love for ballet is reason enough to keep going.