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You Are More Than Enough

by Mario A. Campanaro

You Are More Than Enough

by Mario A. Campanaro

We all have a story within us where we feel like we haven’t been supported in our artistic endeavors. My response to that is this: when we don’t have the support of others, it rarely has anything to do with us personally. More often than not, it stems from someone’s own precious little ego and their insecurities—viewing the world through the lens of competition and comparison. This perspective often reflects what they are or aren’t truly committing to, truly investing in, or truly showing up for with the sweat-equity and action required for the very things they say they want.

We live in a time where people would rather show support on potentially toxic social media platforms for complete strangers—and let me be clear, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. But what is wrong is when that support comes at the expense of uplifting their own artistic community, their circle of friends, their creative ensemble, their tribe. That is the part I don’t understand. To me, that goes against everything it means to be an actor and an artist. We are supposed to soar on the wings of collaboration, not collapse under the weight of competition.

What happened to the days when we celebrated each other for taking creative risks—no matter the outcome? When we cheered each other on for daring to do something so complex, so vulnerable, and so brave? That said, we can no longer wait for or depend on external approval to define our worth, justify our artistic journey, or keep our creative fire burning. We must learn how to give ourselves that support.

We have to fully understand that everything and anything we want to realize in our lives lies in our own capable and responsible hands. We must be accountable for what we desire. We must take ownership of being our own cheerleader, our own teacher, our own healer, our own support system, our own best friend, our own creative warrior. And if any one of these is missing, we have work to do. Not to shame ourselves, but to become whole—so we can be our own source of strength.

This doesn’t mean others don’t matter or that we can’t receive support from them, but we cannot make others our starting point. I truly believe we’ve been given everything we need to achieve what we desire. Sometimes life throws us obstacles—not to stop us, but to test us. To ask: Do you really want this? Are you really willing to uncover your own power to achieve it? Can you transform adversity into blessing?

Sometimes it takes pressure and self-sufficiency to turn coal into a diamond. If I had listened to what everyone told me my outcome would be when I was sick with a devastating illness, I wouldn’t be here. I had to dig deep. I had to face my demons and learn how to become my own cheerleader, teacher, healer, support system, best friend, and warrior. And I’m still learning. It’s a lifelong process.

I had to ask: What in me was allowing these obstacles to keep happening? The answer: I hadn’t grown beyond them. What in me was stopping me from understanding my potential? I was. What in me made the world feel dark? I was holding that darkness inside. What in me made the world feel limiting? I was limiting myself with my own belief system. I was relying on the external to give me what only the internal could. I didn’t trust that I could do for myself what I believed only others could do for me.

But once I allowed myself to examine these patterns—the stories in my mind—I began transforming my inner world. And as I did, my outer world began to shift too. Little by little. Step by step. Moment by moment. One day at a time. Yes, that growth came with pain. But what I’ve learned is this: the more I looked to others to give me what only I could give myself, the more I gave away my power. The more I searched for answers “out there,” the more obstacles I encountered “in here.”

But the more I turned inward, the more I realized that everything I was searching for was already inside me. I just needed the courage to let go of conditioning and trust myself. I needed the fire of truth to recognize that I am worthy. I needed the strength to know that I am my own healer. I needed the heart to look in the mirror and say, “Yeah… you’ve got some work to do.” And then, most importantly, I needed the will to actually do it.

We’ve been taught and conditioned to believe that everything we need is out there—that someone else has the answer, that a book or a map will show us the way. That a doctor, guru, or mentor will fix our lives. But what we’re not told is that the answer is us. When the Universe hands us a mirror, we must be brave enough to look into it and ask what it’s showing us. Our external world mirrors our internal world. If we want to transform our circumstances, we must start by transforming within.

We are our own path—if we’re willing to walk it. We are our own answer—if we’re willing to accept the truth of our power. We are the very thing that either blocks or unleashes our desires. And this isn't some self-help cliché. This is our birthright. This is the gift we’ve been given.

No matter what the circumstances are, there’s always a way—if there’s a will. As long as we hold ourselves accountable, take responsibility, have the courage to confront our shadows, and cultivate the self-love to change, we can create anything. Anything. As long as it aligns with our purpose and contributes to something greater than ourselves, we are more than capable.

We are creative beings by nature. That’s how we were made. And because we are creative beings, we have the ability to shape the life we want. We have the power to create alchemy—to take the raw elements of our experiences and turn them into something extraordinary. We are warriors for our vision, for our highest good, and for the good of others.

The only thing standing in our way is our ego—and the false belief system we've inherited that tells us we’re not enough. But here’s the truth: We are more than enough. We always have been. Now it's time to do the work—to believe it, accept it, trust it, and live it.