Do You Believe You Are Enough?

This post was written by CoachJulieRN on December 10, 2009
Posted Under: Self-Improvement

Do you believe that as a human being you are wonderful, amazing and infinitely valuable?

Do you believe that what you do adds value to the world and that whatever you do is enough?

Are you able to see how accomplished you are and appreciate how much you have achieved in your life already?

Lately, I have been dealing with a personal, internal battle. It feels weird. On one hand, I know that I have designed a great life. I have overcome many hardships and personal struggles. I have accomplished many things. I am successful. And today, my life is good, enjoyable, easy.

On the other hand, I have this constant tug that I should be doing more, that it’s not enough, that I am not enough. I keep looking for something to change or for something to do differently. There’s a sense that I need to do more, that I should be pushing or working harder.

Everywhere, I see the negatives – the things I cannot do, the things I am not good at, the things I don’t have (yet) and the things that will be challenging. I label them ‘difficult’ or tell myself, “I can’t,” “It is too hard,” or “I do not have the strength.” I hear this voice telling me, “You should be there/have that already!”

All of these thoughts distract me and keep me from being productive; they increase my stress and feelings of overwhelm and discontent.

Around me people are shuffling and struggling. I try to settle into my life. To be okay with what IS. To try not to force things to be different – or for me to be different.

What if life is okay as it is? What if it IS enough? What if I AM enough? What if I gave up the struggle and just learned to enjoy, be at peace, accept where I am at this point in my life as being perfect for me??

Then there’s a voice that cries “but wait! That sounds like complacency and ‘complacency does not breed excellence!’”

This is true. But acceptance of life and of me as I am is the first step. Then from this place, I can choose a direction to head; I can choose what still needs some work or how I might want to improve – not out of fear or thinking I am not enough, but rather to do more with what I already am and what I already have.

“Enough-ness” is a human, inner battle fought by most of us. No matter what we do, it just doesn’t seem to be enough. There’s more – there’s always more that we could do or think we should do. There is a feeling or sense that who we are is not who we should be and so we believe that who we are is not good enough.

When is enough enough? When do we get to enjoy the freedom of being ourselves and relish in what we’ve created with our lives without striving for more or something different? It seems to be so challenging to just ‘be with’ or enjoy ourselves as we are right here, right now.

And yet that is precisely our calling. That is exactly what we are seeking – to enjoy this moment, to be at peace with ourselves, to be okay with who we are and what we have created for ourselves – NOW.

The little voice in your head that tells you that you are not enough or are not doing enough, notice it, smile, and let it go. Just notice. It is just a thought. It’s not truth. Celebrate the fact that you observed this thought and give yourself a pat on the back.

Contemplate the possibility that you ARE enough - because you ARE,
That whatever you do IS enough because it IS,
And that you are wonderful just AS YOU ARE. You are unique and rare and infinitely valuable. There is no one like you which makes you the BEST at being YOU.