you are enough

There was a time when I didn’t believe it. Not even close.

No matter how much effort I put in or how hard I tried to meet everyone's expectations, it never felt like enough. The word “enough” became a constant shadow that followed me around looming over every conversation, every interaction, and every goal I chased. It seemed as though I was always just shy of it, like the bar was always set just beyond my reach.

I started to measure my worth in tasks completed, grades achieved, likes on social media, and the approval of others. It felt as though the world had drawn an invisible checklist for me, and I wasn’t hitting the marks. The thoughts came crashing in like a tidal wave: Why can’t I do better? Why don’t I look like that? Why am I never enough?

The more I tried to conform to everyone’s standards, the more I lost sight of who I really was. Self-esteem? It was fragile cracked and fading, barely holding on. I became afraid to look at myself in the mirror, afraid of the reflection that stared back, because it was filled with doubts and disappointments. My inner critic spoke louder than any words of encouragement ever could. And when you believe, deep down, that you’re not enough, every mistake feels like confirmation of that fear.

But here’s the thing: that narrative wasn’t the truth. It felt true because I had spent so much time feeding it, nurturing the belief that I wasn’t worthy. But there’s a powerful shift that happens when you stop and realize something: you are enough, just as you are.

The turning point didn’t come like a flash of light. It was more like a slow, gentle awakening. One day, after hitting what felt like the millionth wall of self-doubt, I heard a friend say something so simple yet so profound: “You are enough.” It didn’t resonate at first, but as the days went by, that phrase began to replay in my mind.

What if it were true? What if I was enough? Just as I am flaws, imperfections, and all.

I began to unpack what that could mean for me. Maybe being enough wasn’t about doing everything perfectly or meeting every expectation. Maybe it was about recognizing the value that already existed within me, regardless of what I accomplished or how I compared to others.

I started to sit with that thought. For the first time in a long time, I tried giving myself permission to just be. Not striving, not pushing, not comparing. Just being. In that space, I realized that my worth was never tied to my achievements or how others saw me. My worth was inherent. I had been enough all along I just didn’t see it because I had been too focused on external validation.

If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t enough, I understand how deeply it can hurt. It’s like carrying around a weight that no one else sees, a quiet burden you feel at the core of your being. But I’m here to tell you what someone once told me: you are enough.

You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Your value isn’t something that fluctuates based on what you do or how you measure up. It’s not about being the smartest, the prettiest, or the most successful. It’s about accepting yourself as you are flawed, imperfect, human. Because even in your imperfections, you are worthy. You are deserving of love, respect, and happiness.

The world may try to convince you otherwise. It may present you with images, messages, and standards that seem impossible to reach. But your worth isn’t determined by those things. Your worth comes from the fact that you exist. Right now, in this moment, as you read these words you are enough.

It’s not easy to embrace this idea, especially when self-doubt has been a constant companion. But the more you tell yourself, “I am enough,” the more it begins to sink in. Slowly, the weight lifts. Slowly, the cracks in your self-esteem begin to heal.

So, take a deep breath. Know that your value isn’t tied to your productivity or your perfection. You are enough in your messiness, in your successes, in your quiet moments, and in your loud ones. You are enough in your fears, your courage, your scars, and your triumphs.

The world doesn’t need a perfect version of you it needs you. The real you. And that’s more than enough.