I remember the first time this thought came through me. I hadn't ever heard or read it that I remembered, but it resonated like a bright and peaceful chord. I am enough. You are enough. WE...are enough.
All of the tools and tips I have researched, written about, studied, taught, and practiced to learn and help others learn how to be more of this or less of that have their value, yes. I would rather feel inspired than complacent any day. I am also grateful and relieved that I have grown to be gentler with myself as I strive to be a better person today than the one I was yesterday. But when I get caught up in comparisons, self-judgement, and too much striving, however, it can leave me stymied and fearful to act.
That is when I have to tell myself, "You are enough." Right now, you are good, young, loved, inspired, educated, experienced, etc. enough to go out in the world and make a positive difference. Not try to make a difference. To make a REAL difference through trying.
I feel so sad when I think about all the times I could have sang out from my heart at this or that event but didn't because I didn't think I was good enough. Will people think that I think I am "all that" because I am singing with everything I have got? And what if I sound badly or make a mistake? Geez, what a mindgame! One that keeps me from trying, making mistakes, and improving, just as I would advise my children to do.
Start. Try. Mess up. Learn. Grow. Improve. Give others permission to do the same.
There is the famous quote from A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
― Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"
While I ADORE this quote and it may be true that we are afraid of success and power, what if we don't show up as brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Are we still worthy of being heard, sharing, TRYING, and doing our current best?
Of course! And yet, how many of us hold back for fear of judgement from self or others of not being fill-in-your-word-here enough?
We need all hands on deck. Our society and world needs people to give what they have got to the benefit of our planet. People need to feel safe to imperfectly share what they have to offer, to love their way through the glitches, and have support on their way to fabulous.
I am grateful I was able to get my family to attend the school's talent show the other day, even though my kids didn't perform. It was a nostalgic and humbling joy to see kids get up on stage brave, shaky, practiced, improvised, and TRYING. For those who weren't happy with their performance, my prayer is that they give themselves big props for trying, figure out what they could do differently, and find an opportunity to do it again. For my kids, I hope it empowers them to give it a go next year.
It is people giving of themselves, imperfectly OR brilliantly, that gives me the permission and the responsibility to do the same. To take the risk. To produce instead of just consume. To try. And to know that even though I can always work harder, practice more, develop skills, and improve, that right here, right now, what I have to offer is valuable and worth sharing.
I am enough. And so are YOU!
Thanks for reading!
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