“I am not good enough.”
We’ve all heard this phrase, and we’ve probably said it to ourselves at some point. But guess what?
All of the people we admire and look up to have said this exact phrase to themselves and one day changed their minds about themselves.
So why do we keep telling ourselves that we’re not good enough?
Our inner dialogue can often be very damaging and detrimental to our happiness and success in life.
A few of the most common thoughts that we have are: “I’m not smart enough,” “I’m not talented enough,” or “I’m not pretty enough.”
These thoughts might sound harmless at first, but they can damage your confidence and keep you from reaching your full potential.
Isaac Asimov once said, “And above all things, never think that you’re not good enough yourself. A man should never think that. My belief is that in life people will take you at your own reckoning.”
You have more to give, share, and create than you will ever realise.
We are all work in progress: uncovering who we are day by day and learning to become the best versions of ourselves, not perfect versions.
“You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously,” says Sophia Bush.
Some of us are more comfortable in our skins and do more of what makes us come alive despite our flaws.
Everyone, even the best artists among us, has shortcomings.
But they don’t allow everything wrong with their work or themselves to take over their lives.
We all have insecurities, but they can hold us back from living our best life when they become a negative mindset. If we’re not good enough for ourselves, how can we be good enough for anyone else?
There is no such thing as not being good enough. The lie we’ve been sold over and over again is that we aren’t capable of doing something, or we’re not qualified enough or not “enough” in some other way.
That’s a lie because we are always enough.
We all can do whatever it takes to be successful– even if success means making mistakes, taking risks pr embracing our imperfections.
It starts with believing in yourself and understanding what you are worth. When you start living your truth, magic happens!
Whoever you are, whatever you do, just do you. Get comfortable being yourself and stop worrying about what people think.
No one can stop you from doing more of what brings out the best in you without your permission. Despite your shortcomings, you are good enough.
But it’s up to you to activate that mindset.
You alone are responsible for how your life turns out. So don’t give anyone that much power to determine what becomes of your finite life on earth.
Learning to be “good enough” is a skill
“People will try to label you not good enough, too slow, too old, too many mistakes. You can’t stop negative comments or prevent negative labels, but you can choose not to let them hold you back.” — Joel Osteen
Don’t convince yourself that you are not good enough or capable of anything. It’s a lie that starts as a seed and grows over time.
Until you get rid of it and start over, you will continue to think worse of yourself. You deserve better.
You know who you are and what you want in life. So why do you allow such a degrading mindset to take over your life?
The pursuit of a good or better life is a singular calling: you alone determine the trajectory of your life. You are more than enough to do exactly what you want for a meaningful life.
Good enough is subjective: it’s personal. You alone define what it means to you — not a family member, colleague or stranger.
The only limitation is what you’ve placed on yourself. You set the boundaries. So, if you feel you are not good enough, get to work on your mind and change that mindset. Silence your inner critic.
If you are not happy with the direction of your life, change it. If you are not happy with who you are becoming, reinvent yourself.
Whatever you do, choose yourself and be content that every life is different. Everyone is perfectly imperfect, but many people have embraced that and done wonders with their lives.
Always remember, every time you catch yourself thinking you are not worthy or good enough, replace that thought with the many small wins that have led to who you are now. And focus on the actions you can take now to build a more prosperous, deeper and more meaningful life.
Remind yourself, “Today you are enough. Yesterday, you were enough. Tomorrow you will be enough. There is nothing more you need to do or be to be enough,” says Christine Sharpe, author of 45 Days of Courage.
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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.
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