Somewhere along the line most of us have gotten the message, “I am not (fill in the blank) enough” What is that voice in your head telling you. We all have a different blank that we fill in with. I’m not good enough, smart enough, thin enough, strong enough, experienced enough, popular enough, athletic enough, talented enough, successful enough, rich enough, whatever enough. It’s a voice that for most of us started in childhood, and has become the voice of our inner critic speaking in our own tone and manner, and is shame and fear based. Based on the shame and fear that if “they” really knew me, “they” would never accept me, when the truth is we don’t accept ourselves. We feel we are somehow faulty. I remember growing up feeling that no matter what I did it was never going to be enough, so I’d just try harder, longer, pour my all into it, and still it was not enough. It was never enough, and I carried that into adulthood.
Recently I was at a workshop and as an entire group, in a safe environment, we exposed our vulnerabilities to each other as we proclaimed which area we felt we were not “enough” in, and I have to say it took me by surprise. There were people there that I greatly admire, leaders in their field of business, and when it was their turn to share their inner demon I was quite frankly shocked. I would never have suspected what I heard, and in that moment I knew I was not alone, and that if I could see that they are more than enough in whatever area, then that meant I am enough too. Demons don’t do well when exposed to light. It became a very sacred moment as people let themselves be seen. The vulnerability present in that room was real; we all felt it. And I realized I am part of a community called humanity, and we all in some way, shape, or form, feel we are not enough in some area of our lives, and it’s a lie.
I am also part of a community of servant leaders who are striving to banish those demons, to take back our power, to own who we are, and share ourselves, our truth, and our precious vulnerability with others, and to encourage and empower the people we so deeply care about: family, friends, colleagues, and clients to do the same.
Breaking News: Today I am enough. I won’t live the lie that says I’m not. I embrace my who, and all that I am, and yes, most definitely yes, I am more than enough, and so are you!
Leslie Evans
