You are enough
Do you ever feel like you’re not enough? If so, you’re not alone.
Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects that pushed me far outside my comfort zone—into the unknown, into the unprecedented, into places that neither I nor my team had ever been before. And don’t get me wrong—I love that. Maybe I’m even wired for it. I thrive in ambiguity. I chase the novel. But this time, something was different.
Instead of that fleeting moment of self-doubt—like a stray cloud passing across a bright summer sky—this feeling lingered. It settled in, thick and unmoving, like a marine layer rolling in over my day. It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t crushing. It was just… there. A quiet whisper beneath the surface, telling me that maybe this was all too much. That maybe, I wasn’t enough.
At first, I tried to push through, looking for external signals to contradict what I was feeling. Feedback loops, affirmation from the work itself, reassurance from others. But instead, I kept hearing this same story playing on repeat in my mind: You should be able to figure this out. Others have. Why can’t you? And eventually, that voice distilled into something even sharper, more insidious: You are not enough.
The Power of Stories
Here’s the thing about identity—it’s made up of stories. Some of them are ancient, passed down from generation to generation. Some are newer, shaped by personal triumphs and failures. Some sneak in quietly, without us even realizing it, until one day they’re just there, shaping the way we see ourselves.
Over time, these stories get simplified by our brains, solidifying into beliefs. And beliefs are powerful. Sometimes they drive us forward. Sometimes they sabotage us. But because they get wired so deeply, they don’t feel like beliefs—they just feel like truth. They feel like part of our essence, our soul, our spirit. And when a belief like “I am not enough” takes root, it doesn’t just affect our thoughts—it affects our bodies, too.
For me, the weight of that belief started to manifest physically as anxiety. And while I wasn’t ignoring the signals, I also didn’t quite know what to do with them. I had never felt this level of anxiousness before. And paradoxically, I was also completely enamored with the work I was doing—work that felt deeply connected to who I am. The idea of stepping away never even crossed my mind.
But eventually, a major, unexpected transition forced me to. And when I did, something became clear: That belief was never true. It was never me. It was just a story I had been telling myself.
Rewriting the Narrative
The funny thing about stories is that they can take on a life of their own. They start subtly, whispering in the background, until they become the overarching narrative. A narrative that isn’t you. A narrative that isn’t true.
So how do we rewrite them?
For me, it started before I ever left that work. I began practicing something simple but profound: focusing on my strengths instead of my perceived weaknesses. Not in a way that ignored growth, but in a way that let go of what was not me. I started paying attention to the things that were uniquely mine—the things that would be missing if I weren’t there.
I also started sharing my experience with others. And here’s what I found: they were feeling the same way. The moment I opened up, I realized I wasn’t alone. And sometimes, speaking fears out loud robs them of their power.
Then, I started journaling. A simple two-column practice. In one column, I wrote down what I was feeling. In the other, I wrote what was true. Affirmations, facts, reminders of my worth. And little by little, I began rewriting the story.
The Other Side
Then I felt the marine layer begin to lift. The sun started to break through, reminding me who I was. And from that place—free from the weight of that false belief—I felt something else return: generosity, creativity, gratitude. The things that flow naturally when you’re not weighed down by a story that was never meant to be yours.
And that’s the thing. If you feel stuck in an “I Am” statement that’s holding power over you, there’s nothing wrong with you. That tension you feel in your body? It’s not a sign that you’re broken. It’s a signal. A message that there’s something to explore, something to examine, something to redefine.
It’s important to acknowledge something fundamental: your value as a human being is intrinsic. It is not something you have to earn. It does not depend on your productivity, your accomplishments, or what others think of you. You are enough simply because you exist. This is the foundation upon which we must rebuild when false narratives try to tell us otherwise.
Shifting the "I Am" Statements
Here’s how you can shift some of the most common limiting "I Am" statements:
I am what I have → I am enough without external validation.
I am what I do → I am valuable beyond my productivity.
I am what others think of me → I am worthy regardless of outside opinions.
I am my past mistakes → I am growing and evolving every day.
I am my fears and doubts → I am stronger than my struggles.
Tools for Rewriting Your Story
If you’re feeling stuck in an old narrative, try these practices to start rewriting your story:
Journaling: Use a two-column method—one for the limiting belief, one for the truth.
Speaking It Out Loud: Share your thoughts with someone you trust. Fear loses its grip when spoken.
Daily Affirmations: Repeat positive statements that reinforce your new belief.
Reframing Your Perspective: Ask yourself, "What if the opposite of this belief were true?"
Noticing the Physical Cues: Your body often signals when a belief is misaligned—listen to it.
The question I would leave you with is: Is the story you’re telling yourself getting you where you want to go? And if not, it’s time to begin the journey of rewriting your story.
