You Are Enough
There was a time when I constantly questioned my worth. No matter how hard I worked or how much I achieved, it never felt like enough. The voice in my head whispered, ‘You aren’t good enough,’ or similar variations of the same sentiment and for years, I believed it. But the truth is, self-doubt is a thief of joy, stealing our potential before we even realize how capable we are. If you’ve ever felt this way, know that you are not alone—and more importantly, know that you are enough. There was a time that I struggled to even face my reflection in the mirror or had enough courage to unapologetically love and accept myself, flaws and all. But in the midst of my journey of healing, I discovered that an integral part of growing, healing, and evolving required me to learn to love, accept, and appreciate myself. I had to start by owning who I am and learning to accept the fact that in my uniqueness, I am enough. I didn’t need more or less of anything to be worthy. I had to really work to develop my sense of worthiness, because even now self-doubt can develop and further nurture the seed of unworthiness which ultimately made me feel like I was not enough.
Self-doubt often creeps in silently, affecting how we see ourselves and how we approach life. It tells us we’re not smart enough to pursue our dreams, not skilled enough to take on new opportunities, or not worthy of love and success. This constant mental battle can leave us feeling drained and disconnected from our true potential. The more we feed these thoughts, the more they begin to shape our reality. Self doubt can show up as limited beliefs like, “I’ll never be able to get a job making that much” or “ I’ll never find the person of my dreams” or even something like “ I’ll never be as attractive as … “ . When you doubt yourself and confirm it by creating a limiting belief, it’s like building a wall between you and your potential—each brick made of fear, insecurity, and false assumptions that keep you from stepping into the fullness of who you are meant to be.
Where does this voice of self-doubt come from? For many, it’s rooted in past experiences—maybe a time when someone made us feel small or unworthy. For others, it’s the constant comparison to others, especially in the age of social media. We see others’ highlights and forget that everyone has their own struggles. Sometimes, these doubts are so deeply ingrained that we begin to believe they are facts about ourselves, rather than fleeting thoughts.
The good news is that self-doubt, while powerful, isn’t permanent. We can challenge these negative thoughts and replace them with affirmations of our worth. It starts with recognizing when these thoughts arise and questioning them: ‘Is this really true? Am I really not enough, or am I simply afraid of failure?’ By reframing our inner dialogue, we can slowly shift from self-criticism to self-compassion. I challenged myself to keep track of my negative thoughts in a journal for a day. From there, I began to identify the recurring thoughts that weighed on me each day—thoughts that shaped how I viewed myself and my capabilities. It was as if I had been carrying an invisible backpack filled with doubt, and each time I questioned myself, another stone was added to the load. I knew I had to do the work of unpacking that weight, so I started digging deeper, tracing each limiting belief back to its source. Whether it came from past experiences, fear of failure, or the expectations of others, I learned that understanding where these thoughts originated was the first step toward freeing myself from their grip.
One of the most effective ways to combat self-doubt is through intentional practice. Start by writing down the negative beliefs that hold you back, then challenge them with positive affirmations. Surround yourself with people who uplift and support you. Mindfulness practices, like meditation or deep breathing, can also help calm the anxious thoughts that feed self-doubt. Here’s a video I shared that guides you through a grounding technique, a simple way to practice mindfulness.
Remember, this is a process—it takes time to rewire how we think, but each small step brings you closer to believing in your own worth. Are you ready to take the first step toward overcoming self-doubt? Download my thought journal, a powerful tool I've used in my coaching practice to help you gain clarity and transform your mindset.