- Do you have the tendency to downplay your strengths but amplify your weaknesses?
- Do your relationships generally end with feelings of rejection?
- Do you feel like your feelings and emotions often go unheard or unnoticed?
- Do you feel unseen?
It's one thing to know in theory that you are worthy of love. That your feelings and emotions are worthy of consideration. That your hard work is worthy of respect and recognition. That your vulnerability is not a sign of weakness. But it's another thing to demand that consideration, respect, recognition, and compassion because you truly BELIEVE you deserve it. So much so that you act like you believe it. You make choices like you believe it. You defend your integrity like you believe it.
For years I've felt the Universe wring my soul dry with one relationship or experience after another just to get me to BELIEVE that I AM ENOUGH. The kind of "enough" that my self-worth doesn't waiver. The kind of "enough" that doesn't rely on other people's opinions to shape my self-esteem. The kind of "enough" that my confidence isn't determined by my successes or perceived failures. The Universe, like a skilled sculptor, used all of those painful, stressful, heartbreaking, and uncomfortable experiences to carve through my ego and shape my character. And that's where my true strength, confidence, integrity, and beauty lies. So no matter how much rejection, insult, or injustice I suffer in relationships or other life experiences, I never give them the power to decrease my self-worth. They may hurt like a bitch, insult my ego, make me cry and binge on red wine, popcorn, and dark chocolate; but the idea that I AM ENOUGH is no longer just a theory in my head. It's my truth. So I can emerge from an ego blow knowing it's just an ego blow and my beautiful character remains intact.
It feels damn good to stand in the strength of my character; especially when it's being tested! It feels like a super-power to know my authentic self and love her anyway; to be able to humbly recognize my weaknesses without belittling or disregarding my strengths. When I was younger, it was so easy to itemize my faults and failures and dwell on them to the point that I never believed I was good enough, smart enough, talented enough, pretty enough, desirable enough, sexy enough... But I feel differently now and it's shifted my mindset, the way I engage with people, how I approach my fears, face my challenges, and view my entire life journey. Of course I still fall into emotional funks, think negatively, experience self-doubt, and question what the hell I'm doing with my life. But my true self, like any BFF, always pulls me off the ledge and reminds me that I AM ENOUGH.
#WriteYourTruth
Describe the ways in which you totally rock. Don't be shy! What do you love about yourself? What are your strengths? What makes you a great friend, partner, lover, family member, employee, neighbor, world citizen?
