It was my nieces birthday last Saturday, and during her dad’s speech, he mentioned that his granddaughter has an affirmation – I am enough!
She is 7.

What a powerful place to start her life journey, holding such a belief. Can you imagine the choices she will make just because she feels that she is ‘enough’?

At seven, that was not the case for me, as I was recovering from an accident where I had fallen and fractured my skull. And for the next seven years, was treated with kid gloves. As a consequence, I had no concept of what being ‘enough’ meant.

Neither did I at 14.

By 21, I still had no idea.  I  struggled with putting myself first and saying no, as that meant disappointing others, and I didn’t particularly like doing that.

It would take another 20 years for me to feel and believe I am enough.

But what does Knowing Your Value have to do with feeling “I am enough”?
Everything in my view!   It means:

  • You accept how you look – warts and all.
  • You are confident in the value you create and do not undercharge
  • You act like a peer with clients.
  • You believe and act as though you deserve the best.
  • When you go to see your employer or manager, you negotiate from a place of confidence.
  • When you receive criticism personally or at work, you don’t take it as a personal attack because constructive feedback only improves you.
  • When you fail, it is a learning opportunity for growth. You are not a failure.
  • You trust yourself, believe in your decisions and do not 2nd guess or allow others to decide for you.
  • You choose a partner who lifts you up, but what is even more important is you lift yourself.
  • Your inner circle (family, friends, colleagues, employer) challenges you with love and hold you accountable.

To feel you are enough can be years in the making, especially if this is not your formative influence as a child.

Caregivers in any capacity need to develop self-esteem and self-worth in children. As important as it is to build their money management and entrepreneurial skills, even more so, it is to develop their ‘ I am ‘enough’ skills.

A famous verse in the bible is “Train up a child in the way he/she should go, and when he/she is old, they will not depart from it” – Proverbs 22:6. With all my heart, I hope that as my great-niece grows into a woman, she will hold that affirmation close to her heart and live a fulfilling life.

What about you? Today, wherever you are in your life, what would you say or do differently if you believed you were enough?