There’s a great story that has been told and retold many times about a little boy walking along the beach and there are starfish all over. The little boy, one by one puts the starfish back into the ocean, out of the sun. An older man is near the boy, I don’t recall if he was walking with him, or was just an observer. The man questions the little boy’s actions, and tells the little boy there are so many starfish and he can’t save them all. The boy just shrugged off the comment and puts another starfish into the ocean and says, “I saved that one.”
And you know what, the little boy was right. With all he had, he made a difference to as many as he could. He wasn’t daunted by the fact that so many more needed help. It didn’t occur to him to stop because he couldn’t help them all. He didn’t compare himself to someone more famous, or someone more qualified. He didn’t wait for marine patrol, or someone “official” to tell him it was OK to help. He wasn’t put off that the older person wasn’t helping. He was just doing his thing. Doing his best. Right where he was. He was enough.
It’s easy to want to compare ourselves to others. Whether that is success in their business, their fame, their influence, their followers, their fans. It’s easy to say, “I’m not as good as them.” Trust me I know, I question myself REGULARLY. Am I smart enough, good enough, brave enough, strong enough, worthy enough?
At the end of each question I am reminded — I AM ENOUGH.
Earlier this week I wrote a post to which one friend replied that I was “BAD ASS” and “BRAVE” that made me laugh, then smile, then beam with pride. I’m glad she can see the lion reflecting back from the cub I see in the mirror. And the fact that she believes that I am enough, is enough to help me know for certain, I AM ENOUGH. And the truth is she is a LION and she ROARS, and she’s brave and strong! And SHE IS ENOUGH, TOO. (Check out her raw and honest blog at The Intrepid Hibiscus).
Well then, how do you know if you are enough? BECAUSE YOU ARE. Just as you are right here, right now, right in this space.
Now does that mean you can’t grow and do more and be more … no, of course not, but know this … you don’t have to grow more, do more, or be more to be enough. YOU ALREADY ARE.
Whether you make a difference to 1 or 1,000,000, you are enough.
Whether you reach superstar status, or you’re “unknown,” you are enough.
Whether you’ve never had children or you have a dozen, you are enough.
Whether you blog, or whether you don’t.
You Are Enough.
So stop worrying about being enough, and get back to being awesome.