I Am Enough, Even in a Pandemic

I am enough works as one of my favorite daily tools. Marisa Peer — therapist, author, public speaker — made that motto her life’s work. In interviews and videos, she explains the pervasive sense of inadequacy most of us feel as we spend our lives trying to fill the void created by a wrong belief about ourselves that we’re not good enough, talented enough, smart enough, attractive enough, whatever enough. We’re driven to all sorts of behaviors that actually prevent us from getting what we want in our lives. Our economy depends upon exploiting this negative belief with the false promise that we’ll be “more” of what we so desperately want, and can’t seem to find, if we buy what merchants are selling. That keeps us in separation from our truth: that we are all unique with our own special gifts to share with the world.

You can change your life by changing the words you tell yourself. Repeat “I am enough” every chance you get and write it on your mirrors or other places where you will see it often, and soon your subconscious will begin to overwrite the old negative belief with the positive new one, Peer asserts. This works for addiction, depression, anxiety and auto-immune issues, among a long list of chronic and debilitating problems. (I’m looking at the yellow square Post-It note that reads “I am enough” stuck to my computer monitor as I write this.)

Why not try it, I figured. This tool is free, easy, and accessible to everyone at any time.

Bombarded with messages about spiking COVID-19 infections, failed political leadership, racial conflict, economic downturn, and other negative messages spun as “news,” feeding myself the truth that I am whole, competent and complete enough as I am seems much better than feeding myself so-called “comfort food” or “bingeing” anything

Enough what? In a pandemic, do I “social distance” enough? Am I careful enough, safe enough, healthy enough, washing my hands enough, isolating enough? No, that’s not it. This tool helps transform lives.

Used as a mindfulness practice, these powerfully positive words regularly remind yourself that you are a fully-capable, intelligent, resourceful, good person that you can trust completely — just as you are. Everyone is equal in a global pandemic. Sure, we all have our physical limitations. But, as a human walking this Earth, you are enough for anything that comes your way.

You’re not competing with anyone, including yourself. Do not judge or compare. The human “race” cannot be won or lost. Just lived fully as we are. You are … enough to achieve the life you want. This also means you can learn new skills, take some risks to reach your goals, grow, evolve. You have what it takes inside you to create, succeed and enjoy. Accept the simple truth that you are enough, moment to moment, and live that truth with a new sense of calm, confidence, and courage.