I Am Enough
For as long as I can remember, I wore the label of a people pleaser. It was a role I played effortlessly, often at the expense of my own happiness and well-being. I surrounded myself with people who didn’t serve me, environments that drained me, and expectations that shackled me. For years, I silenced my own needs, convinced that my worth was tied to how much I could give to others or how much approval I could gain. But 2024 came like a storm—testing my resolve, shaking my foundation, and forcing me to confront the truth: I am enough.
I didn’t arrive at this realization overnight. It was a journey years in the making, but the culmination of it all came when I was truly tested. I had to face the uncomfortable truth about how my people-pleasing tendencies, my overachieving nature, and my need for external validation had cost me opportunities—opportunities I didn’t even realize I had forfeited. Worse, I had set myself back in ways that were deeply detrimental to my life.
I thought chasing goals and achieving success would fill the void inside me. But the goals I pursued weren’t aligned with my true self. They were influenced by the words, opinions, and misplaced encouragement of others. And when those pursuits didn’t yield the satisfaction I craved, I felt like a failure. I now see that I wasn’t failing—I was simply living someone else’s idea of success.
Rediscovering My Identity
In 2024, I made a pivotal decision to prioritize myself. I dedicated the year to rediscovering who I am and reintroducing myself to the world—this time, on my terms. I chose to remain steadfast in my morals and values, which served as the compass guiding me forward. My intuition, once drowned out by the noise of others’ opinions, grew sharper. I began listening to myself above anyone else. No one was allowed to plant seeds of doubt or ideas in my mind that weren’t mine. My mindset for success would not allow it.
The Work That Transformed Me
The transformation didn’t come easy. I had to confront the parts of myself I’d long ignored. Shadow work became my salvation—a process of digging deep into the hidden aspects of my psyche and addressing the wounds that kept me tethered to unhealthy patterns. I isolated myself, shutting out the world and cutting ties with people I realized I had become dependent on for validation. For the first time, I forced myself to only hear my voice.
It was an intense and often painful process. Making decisions independently felt foreign at first, but it was also liberating. I learned to consult with my inner child, checking in with the younger version of myself who just wanted to feel loved and seen. Through this work, I began to trust myself more. I saw how my past dependency on others had not only failed me but also kept me from stepping into my own power.
A Stronger, More Empowered Me
Today, I am proud of the woman I’ve become. I’ve emerged from this journey stronger, more self-assured, and deeply connected to my true self. I am no longer chasing after approval or trying to prove my worth through overachievement. I’ve learned that my value isn’t tied to what I do for others or how much I accomplish. My worth is intrinsic. I am enough simply because I exist.
Choosing me wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. I’ve reclaimed my voice, my power, and my identity. My journey is proof that even in the face of difficult truths, we can rise stronger. I am choosing me, over and over again. And in doing so, I’ve discovered the most profound truth of all: I am enough.
