You Matter Monday Challenge #4: I'm Enough

Have you ever stopped to think about the importance of all the little things you do on a daily basis for your family?

Some of the things I found myself doing every day were feeding, diapering, caring, playing, preparing meals, doing laundry, keeping them alive and safe, and cleaning up the house the best I could just to name a few. At the end of my day I would often wonder if I did enough? Did I love enough? Am I really enough?

Like most moms, it’s so hard to give ourselves the benefit of the doubt that we are doing enough and that we are enough. It’s usually so easy to love our children and do anything for them, but when it comes to the self-care we need for ourselves we either don’t feel worthy of it or we feel selfish for doing it. We just don’t feel as if we matter enough. But why is that?

It’s challenging in today’s society to live in our authenticity. We’re inundated with how we “should” parent, how we “should” act, how we “should” look, how clean our house “should” be and even what we “should” drive. If we weren’t comfortable in our own skin growing up, we’ll most certainly struggle with self-worth as an adult based on that influence alone.

And I am no different. It wasn’t until just recently that I had an ah-ha moment like no other, and it hit me hard. I realized I didn’t love me for me. I couldn’t believe it took me so long to figure it out, but once I did I let go of 38 years of doubt, shame, guilt, perfectionism, uncertainty and lack. And I cried. I cried that ugly cry you can only have when you’re by yourself. I cried because I had never allowed myself to love me, all of me. I let the tears run down and wash away all the pain I was feeling for so many years, and finally I was free. Finally I allowed myself to rest in the fact that every day regardless of anything I accomplish or don’t I Am Enough. I Am Perfect Just The Way I Am!

I also realized that like nature, our lives flow from season to season as well. While I may have been a corporate executive before having children, my season is now to be the best parent I can be for my children. There is no greater or more rewarding work than to be able to foster and guide the next generation of leaders into young men and women of integrity by teaching them healthy life skills. And that in and of itself means I am – YOU are — more than enough.

So the next time you’re questioning your worth or your value, remind yourself as you’re going through the daily “have-tos” of brushing your teeth, washing dishes, changing diapers, playing with your kids, kissing boo-boos, folding laundry:

I am enough.
I am doing enough.
I am perfect just the way I am.
I love that I get to (insert the task you are doing)___________.
I am grateful that I get to (insert the task you are doing) ______________.
I love myself.
I am worthy.
I am loved.
I am valuable.
I am a light in the world.

If you’re just getting started, write these affirmations on an index card or a sticky note.

Put them in multiple places around the house, in your purse, on your computer or on the refrigerator.

Repeat these affirmations at least two times a day. The more you do it, the more of a truth they will become for you.

It may be challenging at first to be aware of your old thoughts and stay consistent with the new ones, but whatever you do KEEP GOING! It’ll get easier and easier and before you know it you won’t even remember what it was like to feel any other way than worthy and important.

This daily practice of self-loving affirmations has helped me become aware and appreciative of the season I’m in, of what I have and that I get to be ME. And now I can honestly say that no matter what I Am Enough!

May you be the perfectly imperfect mom you were designed to be.

Remind yourself daily “ I’m enough. I’m perfect just the way I am! “ Need some more inspiration- Listen to Perfect by Pink: “Pretty, pretty please don’t you ever, ever feel like your less than perfect.”