You Are Enough!

I have tried to be perfect my entire life. This desire for perfection began when I was a little girl who desired to be good at something. Early on I began to excel in academics, and I knew that was the one thing that would set me up for success. If I couldn’t be pretty (I didn’t think I was pretty for a long time, but that thought process has since changed.) or have a big house at least I could be smart. That was the one thing no one could take away from me. This belief system birthed a spirit of perfectionism.  I began to have a hunger and thirst for the perfect grades, perfect career, perfect business, perfect friendships, and perfect relationship. I take pride in being excellent in everything I do; however, these last few years I have had some not some perfect experiences. I have experienced failure in more ways than once, and I must say it sucks! After these moments of failure, I feel sad, inadequate, insecure, and depressed. I ultimately feel like a fraud. I know that sounds like extreme behavior, but I have to stand in my truth and be transparent.

The past few days I have experienced these same types of emotions. I desire a certain level of success in my career and business, and I have not seen it come to pass. I have put in blood, sweat, tears, and years into this vision, and I have only received droplets of success. I was angry and hurt because I desired more, and it just didn’t seem fair.

After a meltdown, I slowly began to collect myself. I reached out to two beautiful souls who spoke life back into me. The advice they gave me was to celebrate the small wins and have a heart of gratitude. Honestly, I never saw my behavior as ungrateful. I truly am grateful for everything God has given me, but I still desire more. I know there is nothing wrong with my desire, but I have to keep things in perspective and make sure my heart does not turn to greed.

As I am writing this I cannot help put to think about all of the pageantry women and girls I minister to weekly via this blog. You may feel inadequate because you haven’t won a title or received any recognition. You may have put in hours upon hours of hard work with no physical reward. If that is you, I have something to tell you. YOU ARE ENOUGH! I had to give myself the same counsel this week. This blog may not have millions of views or make thousands of dollars, but it is enough. I may not have the level of success I desire as an entrepreneur, but I am still enough. I know I am enough because I am God’s most perfect creation. According to Psalm 139:14, I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I wake up every day, and I put in the work. I do my best, and that is all that can be expected.   If you need know more reasons to know you are enough, please meditate on these words.

• If you have competed in a pageant 10 times and you still have not placed in the top 10, you are enough.
• If you are a size 0, you are enough.
• If you are a size 10, you are enough.
• If your skin complexion is darker than your competition, you are enough.
• If you have to work two jobs to meet your needs while others have money at their disposable, you are enough.
• If you have kinky curly hair even though straight hair is the societal norm, you are enough.
• If it takes 7 years to manifest a crown, you are enough.
• If it takes 7 years to build your brand, you are enough.
• If it takes 7 years to be found by your God given mate, you are enough.
• If your dream career or business doesn’t happen until your 30s or 40s, you are enough.
• In spite of your shortcomings and failures, you still are enough.

Understand there is a time and season for everything. A delay does not mean a denial. You will manifest in due season if you stay the course and don’t give up. In the words of Bishop Freddrick A. Hardy, Sr., “You will never get a CROWN without a CROSS. Go through the PROCESS.”  While you go through the process, always remember you are enough.