I'll Never Be Enough
Fight back against those thoughts!
Try the audio version!
I’m too fat and out of shape.
I’m too old.
It’s too late.
Why even try? I know I will fail.
These kinds of attacks usually hit me first thing when I wake up. Would you ever say such things to a friend? Unlikely. Yet, we often say those same things—and even worse—to ourselves, often on repeat.
We look around and see others who navigate life more successfully than we do. They have nicer clothes and better cars and easily handle pressure. They float through the world without any problems, embodying the image of what we aspire to be. It feels like that elusive perfect life is as distant as the other end of the earth.
You know that’s not what their lives are like, right? They may have a severe drinking problem and are on the verge of divorce. Their kids may be off the rails. That car they are driving? It’s put them 1000’s of dollars in debt.
My point is that perfection is a liar. It’s an unfair taskmaster. It will put you in a mode that will never let you feel like you have arrived. You’ll lay your head on the pillow, constantly feeling less than.
But what if we looked at these bad thoughts differently? Here are three ways I’m fighting back:
Tell yourself the truth. The thoughts you think are just that, thoughts. They are not true unless you give them air to breathe. Write them down and think about them. That helps them lose their power over you. Remind yourself of all you have accomplished!
Take the focus off yourself and serve others. I can go into a dark hole when my mind is only on me. Get busy serving others, even in small ways—a compliment, buying a cup of coffee, a text, a note. When I do this, the way I see the world changes.
Focus on a brighter future. What is one small action you can take today to inject hope into your life? Put something on the calendar, plan a trip, or connect with someone positive who can lift you up.
I love this quote from Matthew Kelly: “Which of our problems would not be solved by seeing ourselves and others as human beings again and treating ourselves and others as human beings of infinite individual value?”1
There is no magic bullet. These thoughts will pop up again tomorrow or later in the day. Expect the attacks to come. But also know you don’t have to sit there and take it.
Remember that you were created on purpose and for a purpose.
This week can be different. Make it count!
this was one of my all-time favorites. You knocked it out of the park!!!!
I heard someone say recently, they just try to get 1% better a day. Which honestly is really overkill. If just 2% better a week, you’d be twice as good in a year.