You are more than enough!

“I am more than enough.”

In a modern society centered around social media posts and passing validations, we live in a culture that has taught us to believe our inherent worth is tied to our accomplishments or how others view our success. This undoubtedly impacts our mental health; we are prone to emotional distress and eye-averting shame when we don’t live up to traditional standards of success or when we are struggling. Choosing to say, “I am more than enough,” challenges the conventional perspective that we are defined by internal perception and external validation. This proud statement reminds us that we are worthy of love and compassion simply because we exist. The concept of “enough” must come from within — and shifting our attitudes on the subject will make great strides in changing the mental health conversation.

Asking this question encourages a realignment of perspective to accept that we are more than enough. It provides an opportunity to search in our lived experience for plenty of reasons of why that might be. To encourage young people to embrace their value, we suggest methods like facilitating creating vision boards from accumulated hopes/dreams, as well as drawing out a life map to understand what potential the future holds in addition, asking the question “Why are you more than enough?” requires us to grapple with not only how we express our own self-love and self-compassion, but also how we even determine our self-worth. This month, we challenge everyone to ask themselves why they are more than enough. To help jumpstart your brainstorming, here are some of the illuminating responses

• “I exist.”
• “I am able to use my skills and learned experience to better myself and assist others in bettering themselves.”
  what I have been through, and how I came out on the other side.”
• I am alive; there’s no special reason. I am and you are, and that’s beautiful. No one has to prove their worth.”
• “Productivity and production do not define my worth!”
• “My value as a person isn’t dependent on any condition. I am always going to be more than enough beyond any reason anyone can possibly give.”
• “I have learned to accept myself for who I really am, and I have gained so much confidence in the process.”
• “I live today in such a way that tomorrow will be better.”
• “I know my worth and have learned to love myself and to love my journey.”
• “I work hard to achieve my goals.”
• “I am not defined by my mental illness, and instead, I am working toward understanding it better.”

These statements serve the purpose of reminding us that there are more than enough reasons to work toward embracing the practices that advance our mental wellness. And there are more than enough reasons to keep fighting for the resources and systems to support our mental health.

-Paulina