Unlocking the idea of enough

The word “enough” usually has a negative connotation, especially when it comes to achievement or goal-setting. A word that by its very definition in the dictionary means “sufficient” and “meets needs, demands and expectations,” has come to mean that someone is doing the bare minimum.

So why is it, that as women we often feel like we are not enough? Isn’t that like telling ourselves that not only are we not meeting the needs but we are doing the bare minimum? In recent months, I’ve learned, and am slowly learning to embrace, what this word really means.

One of the biggest lies I think we as women tell ourselves, that we get fed from every corner of life, is that we are not enough. We aren’t smart enough. Strong enough. Brave enough. Whatever we are, whomever we are is somehow not enough to meet whatever need we’ve been told we must meet, whatever standard we must strive to achieve.

I first heard this concept at the Captivating Heart retreat in September and since then, the idea of “enough” does not leave my sight or my consciousness for long. It’s popped up on social media, in conversations and in my prayers. I truly believe that I am to explore this idea of how I am enough; how enough means that I am meeting the need, that I am a whole human being created in God’s glory. Being enough isn’t that I’m achieving the bare minimum of existence. Anyone who truly knows me knows that’s not who I am or how I operate.

Identity, enough and goals

So what does this all mean for 2013? I want to better understand my identity in Christ, about how my feminine beauty is part of my essence and not something that must be achieved. The idea of being enough is grounded in my faith, but that doesn’t mean that all aspects of learning about it must be faith-based. I plan on incorporating both secular and faith-based lessons to better understand and embrace this idea throughout the coming year.

I plan on accomplishing this several ways including:

• Participating in the One Little Word 2013 project. This is an online workshop facilitated by Ali Edwards that invites students to choose their theme word for the year and projects throughout the year help them better understand that word and help it manifest throughout their lives. I’m part of a group of women who are doing the same workshop but each one has a different word. The monthly projects include scrapbooking, journaling and other ways of exploring what the individual’s word means to them. I love the camaraderie and the creativity that I know this project will bring!
• Participating in the study with Holley Gerth about realizing my “God-sized dream.” People often assume that a dream that is God-sized must be really, really huge. Insurmountably huge. That’s not true at all. This is about understanding God’s vision for my life and how my life plays out that mission. Oh, and it’s about getting out of the way of understanding and following that dream!
• Attending the next Captivating Heart retreat and trying to get through the book that the retreat is based on titled Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. I will also be on the planning committee for this retreat, which will immerse me in time with women who are seeking the same basic goal.

Throughout all of this journey, I will be pinning ideas on a special board on Pinterest simply titled “Enough.” You can follow that board by clicking here. Mostly it will be a collection of journal articles, blogs and other resources I find that help on this journey. I will also be pinning my own blogs that relate to this topic.