I am Enough. And so it begins.

I am Enough. And so it begins.

-photo by Brene Brown

I have been a self-improvement junkie for most of my life; vigilant about getting to the bottom of my “issues”, digging deep to better understand myself, reading every book written to inspire personal growth, incessantly working on becoming a better person, etc, etc.  Although I had let go of trying to be “perfect” I was still striving to be better. Always better. Never quiet enough.

During one of the most trying summers to date (just last summer) I was struck with soul exhaustion. I hit my own personal rock bottom. I realized that I had worn myself out living the hustle to become better.

Light. Bulb. Moment.

A few days after my personal epiphany, and still not quite sure what to do with myself, I traveled north to the healing coast of Oregon to meet up with some cherished girlfriends. As sweet synchronicity would have it, the gracious Katherine Center brought her magic paints and offered to paint us each up with words of love and empowerment over the weekend. I knew immediately what had to be done to set the record straight once and for all. I knew exactly what my words would be and where they had to go.

Despite knowing what I needed to do I felt afraid, vulnerable and exposed. Was I really ready for this? Being clear on these points in my head was one thing, carrying them in my heart was something entirely different. I knew it would be easy but I knew there was no half way to worthiness. It was all or nothing. And I couldn’t go back to nothing.

If it wasn’t for the support, courage, strength, wisdom, encouragement, acceptance, kindness, understanding and love of those amazing women I was surrounded by on that day in Oregon I’m not sure I could have owned my truth quite like this. But, the Universe in all its wisdom gave me the time and place to come clean and bare my chest with the truth I have longed for my whole life. The truth that I couldn’t live without for one more minute.

The resolve I felt that afternoon was one of the most powerful experiences I have had to date. The words. The photographs. The witnesses. The feeling (both on my skin and in my soul). All real. All true. All mine.

And following the days, weeks, months since that day, I have realized that I am not alone; that being enough as we are right now, today, as is, is hard for most women to really acknowledge and yet, it’s the key to living our best lives. This is exactly why I want to invite you to join me in the I am Enough Collaborative. I can only hope that by sharing images and stories of worthiness and self-kindness that we can each embrace our own enoughness.

It’s no accident that I chose to kick off the I am Enough Collaborative along side Brene Brown’s Week of Worthiness. Spending time over there this week will help you get into the frame of mind that you are worthy NOW. That’s an awesome place to be! Plus you could win one of Brene’s new DVDs, The Hustle for Worthiness. Good stuff!

Me? I’ll be excavating pictures and collecting words that embody the I am Enough message so that I can share them with you here. And I’ll be revealing the many ways you can get in on the action all week long as we stand together and shout it from the mountain tops, I AM ENOUGH.

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61 Comments
  • Brené
    Posted at 17:44h, 09 March Reply

    This is so powerful! Thank you for putting this into the world. We need it!

  • Jennifer R
    Posted at 17:52h, 09 March Reply

    funny how the universe provides exactly what you need to hear. i currently feel as vulnerable as you describe in your post. it’s always good to know you are not alone in that battle. inspirational!

  • Heather Plett
    Posted at 17:55h, 09 March Reply

    This comes at just the right time for me. I’ve been doing a lot of soul-excavation lately, preparing for breast reduction surgery in 2 days. There are so many complex stories we tell ourselves about what makes us worthy.

    http://fumblingforwords.com/2010/03/09/standing-naked/

  • Ang
    Posted at 17:59h, 09 March Reply

    incredible, beautiful, necessary. i’m here, i’m ready, and i’m excited.

  • Bev
    Posted at 18:18h, 09 March Reply

    i, like you, am a self-improvement junkie as well….that mentality gets in the way of my feeling i am enough…right where i am…thank you for this…

  • melody
    Posted at 18:39h, 09 March Reply

    Tracey, as I emailed you the other day, you have unknowingly been a large part of the inspiration which has literally saved my life over the past months. Like many times in the past, your soul and mine seem to be traveling the same path at much the same times. Over the last few weeks I have truly accepted that "I am enough" – "I am worthy" and have written [but not shared] much about that journey. Thank you for now encouraging me, and everyone, to voice our journey.

    It’s a small beginning, but I am acknowledging "I am enough" ~ who you really are

    ❤ to you.

  • Jen A.
    Posted at 18:45h, 09 March Reply

    Amazing words. Amazing inspiration.

    You are enough.

    I am enough.

    We are ALL enough. And then some. 🙂

  • Kylie
    Posted at 18:56h, 09 March Reply

    Amazing words, and wonderful inspiration. this comes at just the right time for me and where I am in my life right now. Thank you :o)
    We are enough.

  • Effie
    Posted at 18:58h, 09 March Reply

    This comes under the heading of "things I still have to learn to accept…" I KNOW it rationally, but somehow I don’t really BELIEVE it. A lifetime of being labeled "not enough" is a tough thing to navigate.

  • doorways traveler
    Posted at 19:18h, 09 March Reply

    brilliant.
    and right on the edge of the place i’ve come to in the past year, week, days, lifetimes.
    thank you.
    again, brilliant.

    much love. lisa

  • Carmen
    Posted at 19:31h, 09 March Reply

    I am so in love with this. All of it. ♥

  • ELK
    Posted at 21:05h, 09 March Reply

    the sooner we figure this out the better..better not look for society to tell us this though…we are given a different message there…I will be interested to follow this Tracey…also being the mother of two girls to be a role model of "I am enough" sooo important

  • Cara
    Posted at 21:36h, 09 March Reply

    Tracey you are such an inspiration!

  • Jenny, Bloggess
    Posted at 23:19h, 09 March Reply

    Amazing. Just like you.

  • DawnS
    Posted at 23:32h, 09 March Reply

    I just love your photo! The look on your face & in your eyes says it all….I am enough.

  • sweetsalty kate
    Posted at 01:01h, 10 March Reply

    I can hardly absorb the words for all that photo speaks of you. xo

  • michelle from six in the city
    Posted at 01:22h, 10 March Reply

    Words I needed to hear.
    Thank you.
    Amazing.

  • gina
    Posted at 01:35h, 10 March Reply

    What a worthwhile project – I look forward to reading the comments of all those who participate.

  • katherine center
    Posted at 02:11h, 10 March Reply

    Sweet friend, I wish I could paint those words right there for you every day.
    xoxo – – –

  • jane
    Posted at 02:26h, 10 March Reply

    i can hardly type this because of the wetstuff obscuring my vision… i really want to join you

  • Heather
    Posted at 03:34h, 10 March Reply

    Yes. Wonderful and true. I’m excited to see what this community of women will do and say in support of our own "enoughness."

  • jen gray
    Posted at 13:33h, 10 March Reply

    i love you tracey clark 🙂

  • qmama
    Posted at 14:08h, 10 March Reply

    thank you for this sacred healing, communal space. my response was so visceral, a full-bodied bow to your story and the truths shared. immense gratitude.

  • megan
    Posted at 15:43h, 10 March Reply

    thank you so much for sharing that. i have been having my own struggle with feeling like i am enough. this is just so inspirational and makes me want to try harder to feel like i’m enough. it’s a great thing that you are doing.

  • Sarah-Ji
    Posted at 17:07h, 10 March Reply

    Tracey, thank you…I think I need to hear those words now…

    xoxo

  • Mindy
    Posted at 17:47h, 10 March Reply

    It’s funny how things come along when you most need them. It’s good to know that I am not alone in this search for myself.

    I am at rock bottom right now and feel there is no one to talk to.

    I feel alone.

    I would love to join you!

  • Angie
    Posted at 19:29h, 10 March Reply

    I just read on page 162 of The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin: "I am already enough." Lately, I’m discovering that it’s all connected.

  • Bree
    Posted at 05:46h, 11 March Reply

    Thank you.

  • Jakki
    Posted at 14:57h, 11 March Reply

    I.AM.ENOUGH. pretty powerful. Thank you…

  • Tia Peterson
    Posted at 15:25h, 11 March Reply

    This is wonderful and I’ve shared it with my followers. Nothing could be truer – we are enough. This is incredibly inspiring and lovely.

  • Delia
    Posted at 18:59h, 11 March Reply

    thank. you. for. this. inspiration.

  • cindi
    Posted at 19:45h, 11 March Reply

    one word…
    serendipity!

    can’t wait to see what happens next!

    I AM ENOUGH!

    thank you Tracey…

  • Braidwood
    Posted at 07:33h, 12 March Reply

    Seriously. I’m in a self-improvement mode right now, but a few years ago I was embracing my enoughness. I went to a book store and I went to the self-help section as USUAL. Since I didn’t need to improve myself I didn’t know what to do! "Wow, I guess I can just read something just for fun… I guess I can just… enjoy myself." 🙂

    Ahhhhhhh… Thank you for that reminder. I feel happy reading this post.

  • Trish
    Posted at 18:13h, 12 March Reply

    Here’s to me embracing that I am enough.

  • Kristi
    Posted at 00:15h, 13 March Reply

    Tracey, thank you for this post…I really needed to hear this. ♥

  • Lorie M
    Posted at 05:29h, 13 March Reply

    I’m a Big Dreamer. When I get an idea, it’s usually a Big One. And, sometimes the weight of everything that I can envision can bear down on me. I can begin to fret that I’m missing an important detail, that I’ve taken on too much, that people are depending upon me, and what if I’m not up to their faith in my vision and abilities? BUT, when I read a posting like this, it’s a great reminder that I am enough and to "get out of my own way," so to speak. I don’t need to worry about how everything will come to pass; I just need to act on the Big Dream and trust that I am enough. Why would the Muse visit me with such a clarion bell if I weren’t more than enough to act on her inspiration? I don’t have to have all the answers all the time; I just need to keep showing up for the journey. And, that’s certainly enough. 🙂 Thanks for the posting!

  • rani
    Posted at 18:21h, 13 March Reply

    just wonderful and full of uplifting spirit! thanks for this! Looking forward to more!

  • Kerry
    Posted at 19:27h, 14 March Reply

    Tracy thank you for sharing yourself , your words and photographs.. I read you blog and don’t comment much. I am just here to say thanks and I to am enough.

  • Sabrina Bowen
    Posted at 18:31h, 16 March Reply

    Great post Tracy!! Thank you so much for saying what so many of us are often afraid to. And btw – I’m so jealous that one of your best girls is Katherine Center, I became a huge fan of hers after reading The Bright Side of Disater in two days (even with a young child and work at home business). You two ladies are such inspirations!

  • Jennifer
    Posted at 02:29h, 17 March Reply

    I love the whole idea of this. So incredibly powerful and inspiring.

    When I attended the Be Present Retreat, Andrea had us go through this painting experience. It was so incredibly powerful. The words
    "Brave" was painted across my chest. Since that day the shy quiet girl that I was has shed some of her skin and feels so brave and when I touch my hands to my chest I am taken right back to that moment in oregon.

    I am so looking forward to this and embracing that I am enough along with the other wonderful souls who are following along

  • Petit Elefant
    Posted at 04:22h, 19 March Reply

    I can’t tell you again how happy I am you’re doing this. I need to hear it, you need to hear it, we all need to hear it. We. Are. Worthy.

  • Colette
    Posted at 17:13h, 08 April Reply

    Thankyou Tracey for sharing your story. I am wishing to join this collaborative endeavour, I hope your i am enough week of worthiness is still continuing for a long time. I am needing to work on a body project and story welcoming as well. Is it over? How can I participate?

  • Sarah
    Posted at 20:37h, 10 August Reply

    Someone directed me here after reading my own post on the same topic today. I am enough. You are enough. These messages are powerful, needed, curative, and so easily forgotten.

    Thank you for putting this out there. For sharing so much of yourself. For sharing those pictures especially–because those tell the story of your soul and how it reacted to the message of the paint.

  • Rossella
    Posted at 12:58h, 08 September Reply

    What a great project and message! Even comments here are full of value.
    Reading of I'm enough, soul-excavation etc. makes me feel less alone and able to deal with daily pressure.

  • Michelle McGee
    Posted at 03:36h, 11 December Reply

    Hi Tracey,
    I was fortunate enough to pick up the latest copy of Artful Blogging and that is where I discovered you. What caught my eyes were the words
    "I am enough". Being a writer I was struck by the honesty and simplicity of the words. And it hit me that it's something I need to embrace. I wear the word "believe' tattooed on my inner right wrist to remind me to always embrace that word. Maybe I should have had your words tattooed instead. I have always struggled with self-esteem and find that at age 43 I am slightly kinder to myself, though probably not enough. My kids have helped me. Especially my oldest son, age 12, who has Tourette Syndrome and OCD. He is one of the most confident, self-assured people I have ever met – even with his obvious differences. He has taught me that who I am is who I am supposed to be. He has embraced his Tourette's and sees it as something that makes him unique, not different. I look forward to reading your blog more and getting to know you and your contributors through their inspiring words.
    Believe,
    Michelle McGee

  • Janet
    Posted at 03:23h, 16 January Reply

    Thank you.

    I am still not at the point where I can say this never mind believe it, but I know I want to be there, and maybe, one day, I will be.

  • Melinda
    Posted at 23:01h, 16 February Reply

    I have wanted to do something similar since my divorce! I was 22 when I got divorced, and I have been trying to keep myself busy in an effort to feel like I am good enough. I've started writing a book and I am excited to find your website for inspiration in my own efforts to just let go and be still.

  • littlepurplecow
    Posted at 05:26h, 01 March Reply

    I'm thankful for you and your strength in sharing these words. You are so much more than enough, Tracey. Much love.

  • Anna
    Posted at 03:00h, 07 April Reply

    True Inspiration and powerful words and insight at a time in my life that I need it the most. Thank you!

  • claire a perez
    Posted at 17:54h, 13 April Reply

    I saw your blog in Artful Blogging. It is such a great and timely idea, I wrote about it on my blog since being less than perferct seems like such a hard thing to be.

  • Jane
    Posted at 23:45h, 11 May Reply

    Oh, Tracey! I can't tell you how much this post resonates with me. I only posted this week on a similar theme and used the words 'I am enough'. What synchronicity to find your old post this week!

    Now I'm off to subscribe to your blog and find out more about this fantastic and supportive haven you have created here. Thanks! J x

  • Amber
    Posted at 04:09h, 24 May Reply

    Thank you for such inspitation! Amazing!

  • Lois Weber
    Posted at 14:22h, 06 July Reply

    Thank you so much for your beginning words. I have just located YOU because of the insert on Brene Brown's DVD, The Hustle for Worthiness! Just the idea of what you are doing has such resonance and loving energy. It took such heart and courage to share and begin a movement. I will look forward to staying connected! Thanks for helping us all remember we are enough!!!

  • ellie
    Posted at 06:07h, 08 September Reply

    Thank you so much for this! Its like a confirmation for me. A while back I took a vacation with my boyfriend. It was supposed to be a very special weekend. One where we could spend some much needed time together, and relax. I spent so much time trying to make sure we enjoyed ourselves. I really couldnt enjoy myself because I focused so much on making sure he was happy. Not only with me but with the resort, the plans I made for us, how I looked…etc. He finally told me "baby, you are enough" At that moment I was like ok, but I want you to be happy. This is a special weekend for us. He said, I only want you. Nothing else….He didnt care about all the EXTRA stuff.
    It really didnt HIT me until today. I was thinking about my life and the way things are going for me now. I am realizing that if the people around me cant accept ME for ME then why am I allowing them to have such a hold on me. That statement he made came back to me and made me smile. I AM ENOUGH!

  • Rabbi Rachel Barenblat
    Posted at 12:49h, 14 September Reply

    I've been thinking a lot about being "enough," lately — I'm working on a post about this for my own blog — and I'm so glad to have stumbled across this. I'll be linking to you, and I look forward to reading more of your words. Thank you for this powerful reminder that we are all "enough."

  • alison
    Posted at 23:24h, 29 May Reply

    Do you think it would be inappropriate if I wrote those words across my forehead? Every day? In red lipstick?

  • Vicke Lampkin
    Posted at 03:35h, 18 July Reply

    Thank you so much for being brave enough to BE ENOUGH!! This allows all of us the courage to BE ENOUGH with you. Thank you again.

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  • patti
    Posted at 10:48h, 09 February Reply

    late in the reader game here, but i wanted to let you know that i linked to this post from my blog. enough is a problem big enough for all of us to wrestle with. daily. i’ve been writing about it, and the weird way is shows up in my life…this post took a weird not ______ enough turn.

    http://pardonmyfringe.com/glitches-feminist-matrix/

    thanks again for playing your v-card.

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