21 Jun I am enough from Tara Sophia Mohr
Enough to Change the World
Sometimes, “I am enough” comes with a quiet surrender to all we can’t do. It’s the recognition of “I am enough, even though I can’t end world hunger.” “I am enough, even without leading a movement of thousands.” “I am enough, just because I am.”
It’s true – we are all glorious beings, overflowing with goodness, and we are enough – without doing a thing. But it’s also important to say, “I am enough to do amazing things.” “I am enough to change the world.”
A Story
Chapter 1: There you were, with your love for the world. There you were, pained when you saw hurt done to others. Your heart cried out when you saw war on the news: you knew that was wrong. Your heart winced when you saw the neighborhood boys harming an animal. You worried about the homeless people in your town and asked your parents about them. You were ready to act, because you knew about love and softness and taking care.
Chapter 2: You were told that these emergencies of humanness, were simply “the way the world was.” That you couldn’t fix all the problems . . so better to accept reality and get back to your business. The truth you knew deep in your body, that the hurting ones needed to be cared for? You were told that truth was somehow wrong.
Chapter 3:The coping began. A certain hardness. A slow building of heart calluses. A deep pain within got stored away, and layers formed to cover it.
Chapter 4: Here you are. A woman still unsure: Should I get down and weep about the state of what is, or. . .? Is the world as crazy as it seems to be? Why is no one halting everything and calling a meeting so we can deal with the crimes against humanness we see every day?
Why does most of what I see on the news – not just the events but the way they are being talked about—feel so far from my way of seeing things? What is that voice within that keeps popping up, whispering about how it all could be done in a different way?
This is my story. Is this your story?
Here’s what I try to instill in myself:
My truth is enough to speak. My critique – even if it doesn’t have accompanying solutions yet — is enough to write and publish.
My heart is enough to help change the world.
***
There is a draft going on, and it is not a draft to fight a war, it is a draft to build peace. Most of us are dodging it, escaping to borders or changing our addresses or just not being home to receive the letter calling us to action.
Showing up for it is not putting your life on hold or leaving your children behind to fight for peace in the streets. It is quite simply: speaking up.
We are dodging the draft with one big excuse more than any other: I am not enough. I am not the one to step up and save the world. It should be someone more qualified, more experienced, more perfect.
The call for all of us is to see that lie for what it is, claim “I am enough” and join the forces of those saying: “The world needs to be different. It needs to become sane and humane again. What I know and who I am are enough to put me on the team. I’m in.”
Love, Tara Sophia Mohr
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About Tara Sophia Mohr
Tara Sophia Mohr’s writing and teaching bring feminine wisdom the fore. Her work focuses on helping women cultivate wisdom and joy, and step forward as transformational leaders. She’s the creator of the global Playing Big leadership program for women, the author of The Real Life poems, and is a regular writer for the Huffington Post. Her hybrid path has taken her from the meditation cushion to Stanford Business School. You can receive her free workbook, “10 Rules for Brilliant Women” by clicking here.
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Featured artwork courtesy of Shelley Kommers, Bio photo credit: Margot Duane
melissa
Posted at 21:23h, 21 Junebeautiful, tara. i'm in. my heart, soul and body are in, and my mind is chatting with the gremlins, working on letting them know 'i am enough' as is. gracias.
Heather
Posted at 15:10h, 22 JuneBeautiful.. I am in!
Jess
Posted at 19:45h, 22 JuneI don't remember the last time I read something that drilled so directly into my heart, my core.
Thank you for this. Just this morning on my drive to work I switched off the radio news and cried out to the universe "Why?! Why does everything have to be about devastation and violence and…bad news?? How am I supposed to…What am I to do with this? I feel guilty that I have so much while so many others have nothing — and what can I do about that?" The guilt helps neither them nor me. So, what? What to do?
I so appreciate your perspective and direction here. Yes, thank you, that is my story, too.
Kim
Posted at 16:23h, 23 JuneThis is poetry, Tara. Goes right to the heart. This is a subject my women's group has been discussing lately. And I think you hit the nail on the head, that to speak up is what is required. In whatever way feels right to each of us.
A story struck me recently, when there was violence and looting after the Stanley Cup final hockey game in Vancouver. What was not widely reported was that there were people from Vancouver speaking up, saying this is not who we are. They were leaving thank you notes on police cars, leaving notes on walls, saying we love Vancouver, and we are sorry and we all don't act like this.
anna
Posted at 15:22h, 27 Junetara … i am so moved by the depth of understanding in your poetry and in all your expressions … "i am enough" is powerful …our infinite nature is ever present and what i'm aware of now is enough and sufficient unto now … we can't be aware of indivisible infinity all at once so now "i am enough" … thank you for sharing your vision and your experience so beautifully … ever grateful, anna
Tricia
Posted at 17:22h, 27 JuneWow, Tracey, this series is BEAUTIFUL. You amaze and inspire me every time I come across anything you have touched! I love Tara Sophia Mohr and found out about this series in a blog post she wrote today saying she posted here. Thank you for doing what you do—it is much, much appreciated and needed in the world. {Hugs} Tricia
Christa
Posted at 19:34h, 27 JuneThis, Tara, this is truth… beautifully spun, gorgeously laid out in a way that we can all take it in.
Thanks to both of you, ladies.
Tia Tuenge
Posted at 04:59h, 13 AugustHi Tara,
Your article is so poignant for me. I have spent the past few year avoiding almost all media, insulating myself from anything that might pierce my happy bubble, really from a state of despair that turned into apathy. I just finished reading Half the Sky and while many parts of it were disturbing the over all message is that YES we can make a difference so DO something.
When I start to see patterns I like to sit up and take notice, take action. I am moved to be part of the solution. Thank you for shinning a light.
Love and Light, Tia