“I’m Not Good Enough” — Here’s What Helped Me Get Through It

There was a time when this thought sat quietly in the back of my mind, almost like background noise.

I’m not smart enough. I’m not talented enough. I’m not good enough.

Some days, it whispered. On others, it shouted.

It showed up when I failed. When I scrolled through other people’s wins. When I looked in the mirror and didn’t like what I saw.

If you're reading this and nodding—even a little—you’re not alone. I’ve lived with that feeling. And while I haven’t magically erased it, I’ve found a few things that helped me carry it differently.

Let me share what made a difference.

1. I Realized That Inner Critic Wasn’t Always Mine

At some point, I started asking myself: Where did this voice come from?

Was it a teacher who once made me feel small? A parent’s impossible expectations? A comparison I internalized after scrolling too long?

Often, the voice that tells us we’re “not enough” isn’t even ours. It’s borrowed from people who didn’t see our full story—or who were struggling with their own pain.

When I separated me from that voice, things softened. I started responding with, “I hear you… but I don’t have to believe you.”

2. I Started Speaking to Myself Like I Would a Friend

Think of the last time a friend came to you feeling low. Would you say, “Yeah, you’re just not good enough”? Of course not.

You’d listen. You’d remind them of how far they’ve come. You’d see the good they forgot to notice.

So I started trying to offer myself the same kindness. It felt awkward at first, but eventually, it became a habit. One that saved me more times than I can count.

3. I Noticed My Enoughness Was Based on Conditions

“I’ll feel good enough when I get that job.”

“When I lose 10 pounds.”

“When I’m finally in a relationship.”

I was putting my self-worth on layaway—chasing it like a moving target.

It took time (and some hard lessons), but I learned to shift from “I’ll be enough when…” to “I am enough, even now.”

That didn’t mean I stopped growing. But I stopped making my worth dependent on the next achievement.

4. I Took Inventory of What I Was Doing Right

I made a simple list. No pressure. Just a few things I did well.

• I showed up when it was hard.
• I helped a friend feel seen.
• I made it through a tough week without giving up.

These weren’t huge wins. But they were real. And the more I noticed them, the more I believed I had value—outside of perfection.

5. I Let Go of Being “Fixed” and Focused on Being Human

I stopped chasing the version of me who had it all figured out.

Instead, I made peace with the version who was doing her best. Who had bad days. Who cried sometimes. Who learned slowly.

And surprisingly, that’s when things started to heal.

Not because I became someone new—but because I finally accepted the person I already was.

Final Thought: You Are Enough—Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

This isn’t a post to tell you to just “believe in yourself and move on.”

That voice inside? It may still show up sometimes.

But now, I know what to say back.

I know that being “enough” isn’t something you earn. It’s something you remember.

If you’re in that dark space right now, just keep going. You don’t have to feel strong to take the next step.

You just have to keep showing up.

That’s more than enough.