The feeling that "I am enough" does not mean that I have nothing to learn, nothing further to achieve, and nowhere to grow to. It means that I accept myself, that I am not on trial in my own eyes, that I value and respect myself. This is not an act of indulgence but of courage.
Nathaniel BrandenTo accept struggle as part of life, to accept all of it, even the darkest moments of anguish; to be motivated by love rather than fear, by confidence rather than insecurity: these are the benchmarks of high self-esteem. The wish to avoid fear and pain is not the motive that drives the lives of highly evolved men and women; rather, it is the life force within them, thrusting toward its unique form of expression-the actualization of personal values.
Nathaniel BrandenHow do we keep our inner fire alive? Two things, at minimum, are needed: an ability to appreciate the positives in our life โ and a commitment to action. Every day, it's important to ask and answer these questions: โWhat's good in my life?โ and โWhat needs to be done?
Nathaniel Branden