I'm Good Enough...

Remember the old Stuart Smalley skit on Saturday Night Live. A 12 Step/Self-Help Junkie, Stuart would stare into the mirror and say, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!" As silly as it sounded, and as silly as he looked, there was great truth in his words.

Wouldn't it be great if someone followed us around saying, "You're good enough, you're smart enough, and doggone it, people like you"? I know I could use that. Because some days, I don't feel good enough, smart enough, and sometimes, despite all the wonderful people in my life, I do question if people like me.

I'm not sure why. No matter how much success I achieve, there always seems to be more I need to do. If there is any failing, I hyper-focus on that rather than seeing all that is working. It's like a child bringing home a report card of all As and one C, and the parent not acknowledging the As and only criticizing the C. Except that I am the parent now. Doing it to myself. And in a room of friends and family, I will feel the presence of the one person in the room who doesn't like me. And fixate on that.

It's silly but it's worse than that. They say that children learn more from watching their parents than from what they say. So, I can tell my children that they are good enough, smart enough, and doggone people like them until I'm as blue as the bonnets for which Texas is famous, but if they see those doubts in me, I am still hurting them.

So today, I'm taking a lesson from old Stuart in his v-neck cardigans and bad dye job (well, at least we have that in common right now!), and each time those doubts come bubbling up, I am going to tell myself that "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone people like me". Because it's not just about me.

And if you ever feel this way, too, do yourself the same favor. And in case you need a little help, I'll do it for you -- "You're good enough, you're smart enough, and doggone, people like you". I know I do.