Have I Ever Felt Good Enough?

I'm currently on a self-discovery journey, and part of that involves reading self-help books. The book I'm currently reading is Atomic Habits by James Clear, but the book I read before was You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero. There were more than a handful of eye-opening quotes from that book; yet, the one that sticks out to me the most is "It's about respecting yourself, instead of your insecure need to be liked" (Sincero). I have this habit of knocking myself down before anyone else has the chance to. I'll give you a few examples. Perhaps at work, I will be asked to stock a side of the store, so I will tell them yes, but it might take me a few hours if I'm working slowly. Almost as if I've set the bar low for myself, even when I know I'm good at what I do and know what I'm doing. Another example is whenever I recommend something I like to someone, I'll say it isn't the best, but I like it. To sort of prepare in case they don't like it, and then it doesn't change their opinion of me.

I tend to be the first person to say I'm not smart or that I'm ugly before anyone else gets the chance to. Because if I bring it up first, they can't use it against me. In these instances, I don't seem to love myself or even respect myself. If I respected myself, I wouldn't speak about myself in that way; instead, I would truly believe in myself and the things I know that I am capable of. I hadn't realized how much this habit occurs in my daily life. I shouldn't have to knock myself and the things I like down to get others to like me or even to receive their praise.

I am already good enough. Even if no one else believes that to be true.