Creating Sufficiency

Life Coaching Tip: If you were to ask me the number one thought or belief that blocks my clients from fully embracing all the joy and fulfillment life has to offer, I would say, without a doubt, it’s the thought of being not enough. Is this you? This article provides practical tips on how to create more feelings of sufficiency in your life.

_______________

In her powerful book The Gifts of Imperfection, the ever-wise Brené Brown writes:

“Whether true or not, the thought of not enough occurs to us automatically before we even think to question or examine it. Before we even sit up in bed, we’re already inadequate, already behind, already losing, already lacking something.”

Oh, sister! For much of my life, I deeply related to this.

Not successful enough. Not intelligent enough. Not pretty enough. Not popular enough. Not thin enough. Not a good enough mom, wife, friend, daughter . . . the list went on and on.

And this persistent feeling of not enoughness led me to hustle for my worthiness to the point of exhaustion.

As you might imagine, this created an endless cycle of grinding productivity, stress, anxiety, self-doubt, lackluster achievement, and an empty sense of discontent—despite any outward “success.”

It wasn’t until I made the conscious decision to finally deal with my thoughts and feelings of not enoughness and intentionally direct my focus to sufficiency that things began to shift.

So, what does that even mean?

In The Soul of Money, author Lynne Twist puts it beautifully:

“(Sufficiency) is an experience, a context we generate, a declaration, a knowing that there is enough, and we are enough. Sufficiency resides inside each of us, and we can call it forward. It is a consciousness, an attention, an intentional choosing of the way we think about our circumstances.” 

It’s a practice and a perspective—not a number or amount.  We don’t achieve sufficiency, we recognize it.

Why is this important?

First, to stop the relentless pattern of striving for something unobtainable. When we operate from a foundation of not enough, we feel it in our bodies and our lives—and it feels defeating and hopeless.

Second, when we let go of the scarcity mindset of not enoughness, we allow ourselves to feel good in the present moment. Then, we’re able to attract more happiness, ease, and meaning into our lives.

Energy flows where attention goes. Like attracts like. So, from a vibrational setpoint, when we focus on lack, we attract more of it.

And from both a Law of Attraction and brain science perspective, focusing on what’s missing naturally brings more of the same—scarcity, insecurity, and limitation.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Many, many women struggle with these thoughts and feelings. We live in a culture that, both subtly and overtly, teaches girls to stay small, be quiet, and avoid taking up space. This conditioning runs deep—and most of us inherited it without ever choosing it.

But here’s the good news:  even if this is true for you, it doesn’t mean this has to continue to be your story.

You can shift your mindset from scarcity to sufficiency. I’ve done it. And so many of my clients have done it over the years. You can, too.

Here are a few practices to get you started:

1. AFFIRMATION: “I am enough.”

Repeat this simple yet powerful affirmation throughout your day—especially when you feel your insecurities creeping in. Speak it out loud. Feel it. Write it down. Let it anchor you.

2. ASK YOURSELF EMPOWERING QUESTIONS:

Your brain loves solving problems—so offer it helpful, expansive “problems” to solve. Try challenging your brain with questions that serve you, like:

• How am I enough?
• Why am I enough?
• How do I have enough time?
• Why do I have enough money?
• How do I have enough of everything I need?

3. CELEBRATE YOUR WINS:

Create a daily routine of acknowledging and taking count of your wins for the day. List them, feel them, pause in delight—really let them sink in.

If you were raised to downplay yourself or avoid celebrating, this practice is even more vital. Stretch outside your comfort zone and let yourself shine.

4. CREATE A NO-JUDGEMENT ZONE:

When critical or judgey thoughts come up of yourself or others, pause. Truly pause, and without shame, ask yourself:

What if I knew with 100% certainty that they (or I) were doing the very best they (or I) possibly could? What if that were enough?

Allow yourself to feel at peace.

5. STAY PRESENT & PRACTICE GRATITUDE:

When your mind wanders to “If only I had ___, then I could be happy,” gently direct it back to now.

Look around. What can you be grateful for in this very moment?

Let yourself feel happy, content, safe, and fulfilled NOW.  You don’t have to wait for “someday.”

As spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson says: “Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”

If thoughts of not enoughness have been weighing you down, I encourage you to try these practices. Shifting to a mindset of sufficiency can profoundly impact your life.

And remember: you don’t have to do it alone.

The support of a life coach can make this journey easier, deeper, and more meaningful. If you’ve been thinking about working with a coach, I’d be honored to walk that path with you.

Simply schedule your complimentary consultation today. Because you are enough. You always have been, and you always will be—and embodying that truth can change everything.