You are Enough. Do you agree or disagree?
Every day I try to watch a TED talk. Today I picked one about vulnerability and feeling worthy. I feel this is an issue that impacts people with disabilities a great deal. I have heard many people say they struggle with feeling that they are a burden, or that they do not feel worthy. I can say, that I have begun to feel that I am enough, I am not a burden and I do feel worthy. I feel this is really true, not something I am trying to talk myself into, and I feel I got to this place through 7 cups. The support of other people who care and listen can really make a difference. Here is the TED talk I listened to.
https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability?language=en
How do you feel about yourself and your disability? Do you feel worthy? Are you enough? If yes or no, then why? Do you feel it is possible to be vulnerable enough to be seen, to let people really see who you are and what you are going through? If you did, and you were accepted and supported, would anything change?
It seems to me, maybe that is what we are really after, I sometimes hope I will improve and I can get my health back and I will be able to do things like work again. But underlying all of that is just a wish to be worthy, to be enough. Maybe the fact that we deal with the challenges of our disability makes us "enough". I think that I feel that way when I chat with @Avocado6486. I am enough. Other people have made me feel that way too. I appreciate all of you.
Any thoughts? Please share.
Hi I have cerebral palsy and seizures and bipolar some days I feel I am enough some days I also have my really bad days were I feel I am not enough
@Jennminnie2380 If you need to talk you can text me.
@1Marg1
The thing that hurts most is realization I'm not good for myself, for my own standards. I have my own dreams, wishes, my picture of ideal me... and with all honesty I know I'm not that good. Than who can blame other people who count me as not being enough for anything worthwhile?...
@unluckyguy
It is ok to have dreams and you don't have to be up to any standards in order to start. I had a friend who once said "Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly" meaning that it is ok to make mistakes. sometimes you have to do something poorly before you can evolve into doing it well.
Often we can be our own worst critics, and in a world, that perhaps criticizes too often it is so important that we find a way to believe in ourselves. Another saying is "Fake till you make it" and I think that is something I have done often. I hope you can too. Dreams are so important and I hope you never give up.
Great question, but icky feelings regarding this at times.
As a person I do feel that I'm enough, and I think that others with disabilities are enough.
There are times though where I question my value to society - am I being productive enough, should I be pushing myself more?
Then there are external factors, like I'm still going through the life insurance process (husband got approved a while ago). It's pretty crappy when others put a value on me (or I might not end up with any 'value' that way), especially when they word it like 'we want to see you're doing things to take care of yourself'. Soooo much of it is outside of my control. It's not just that either, it's things like the income I get and how work values me, how the health care system values me, etc. It can be pretty disheartening at times.
This is a great, thought-provoking post. I personally believe all people with disabilities are "enough," and that peoples' disabilities do not define who they are, as persons. I believe that the term disability does not mean that a person is not a capable or an able person, as they are still able to be functional, and to be productive. For example, a lot of listeners here who volunteer on 7 Cups, are people who are facing disabilities. I also believe that there is nothing wrong with a person being on disability, as they are still able to make contributions to society, for example, through performing volunteering/charity work.
I believe that everyone is equal in society, and no person is better than the other. For example, I have seen instances where people with disabilities are not treated fairly, or equally, and I think that this is wrong. In these situations, you are treating a person with a disability, that they are not worthy of respect, fair treatment, equality, dignity, etc., when in fact they are. Everyone is a worthy person, despite their characteristics.
I hope that all people in this forum will see themselves as worthy, capable, talented people who have an ability to make valuable contributions in the world, despite having any sort of a disability.
