I’ve heard many people in my nineteen years say that they just aren’t good enough, pretty enough, or perfect enough. It's hard to stand by and watch the twinge of emotions that run through a person when they explain why they feel they just aren't enough for anyone.

To the ones thinking they aren’t enough, I promise you that you are. If someone can’t see how amazing you are, whether that is family, friends, acquaintances, or partners then that is their loss and I am sorry that someone would ever make you feel that way.

To the ones thinking they aren’t good enough, you are. You’re better than what you think. Our mind plays tricks constantly telling us that we will never be as good as someone else. We’re constantly in competition with others because we strive to be better. Please, believe that you are more than what you think of yourself. Having pride in who you are cannot be taken away from you.

To the ones thinking they aren’t pretty enough, you’re beautiful. We’re taught from a young age that makeup makes you beautiful by providing an even skin tone, acne is disgusting, and you should be skinny. They can tell us over and over again that beauty is what is on the inside, but how do we change what others see or even what we see when that's all we have come to know? How do we change the defenition of the word "pretty" to everyone?

I see beauty in how people treat others and the kindness in their hearts. How respect and honesty serves as makeup to cover up the blemishes in society. How simply holding a door open for someone can provide a smile. We’re taught to be kind, but not too much to where we get taken advantage of. Over and over again society teaches us that we are what others view us as, but you are more than that. You are more than what society tells you that you are. Make your own identity.

To the ones thinking they aren’t perfect enough, perfection is unrealistic. Realize that you don’t have to be perfect. Anyone who expects you not to make mistakes needs to take a long look in the mirror. Everyone is going to make a mistake, that’s how we learn and grow, but it’s how you conquer the mistakes and move on from them that matter the most.

Don’t let anyone be the reason that you think that you aren’t enough. Love yourself before anyone else. Not because “you have to love yourself before anyone can love you,” but believe that you are enough because.. YOU ARE. Society puts it into our head that we have to be loved by others in order to be happy, but we don’t have to! Happiness doesn’t have to come from being loved.

You are enough. You are more than enough. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you and never give up on yourself.