Being (Enough of) Yourself

Image by Daniel Lincoln on Unsplash

A good friend is going through a tough time at work.  She’s an incredibly sharp, wise, powerful person who has made significant gains for the organization. Yet in some ways, the gains have been made in spite of leadership’s support, rather than with their support, or even with their interest at times. They either can’t see who she really is, or they do see but choose to not acknowledge her.  She’s understandably frustrated and hurt.

Her experience is one we’ve all shared.  We’ve had experiences when people who are important to us can’t seem to see us, much less appreciate us. And we can wrestle with how to respond.  There’s no blanket answer on the response, we have to figure out the best one each time.  

BUT there is a blanket awareness—the awareness of Self.


Michael Neill is a teacher, author, speaker, coach and thought leader.  His work is centered around exploring, understanding and sharing principles of life which meld the spiritual with the mundane. I’ve taken several of his workshops and all have deeply impacted me.

In one workshop several years ago, he casually made the following statement as part of a answer to someone’e question:  

“It’s about being enough of yourself so that those who love you can find you.”  

His words stopped me in my tracks and I immediately wrote them down.  The statement has lived on a post-it in my office ever since.


We are who we are.  Yet so many of us hide parts of ourselves so that we can be accepted.  (Am speaking from first hand experience here as I hid my spiritual side for years because I didn’t want to be written off as a flake.)

Granted, no one is the same as we were a decade ago. We have experiences, we learn, we shift, we expand, we grow over time. And yet, there is a core element to each of us that is intrinsically us.  We know this Being intimately.


One of the most powerful spiritual statements you can make is the “I Am” declaration:  

“I Am That I Am.”

This statement proclaims your existence and your sovereignty.  You are a spiritual Being who came into this life for particular experiences to expand your soul’s knowledge.

You will have to adjust yourself at times for others, that’s just how it is.  Yet, know that it’s a temporary adjustment.  

You are who you are.  Be in and of yourself.