I lived my whole life believing I wasn’t good enough until that fateful day when I looked into the eyes of a stranger and saw myself reflected back.
It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon, and I had just been passed over for yet another promotion. The sting of rejection felt familiar, almost comforting in its predictability. I ducked into a small café to escape the downpour, my head low, my shoulders heavy.
As I waited for my coffee, a woman sitting by the window caught my attention. She had a warm, almost magnetic presence. Her silver hair framed a face marked with lines that spoke of laughter and sorrow in equal measure. She glanced up and smiled at me—a smile so genuine it felt like a gift.
“Excuse me,” she said, her voice soft yet firm, “Do you mind sitting with me for a moment?”
Startled, I hesitated but nodded, carrying my coffee to her table. She gestured to the chair across from her, and as I sat, her piercing blue eyes seemed to look right through me.
“You remind me of someone I used to know,” she said. “Someone who spent her whole life believing she wasn’t good enough.”
I froze, unsure how to respond. Before I could speak, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small mirror. “Look at yourself,” she said, holding it up to me.
Reluctantly, I glanced at my reflection. I saw the same tired eyes, the same furrowed brow, the same face I’d avoided meeting in mirrors for years. But then she spoke.
“Now look deeper. You are more than what you see. The world told you you’re not enough, but the world lies. You were always more than enough. You just didn’t believe it.”
Her words struck something deep inside me, a part of me I had long buried. For the first time, I allowed myself to see beyond my perceived flaws. I saw resilience in those tired eyes, determination in that furrowed brow.
The stranger smiled again and placed the mirror in my hand. “Keep it,” she said, standing to leave. “And remember, the only person who needs to believe you’re enough is you.”
As she walked out into the rain, I realized something: I didn’t even know her name, but she had given me the greatest gift I’d ever received. From that day forward, I vowed to see myself through her eyes—worthy, capable, and more than enough.
P.S. If you don’t believe you’re good enough. It will be difficult for others to see your worth.
