By Dheeksha Rabindra

I recently watched the latest movie “Barbie”. It has a lot of takeaways. However, the “Ken” character caught my attention. He feels inadequate throughout the movie as he was created only to be loved by Barbie. He feels at a loss when he is not loved. He feels incomplete without her. However, at the end of the movie, he realizes “I am kenough” (I am Ken and I am enough)

What is to be enough?

Is it to live alone? Human beings are social animals. We need companionship and social life for our mental well-being. So, what does it mean to be enough? Being enough does not mean isolation. It does not mean you are measured by your achievements or judged. I am enough, simply means you are good the way you are. Here are 5 characteristics of a person who feels “I am Enough” –

You are what you are: A person who feels “I am enough”, understands their worth, and be themselves. They do not strive to improve their worthiness or validity and strive to be accepted, and loved by others. Being yourself is also not stagnant. You are yourself, if you genuinely want to learn more, be more authentic, more open, and connected. Trying to change for others and please/prove to others is not being yourself.

High Emotional Intelligence: People who feel they are enough are emotionally intelligent. Emotionally intelligent people can recognize their emotions, understand the cause of emotions, and decode what we and others are feeling. People with high EQ are skilled at managing emotions to achieve the desired outcome. Emotional intelligence restores balance to our thought processes and does not allow emotions to control our actions. It rather helps to realize the exact reason for feeling a particular way.

Self-Awareness: A person who feels “I am enough” is highly self-aware. Self-awareness goes much beyond being just aware of one’s needs and wants. Self-awareness is a continuous process of focusing on understanding oneself, self-awareness is acceptance of one’s mistakes with grace and being humble to achievements, self-awareness is knowing one’s likes and dislikes, self-awareness is saying ‘NO’ politely, self-awareness is to understand what is in your control and what is not. Self-awareness is to muster up the courage to dive deep into oneself

Emotionally self-sufficient: A person who feels “I am enough” is emotionally self-sufficient. They do not depend on others to make them happy and be loved. They do not entrust their happiness to others’ hands. They do not rely on one person to make them happy emotionally and intellectually. They have their tribe to meet their various social needs. Individually they will be emotionally self-sufficient as they love and understand themselves completely.

Complete Acceptance: A person who feels ‘I am enough’ accepts oneself completely. He/she accepts their weakness, flaws, and imperfections easily. Recognizes that one’s worth is not dependent on external factors such as success, wealth, or beauty. Instead, it’s an internal belief that each person has inherent value and deserves love and respect just as they are. Accepting oneself completely can boost self-confidence, reduce self-doubt, and lead to a more fulfilling and contented life. It helps one to easily speak their mind without hesitation because they do not have to prove their worth to anyone and are enough, just as they are.

In a relationship (be it with partner/ friends/ parents) when you feel “I am enough” you do not crave love or to be accepted or listened to because you are your partner, friend, and parent. Then the question may arise, what is the use of relationships? Relationships are not just about giving and receiving love. A relationship is also about accepting the other individual as they are. Understanding “they are enough”.