i believe i am enough essay

The Meaning of “I Am Enough” and Why Is It So Important

“I am enough” is the most important sentence. Here is the meaning of “I am enough” and how knowing it changes our lives.

“I am enough,” a three-word sentence that carries exceptional weight. For some people, it’s the default to know their worth. But for others, it may take months or years to realize their worth.

So what is the meaning of “I am enough”? Why is it so important, and how to build a strong sense of worthiness in our daily life?

Signs that you don’t think you are enough

We don’t know what we don’t know. Sometimes our limiting beliefs play a role in the background. For example, you may think you are confident until someone criticizes you. Or you may feel like you know your worth until a terrible relationship makes you doubt your value. 

It’s always better to be prepared and fix those limiting beliefs before they come to affect your life. So here are the signs that you don’t think you are enough, and you may have some inner work to do.

• You question your worth in the presence of negative comments.
• You desperately try to change the way your body and your appearance.
• Sometimes you avoid opportunities or people because you think they are too good for you.
• You believe that you can only be happy when you are slim/wealthy/married…
• In your mind, everything is fixed. And you don’t think you can be better than you are now.
• You have an urgency to prove yourself to others.
• Sometimes you sacrifice your time or mental well-being for other people.
• You assume that people only approach or play nice to take advantage of you.

So how to own your enoughness? What to do if you are not embracing your worth now?

Read also: A free workbook to identify and change your limiting beliefs

The meaning of “I am enough”

As an affirmation, knowing the meaning of “I am enough” creates a concrete picture in your mind. It tells your brain how to act and react in different situations and when to shut down your inner doubting voice.

If you struggle to own your enoughness, you may first need to know what the phrase means so you can internalize it better. And here is the meaning of “I am enough.” Then, compare and see which area you need to work on.

“I am enough” means to accept your flaws whole-heartedly

Without self-acceptance, you will always be struggling with your identity. But when you know you are enough, you can finally be at peace with your flaws, imperfections , and mistakes.

I remember watching Susan Boyle’s Britain’s Got Talent performance. She was standing there, timid and nervous. Even when she conquered the audience with her fantastic singing, a trace of insecurity flashed in her eyes.

Judging from her appearance, Susan Boyle might not have the “star quality.” But all I wanted to do at that time was to cheer for her, to tell her that she was amazingly talented and she deserved to be on that stage, proud. 

When you know you are enough, you are that cheerleader. You stop attaching your worth to your body shape, appearance, or your bank account number. Instead, what you see are the qualities you have, your talent, and your potential. You believe that you are loved even when you are not perfect, and no one else is. 

Think about someone that you adore. It can be your friend or a family member. Are they flawless with a six-pack and stunning features? Are they extremely wealthy and successful? My guess is that they are imperfect somehow, but it doesn’t matter to you.

You see something special in them that makes their flaws less visible. Maybe it’s their humor, compassion, kindness , or always being there for you. You value them for their good qualities.

That is the same with you, too. You don’t need to be perfect to be loved or accepted. You just need to shine in one thing. So if you still doubt your enoughness, try asking yourself, “where do I shine?” And when you have the answer, do everything in your power to let it shine brighter.

Free yourself from the beliefs other people put on you

Some of the beliefs you pick up as a kid continue to impact your adult life. And those beliefs may make sense back then, but not now.

For example, your parents applauded you for finishing your meal when you were a baby. So you learned that you needed to eat everything on the plate even when you were full.

That made sense when you were too young to know how much you needed. But that belief is no longer healthy when you are an adult. It no longer serves you and might even over-eat, putting your health at risk.

Part of growing up is to abandon the beliefs that are holding you back or damaging you. It can be teachers telling you that college is the only way to success. Or maybe your parents were always fighting. So you feel like that’s how a relationship is.

Not everything you were told or learned in your childhood is true. When you know you are enough, you start to question the old beliefs that suggest otherwise. And you begin asking yourself, “really?” “Do I really deserve to be in a dysfunctional relationship?” “Do I have to eat all these on my plate?” When you shake your old mindset , you start to build new ones that bring abundance to your life.

Know that you are not your past

The past is something we need to learn from, not something that defines us.

Just because you didn’t do well in school doesn’t mean you will suck at your job. And just because you have hurt someone doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a happy relationship.

Disney wasn’t the first company Walt Disney founded. Before it, he launched an advertising video production firm that started quite successfully. But he trusted the wrong distributors who cheated his money. As a result, the company eventually went bankrupt.

If Walt Disney stopped there and identified himself as a failure, we would miss out on today’s amazing cartoons and movies. Quite the opposite, he jumped right back on to found Disney. With his experiences and creativity, it became an entertainment empire as we know it today.

What’s in the past is past, whether it’s a mistake, a heartbreak, or a glory. The moment you decide to move on, those past experiences become lessons. They guide you to make better decisions in the future.

Stop punishing yourself for other people’s mistakes

Humans are social animals. We need connections to grow, learn and live. But that also means we are exposed to hurt. They can be hurtful words , betrayals, lies , or rejections.

It’s not possible to avoid hurt. And we all know that the best way to deal with it is to move on. But so often, we find ourselves dwelling in the heartbreaks unknowingly. And those unprocessed emotions may be sabotaging.

For example, if your parents divorced when you were a kid, you might assume that it’s hard to have a happy marriage and a loving family. Or maybe you’ve been hurt in past relationships. And you expect everyone you meet is a liar.

Knowing “I am enough” means challenging those thoughts, questioning them, and transforming them. It’s also reconciliation with yourself . 

Tell yourself that “it’s not my fault that my parents always fought. And I don’t need to repeat the same pattern.” And “I don’t deserve to be cheated on. It’s just one person. After that, I will find someone who treats me right.”

When you stop blaming yourself for others’ mistakes, you allow others to love you, cherish you, and help you grow.

Be your better self for yourself

Finally, the last meaning of knowing “I am enough” is wanting to be better for yourself, not for anyone else.

When you know you are enough, you understand that you don’t need to please anyone. You don’t need to make mommy or daddy proud nor to prove your worth to your partner.

All you want to do is to grow and grow because it feels great. The sense of fulfillment is the ultimate motivation that drives you forward. Nothing compares to the joy when you find you can excel and exceed your expectations. 

I was raised in a single-parent family, and my dad was always absent. To gain his attention, I fought to be the best student in the class and a child with the best manners. Everything to me was a competition because winning would mean being noticed by my dad.

But that didn’t work. I was still pretty alone in my childhood. So if he didn’t care, why not just do it for me? When I lived my life for myself, I learned even better because my intention was pure. When I made a decision, I had my best interest at heart, not caring if he would like it. The mindset change sets me free.

Live for yourself might be a cliché slogan. But it has so much truth as well because, at the end of the day, everyone has to live for themselves. You are not born to be liked or accepted. You are here to fulfill your purpose. And knowing you are enough will guide you on the right track.

What’s your interpretation of “I am enough”?

Tell me about it in the comment or share with me by tagging @_OurMindfulLife on Instagram.

50 I Believe Essay Topics

To better train students on how to present their personal opinions on subjective matters, teachers will assign what is known as an “I Believe” or “This I Believe” essay writing assignment.

Designed to provide the reader with insight into the writer’s character, these essays are typically written in first-person point of view. The writer shares their beliefs on a particular topic – ranging from religion and politics to more personal subjects such as love and happiness – and offers supporting arguments for why they hold these beliefs.

The Challenges of Writing “I Believe” Essays

This type of essay prompt is a welcome break from more detail-oriented or researched-based writing assignments for many students. However, “I believe” essay writing assignments aren’t always easy.

It can be challenging for students to articulate their beliefs in a clear and concise way that isn’t argumentative or offensive to the reader. Students may also struggle to explain their reasoning behind these beliefs in a thorough and not overly simplistic way.

Despite these challenges, “I believe” essays can be an excellent opportunity for students to share their thoughts and feelings on important topics and learn more about themselves in the process.

Tips for Writing “I Believe” Essays

If you’re given an “I believe” essay assignment, here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Start by defining what it is that you believe. This may seem like a simple task, but it can be challenging to identify your core beliefs. If you’re struggling, start by jotting down a list of topics that are important to you – from politics and religion to family and friendship.
• Reflect on why each topic is important to you. Think about the reasoning behind your choices and how these reasons evolved over time. After all, your core beliefs are likely to have changed or grown since you reached adolescence.
• Determine which of your beliefs are the most important. Focusing on developing thought processes that support your beliefs. For extra help, consider sharing these thoughts with a trusted friend or family member for advice.

By reflecting upon your core beliefs and developing clear arguments to support them, you can craft a powerful “I believe” essay that will truly reflect your thoughts and feelings.

How to Write an “I Believe” Essay

To craft a well-written “I Believe” essay, students must forgo the typical essay structure of introduction, body, and conclusion.

Instead, the essay should be organized around a series of specific beliefs that the writer wishes to share. Each thought should be introduced with a clear thesis statement, followed by supporting arguments and examples.

The conclusion of the essay should wrap up the main points that have been made and leave the reader with a final thought to ponder.

Here is an example of how an “I Believe” essay might be structured:

Thesis: I believe that everyone has the right to love and be loved.

Argument: Everyone deserves to find love and experience happiness in their lives. This should not be limited by race, religion, socioeconomic status, or any other factor.

Example: I saw a video of a man proposing to his girlfriend at Fenway Park. She said yes and the crowd went wild! Now that is love. If they can find it, then so can we all!

Conclusion: Society should not stand in the way of love. Love is the most powerful force in the world, and we should all embrace it.

As you can see, the “I Believe” essay structure allows for a great deal of flexibility. Students can choose to focus on a variety of topics and can organize their essays in different ways. An “I Believe” essay can be an excellent opportunity for students to present their thoughts on important issues under a few simple guidelines. With a bit of planning and organization, this type of essay writing assignment can be a breeze!

What You Shouldn’t Do When Writing an “I Believe” Essay

To ensure that you are writing an “I Believe” essay and not another form of an argumentative or persuasive essay, avoid doing the following:

• Don’t provide evidence or use statistics to support your position – this is not an essay that calls for research.
• Don’t attack or criticize the beliefs of others – your goal is to share your own opinions, not to tear down those of others.
• Don’t go off on tangents – stay focused on the main points you want to make.
• Don’t speak objectively or in the third person – for example, don’t say “people believe that” or “studies show.”
• Don’t use filler words and phrases such as “I think,” “I feel,” and “it seems like.”

Use any of these 50 “I Believe” essay topics to help you brainstorm ideas for your essay!

I Believe Essay Topics About Life

• I believe that life is too short to spend time with people who bring you down.
• I believe that laughter is the best medicine
• I believe that we should make time for quiet reflection every day.
• I believe that the only thing that matters in life is love.
• I believe that we are all capable of change.
• I believe that it is never too late to learn and grow.
• I believe in the power of positive thinking.
• I believe that we should always be kind, even when it is difficult.
• I believe that there is no such thing as a coincidence.
• I believe in the saying “what goes around, comes around.”
• I believe that we are all responsible for our own happiness.
• I believe that the best things in life are free.
• I believe that it is essential to be grateful for what we have.
• I believe that it is never too late to achieve our dreams.
• I believe that we should surround ourselves with people who make us better.
• I believe that you can either love or hate something; there is no in-between.

I Believe Essay Topics About Education & School

• I believe that education is the key to a bright future
• I believe that children are our future and should be treasured as such.
• I believe that there is no such thing as a dumb question.
• I believe that schools should do more to celebrate diversity.
• I believe that homework is essential, but it should not be excessive.
• I believe in the importance of having a strong support system while attending school.
• I believe that standardized tests are not an accurate measure of a student’s knowledge.
• I believe that it is vital to find a balance between work and play while in school.
• I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn how to swim.
• I believe in the importance of recess and physical activity in students’ lives.
• I believe that there is no such thing as a bad grade.
• I believe that teachers deserve more respect and better pay.
• I believe that it is never too early to learn a foreign language.
• I believe that education should be free for everyone.

I Believe Essay Topics About Friends & Family

• I believe that family is the most important thing in life.
• I believe that friends are the family we choose for ourselves.
• I believe that it is essential to maintain close relationships with friends and family.
• I believe that there is no substitute for quality time spent with loved ones.
• I believe that family is not defined by blood but by love and commitment.
• I believe that we should spend more time with the people we care about and less time worrying about material things.
• I believe that it is better to have a few close friends than many superficial ones.
• I believe that it is healthy for friends to grow apart.
• I believe that competition between friends is healthy.

I Believe Essay Topics About Money

• I believe that money cannot buy happiness.
• I believe that it is essential to be happy with what you have, not what you want.
• I believe that people are more important than things.
• I believe that it is okay to splurge on something even if it means going into debt.
• I believe that it is better to give than to receive.
• I believe that money can’t buy everything.
• I believe that the love of money is the root of all evil.
• I believe in saving for a rainy day.
• I believe in investing in oneself.
• I believe in the saying, “money doesn’t grow on trees.”
• I believe that rich people should be forced to pay more taxes.

These 50 I Believe essay topics are sure to inspire your own original beliefs and help you create a powerful and unique essay. When writing your I Believe essay, be sure to focus on the beliefs that are most important to you and that you feel passionate about discussing. The best I Believe essays are the ones that are personal and reflective, so don’t be afraid to share your own thoughts and experiences.

Related Posts

• 130 Proposal Essay Topics
• 65 Explanatory Essay Topics
• 170 Ethics Essay Topics
• 80 Holocaust Essay Topics
• 160 Rhetorical Essay Topics

Categories:

• Essay Samples
• Essay Topics
• Essay Writing Guides

Recent posts:

• 160 Satire Essay Topics
• 155 Criminal Justice Essay Topics
• 150 Political Essay Topics
• 145 Classification Essay Topics
• 140 Sociology Essay Topics
• 140 Opinion Essay Topics
• 140 Environmental Essay Topics
• 135 Controversial Essay Topics
• 125 Classification and Division Essay Topics
• 120 Literary Essay Topics
• 100 Profile Essay Topics
• 90 Heart of Darkness Essay Topics

Testimonials

This I Believe Essay

In the realm of personal expression and introspection, the “This I Believe” essay stands as a testament to the power of individual beliefs and narratives. Rooted in the context of personal experiences and convictions, these essays provide a platform for individuals to articulate their core principles, values, and perspectives. Through the use of various literary devices and elements , authors craft narratives that illuminate their unique outlook on life. In this article, we will delve into the definition of a This I Believe essay, present a step-by-step guide on how to craft one, address common questions, and explore the essence of this expressive form.

1. High School This I Believe Essay Example

Size: 487 KB

2. Sample This I Believe Essay Example

Size: 47 KB

3. Student This I Believe Essay Example

Size: 173 KB

4. Middle School This I Believe Essay Example

Size: 270 KB

5. This I Believe Essay Topic Example

Size: 532 KB

6. This I Believe Essay Life Example

Size: 101 KB

7. This I Believe Essay Overview Example

Size: 67 KB

8. This I Believe Essay Steps Example

Size: 156 KB

9. This I Believe Essay Friendship Example

Size: 426 KB

10. Sports This I Believe Essay Example

Size: 159 KB

11. This I Believe Essay Rubric Example

Size: 84 KB

12. This I Believe Personal Essay Example

Size: 104 KB

13. This I Believe Essay Writing Example

Size: 175 KB

14. This I Believe Essay Statement Example

Size: 55 KB

15. God This I Believe Essay Example

Size: 117 KB

16. This I Believe Essay Brief Example

Size: 121 KB

17. This I Believe Essay Thesis Statement Example

Size: 11 KB

18. This I Believe Essay Speech Example

19. this i believe essay college example.

Size: 66 KB

20. This I Believe Essay Lesson Plan Example

Size: 63 KB

21. This I Believe Essay Music Example

Size: 406 KB

22. Faith This I Believe Essay Example

Size: 198 KB

23. Reflection This I Believe Essay Example

Size: 37 KB

24. This I Believe Immigration Essay Example

Size: 50 KB

25. This I Believe Love Essay Example

Size: 709 KB

26. This I Believe Dream Essay Example

Size: 154 KB

27. This I Believe Power Essay Example

Size: 89 KB

28. This I Believe Essay Prompt Example

Size: 51 KB

29. This I Believe Essay Peer Review Example

30. Elements of This I Believe Essay Example

31. This I Believe Essay Transcript Example

Size: 259 KB

What is a This I Believe Essay?

A This I Believe essay is a written composition that encapsulates an individual’s personal beliefs, values, and philosophies. Often reflective and intimate in nature, these essays offer readers insight into the author’s subjective understanding of the world. They provide an opportunity to explore the depth of one’s convictions, making use of various literary devices and characteristics to convey a sense of authenticity and sincerity. Through the exploration of individual experiences and convictions, these essays aim to connect with readers on a personal and emotional level.

How to Write a This I Believe Essay

Step 1: choose your core belief.

At the heart of your essay lies your core belief. Choose a belief that holds personal significance and represents your worldview. This belief should be something you feel passionately about and can articulate convincingly.

Step 2: Develop a Compelling Context

Create a context for your belief by providing background information. Explain why this belief is important to you and how it has shaped your experiences and outlook on life. A relatable context will engage your readers and make your essay more relatable.

Step 3: Employ Effective Literary Devices

Incorporate literary devices to enhance the impact of your essay. Metaphors, similes, and anecdotes can help convey your belief in a vivid and relatable manner. Consider how these devices can strengthen your narrative and connect with your audience emotionally.

Step 4: Craft a Strong Conclusion

Summarize your belief and its significance in your life, reinforcing the message you want to leave with your readers. Reflect on the journey you’ve taken them on and inspire them to reflect on their own beliefs.

Can I write about a commonly held belief?

Absolutely. While it’s important to maintain authenticity, even exploring a cliché belief can be powerful when you provide a fresh perspective or personal context. Your unique experiences and reflections make your essay stand out.

Can I use proper nouns in my essay?

Yes, proper nouns can add specificity and authenticity to your essay. Mentioning specific places, people, or events can help ground your beliefs in real-world experiences.

How can I make my essay more impactful?

Focus on using strong verbs to convey emotions and actions. Instead of saying “I felt sad,” consider saying “I crumbled under the weight of sorrow.” This adds depth to your writing and engages the reader’s senses.

In the realm of personal expression, the This I Believe essay shines as a vehicle for exploring one’s deepest convictions. By carefully selecting beliefs, weaving context, employing literary devices, and crafting strong conclusions, authors can create narratives that resonate with readers on a profound level. Through the power of words, these essays bridge the gap between individual experiences and universal truths, reminding us of the strength and diversity of human beliefs. So, take the plunge into introspection and share your beliefs with the world through the art of the This I Believe essay.

This I Believe Essay Generator

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Write a This I Believe Essay about the power of kindness in everyday life

Discuss in a This I Believe Essay how overcoming challenges has shaped your character

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

32 “This I Believe” Essay

The history of ‘this i believe’.

by Tanya Matthews

This I Believe is an exciting media project that invites individuals from all walks of life to write about and discuss the core beliefs that guide their daily lives. They share these statements in weekly broadcasts on NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered .

The series is based on the 1950’s radio program This I Believe , hosted by acclaimed journalist Edward R. Murrow. Each day, some 39-million Americans gathered by their radios to hear compelling essays from the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Robinson, Helen Keller and Harry Truman as well as corporate leaders, cab drivers, scientists and secretaries — anyone able to distill into a few minutes the guiding principles by which they lived. Their words brought comfort and inspiration to a country worried about the Cold War, McCarthyism and racial division.

Eventually, the radio series became a cultural phenomenon. Eighty-five leading newspapers printed a weekly column based on This I Believe . A collection of essays published in 1952 sold 300,000 copies — second only to the Bible that year. The series was translated and broadcast around the globe on the Voice of America. A book of essays translated into Arabic sold 30,000 copies in just three days.

[The NPR series This I Believe can be read and heard here . In addition, the website and organization This I Believe houses thousands of essays written by famous people, such as the ones mentioned above, and everyday people like you and me.]

As a college student in 2020, you are faced with turbulent politics, socioeconomic issues, and ethical dilemmas that will challenge you to take a stand and contribute to the local, national, and global conversation around you. The purpose of this writing task is not to persuade you to agree on the same beliefs. Rather, it is to encourage you to begin the much more difficult task of developing respect for beliefs different from your own. Fifty years ago, Edward R. Murrow’s project struck such a chord with millions of Americans. It can do so again today…with you.

Video Resources for Generating Ideas

Dan gediman on writing a “this i believe essay”.

Read Cecelia Munoz’s essay “Getting Angry Can Be a Good Thing” referred to in the previous video here .

“This I Believe” Essay with Animation

“This I Believe” Essay Ideas

Prewriting Activity

1) analyze others’ statements.

Consider the following statements, written in response to the question What Have You Learned About Life? Highlight any sentences that resonate with you. Talk about them with a partner or group, explaining why. 1. I’ve learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back. – Age 9 2. I’ve learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up. – Age 14 3. I’ve learned that although it’s hard to admit it, I’m secretly glad my parents are strict with me. – Age 15 4. I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it. – Age 39 5. I’ve learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don’t know how to show it. – Age 42 6. I’ve learned that you can make someone’s day by simply sending them a little note. – Age 44 7. I’ve learned that the greater a person’s sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others. – Age 46 8. I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. – Age 48 9. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die. – Age 53 10. I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. – Age 58 11. I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. – Age 62 12. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision. – Age 66 13. I’ve learned that it pays to believe in miracles. And to tell the truth, I’ve seen several. – Age 75 14. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. – Age 82 15. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch—holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. – Age 85 16. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. – Age 92

2) Compose Your Own Statement

Write down a sentence that expresses what YOU have learned about life. Maybe it is similar to one of the statements above; maybe it’s completely different. Whatever it is, write it down.

3) Freewrit e

Now free-write about your sentence. Include at least two examples / experiences that you have had that support why you think this way.

Personal Statement/Philosophy: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Why do you believe in this statement? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Name two experiences that you had that would support the statement: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What does this say about yourself or your personality? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ After your life experience, how have you come to the conclusion that this should be your statement? How have your beliefs changed, if at all? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ How has the event effected your relationship with a person, place, or object? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ How does your statement apply to you today? (How you view yourself & society) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SAMPLE STUDENT ESSAYS

Sample #1: america’s beauty is in its diversity.

written by Alaa El-Saad,  high school student,  as heard on NPR’s Tell Me More (2009)

America is built on the idea of freedom, and there is no exception for Muslim women. I believe in the freedom of religion and speech. But mostly, I believe it’s OK to be different, and to stand up for who and what you are. So I believe in wearing the hijab.

The hijab is a religious head covering, like a scarf. I am Muslim and keeping my head covered is a sign of maturity and respect toward my religion and to Allah’s will. To be honest, I also like to wear it to be different. I don’t usually like to do what everyone else is doing. I want to be an individual, not just part of the crowd. But when I first wore it, I was also afraid of the reaction that I’d get at school.

I decided on my own that sixth grade was the time I should start wearing the hijab. I was scared about what the kids would say or even do to me. I thought they might make fun of me, or even be scared of me and pull off my headscarf. Kids at that age usually like to be all the same, and there’s little or no acceptance for being different.

On the first day of school, I put all those negative thoughts behind my back and walked in with my head held high. I was holding my breath a little, but inside I was also proud to be a Muslim, proud to be wearing the hijab, proud to be different.

I was wrong about everything I thought the kids would say or even do to me. I actually met a lot of people because of wearing my head covering. Most of the kids would come and ask me questions—respectfully—about the hijab, and why I wore it.

I did hear some kid was making fun of me, but there was one girl—she wasn’t even in my class, we never really talked much—and she stood up for me, and I wasn’t even there! I made a lot of new friends that year, friends that I still have until this very day, five years later.

Yes, I’m different, but everyone is different here, in one way or another. This is the beauty of America. I believe in what America is built on: all different religions, races and beliefs. Different everything.

Sample #2: The Essentials to Happiness

written by Alexxandra Schuman, high school student, as heard on The Bob Edwards Show (2013)

As a child, I was generally happy; singing and dancing to my favorite songs; smiling and laughing with my friends and family. But as far back as second grade, I noticed a “darkness,” about me. I didn’t enjoy engaging in many things. I didn’t relate to my peers in elementary school because they appeared so happy, and I didn’t have that ability to achieve happiness so easily.

In middle school things in my life began to get even worse. I began withdrawing from everything I once enjoyed; swimming, tennis, family. I hated going to sleep knowing I had to wake up to another day. I was always tired. Everything was horrible. Finally, midway through eighth grade, I was told I had a chemical imbalance; diagnosed with clinical depression and put on medication. It took months for me to feel the effects of the medication.

When I began to feel happy again, is when I realized that I had to take the responsibility for getting better myself, rather than relying on medication and therapy alone. Aristotle said, “To live happily is an inward power of the soul,” and I believe that this quote describes what I had to do to achieve happiness. Happiness is a journey. Everyone seems to need different things to be happy. But I believe people are blinded from what truly makes one happy.

Growing up, we’re encouraged to be successful in life; but how is success defined? Success and happiness are imagined now as having a lot of money. It is so untrue. Recently I went to Costa Rica and visited the small town of El Roble. I spent the day with a nine-year old girl named Marilyn. She took me to her house to meet her parents. It was obvious that they were not rich; living in a small house with seven children. The house was cluttered but full of life. Those who have decided that success and happiness comes from having money and a big house would be appalled at how utterly happy this family from El Roble is. People say that seeing things like that make you appreciate what you have, but for me, it made me envy them for being so happy without all the things I have.

“The essentials to happiness are something to love, something to do, and something to hope for,” a quote from William Blake sums up what I believe people need to realize to be truly happy in life. People need love; I feel they need their family and their friends more than anything in the world. People need work to do, something to make them feel they are making a difference in the world. People need to know that more good is to come in the future, so they continue to live for “now” instead of constantly worrying about the bad that could come. And most importantly people need to know that happiness is not something that happens overnight. Love and hope is happiness.

Sample #3: Find a Good Frog

written by Delia Motavalli, high school student, as heard on The Bob Edwards Show (2013)

I believe in finding a good frog. It seems that all throughout childhood, we are taught to look for a happily ever after. “And they all lived happily ever after”; isn’t that the conclusion to many children’s films? When I was a kid I always thought of that as magical; but now really it just seems unrealistic. And it teaches us that what we want is a fairytale like they have in the storybooks. We all want to be Cinderella who gets swept off her feet by the hot prince; we want to live in the royal castle, right? But I don’t think that’s necessarily a good thing for us to seek. Now I’m not saying I believe in being pessimistic, but I do believe in being realistic; it’s something I got from my mom.

My mother and I always have our best conversations in the rain. We sit in the car, neither of us wanting to brave the rain to get to the house. So we sit. We watch droplets race down the windshield, listen to the rain strike the roof of her little blue Honda, and feel the heater on full-blast rushing at our feet (just the way we like it). I don’t know why, but sitting in the car, we always talk more than normal. There was one rainy day when my mom told me something that is going to stick with me forever. Earlier that day she and my dad had been arguing about something; I can’t remember what. So she said, “Don’t spend your life looking for Prince Charming. Instead, find yourself a really good frog.”

At the time, I found this thought really disheartening. Who wants to think that you’ll never find Prince Charming? You’ll never get to be Cinderella? Another thought that struck my mind: if my mom says there’s no Prince Charming, then what’s my dad? A frog? I asked her, and she replied with, “Of course! If he were Prince Charming, he wouldn’t snore, would be able to cook, and we would never argue. But you know what? He’s a damn good frog.” Of course, being young, I didn’t think of the meaning behind what she was saying. I was too busy thinking of it literally, visualizing my mom as a princess and my dad in frog form.

But a few years later, I understand the value of my mom’s words. You can’t expect everything to be perfect. Let’s be completely honest; if you wait your whole life for your prince with flowing hair, statuesque features, and a white horse, you’re going to be lonely. I think that the point of finding a good frog is you accept something that’s great, flaws and all. It’s so easy to be picky. You can find the one tiny thing that’s wrong, and that one tiny thing is what you can’t get your mind off of. But in life, we can’t afford to wait years in vain for perfection. So I think that a good frog, an amazing frog, the best frog you can find is what we’re really looking for in this world. Don’t laze through life waiting for a happily ever after, because I don’t think you’ll be very happy with the outcome.

Examples from the ‘This I Believe’ Website

Be Cool to the Pizza Dude by Sarah Adams

They Lived Their Faith by Charles Henry Parrish

Returning to What’s Natural by Amelia Baxter-Stoltzfus

The Birthright of Human Dignity by Will Thomas

Remembering All The Boys by Elvia Bautista

I Am Still The Greatest by Muhammad Ali

A Goal Of Service To Humankind by Anthony Fauci

My Life Is Better by Abraham

Give Me a Waffle by Brenda

The Little Things by Sophie Crossley

You can also browse thousands more This I Believe essays by theme .

Prefer to Listen to Get Inspiration?

Check out This I Believe’s Podcast Series

4) Drafting

Assignment guidelines + suggestions and tips for drafting.

1. While the examples you’ve been given can serve as a model, it is essential that each of you write about a personal belief or philosophy that you feel strongly about. 2. Tell a story. Personal experiences are the corner stone of a good essay. Your story doesn’t have to be a heart breaker or even a major event, but it must be something that has affected how you think, feel, and act. List your personal experiences that you intend to use as evidence below: 3. Be concise. Avoid repetition. This essay should be between 500 – 650 words. When read aloud, it should take roughly four minutes. 4. Name your belief. It is essential that you can name your belief in a sentence or two. Focus on one belief only. This is your thesis. Write it here: 5. Be positive. Avoid preaching or persuading. You aren’t trying to change the way others think or act. Write about what you believe, not what you don’t believe. 6. Use the first person. Speak for yourself. Avoid using we or you. 7. Let your voice shine. Use language that sounds like you. Read it aloud as your revise. Keep making changes until your essay sounds like you and captures the essence of your belief.

5) Peer Review

Once you have written your first draft, arrange for your essay to be edited by a peer, using the following Peer-Editing Checklist: Writer’s Name: ________________________________________________ Peer Editor’s Name: ________________________________________________ Use your PENCIL or PEN (NOT red or green) to make corrections. Remember, this essay is a work in progress. You are not done writing! Look for ways to improve what you’ve already written. Tick each step if it has been completed. _____ 1. Read the paper backwards, one sentence at a time. Check for spelling errors. Use a dictionary, a friend, or a spell checker to find the correct spelling. _____ 2. Check for capitalized proper nouns and the first word of each sentence. _____ 3. Skip a line between each paragraph. _____ 4. Every sentence should have end punctuation. _____ 5. Check commas. Are they only used for compound sentences, a list of items, an introductory word or phrase, direct address, setting off interruptions, separating adjectives, or in dates? Do you need to add commas? Make sure you do not have commas separating complete sentences (i.e. comma splice errors that create run-on sentences). _____ 6. Apostrophes are used only for contractions and to show ownership. _____ 7. The use of more complex punctuation (dashes, hyphens, semi-colons, parentheses, etc.) is done correctly. _____ 8. Have you used commonly mixed pairs of words correctly? Check these: they’re/their/there, your/you’re, it’s/its, a/an, to/too/two, are/our/hour, and others. _____ 9. Read the paper backwards one sentence at a time. Check for sentence fragments and run-ons and correct them. _____ 10. Did you stay in present tense (such as is, am, do, take, know, etc.) or past tense (such as was, were, did, took, knew, etc.) throughout the entire essay? _____ 11. Did you stay in first person (I, me, my, we, us, our) or third person (he, him, she, her, they, them, their) throughout the entire essay? _____ 12. Was there adequate use of specific details and sensory details? Were the details clear and relevant to the statement? _____ 13. Is the overall purpose/philosophy clear? _____ 14. Does the conclusion make you go, “Wow!” “Cool!” “I never thought about it that way,” or any other similar reaction? Other suggestions for the overall content of the piece: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This I Believe by Tanya Matthews is licensed by CC-BY-SA

“This I Believe” Essay Copyright © 2020 by Liza Long; Amy Minervini; and Joel Gladd is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

Please log in to save materials. Log in

• Resource Library
• Communication
• Intro to AFNR
• Personal Essay
• Public Speaking

Education Standards

Nebraska agriculture and natural resources standards.

Learning Domain: Agribusiness Systems

Standard: Differentiate between management and leadership

This I Believe essay - Leadership

This i believe oral evaluation sheet, 'this i believe' essay writing.

Presented in five consecutive standard-period classes, students are invited to contribute to the This I Believe essay-writing project by writing and submitting a statement of personal belief.  This is a challenging, intimate statement on one’s beliefs and one’s own daily life philosophy, considering moments when belief was formed, tested, or changed.  Written by Jarvis Reed.

Overview:  Presented in five consecutive standard-period classes, students are invited to contribute to the This I Believe essay-writing project by writing and submitting a statement of personal belief.  This is a challenging, intimate statement on one's beliefs and one's own daily life philosophy, considering moments when belief was formed, tested, or changed.  Written by Jarvis Reed.

AFNR.HS.10.5.c  Communicate using strategies that ensure clarity, logic, purpose, and rofessionalism in formal or informal settings.

AFNR.HS.20.1.d  Examine and practice public speaking.

Learning Goal: 

Students will increase written and oral communication skills by thinking critically and articulating in writing a personal foundational belief in 350-500 words stated in the affirmative and then presenting this essay to their class.

Photo by Yeshi Kangrang on Unsplash

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Updike's 'This I Believe' Essay

John Updike won two Pulitzer Prizes for his series of novels. He was also a noted poet and essayist, as well as a critic of literature and fine art. In 2005, Updike contributed to This I Believe. In his essay, he writes about the art of fiction, politics and religion.

This I Believe

Testing the limits of what i know and feel.

MICHELE NORRIS, host:

We'll end this hour with the words of John Updike in his own voice. In April of 2005, Updike wrote an essay for our series "This I Believe." He composed his thoughts in three parts, first the art of fiction, followed by his thoughts on politics, and then faith. Here's John Updike reading his essay.

Mr. JOHN UPDIKE (Author): A person believes various things at various times, even on the same day. At the age of 73, I seem most instinctively to believe in the human value of creative writing, whether in the form of verse or fiction, as a mode of truth-telling, self-expression, and homage to the twin miracles of creation and consciousness. The special value of these indirect methods of communication as opposed to the value of factual reporting and analysis is one of precision. Oddly enough, the story or poem brings us closer to the actual texture and intricacy of experience.

In fiction, imaginary people become realer to us than any named celebrity glimpsed in a series of rumored events, whose causes and subtler ramifications must remain in the dark. An invented figure like Anna Karenina or Emma Bovary emerges fully into the light of understanding, which brings with it identification, sympathy, and pity. I find in my own writing that only fiction and rarely a poem fully tests me to the limits of what I know and what I feel. In composing even such a frank and simple account as this profession of belief, I must fight against the sensation that I am simplifying and exploiting my own voice.

I also believe, instinctively, if not very cogently, in the American political experiment, which I take to be, at bottom, a matter of trusting the citizens to know their own minds and best interests. "To govern with the consent of the governed": this spells the ideal. And though the implementation will inevitably be approximate and debatable, and though a totalitarian or technocratic government can obtain some swift successes, in the end, only a democracy can enlist a people's energies on a sustained and renewable basis. To guarantee the individual maximum freedom within a social frame of minimal laws ensures - if not happiness - its hopeful pursuit.

Cosmically, I seem to be of two minds. The power of materialist science to explain everything from the behavior of the galaxies to that of molecules, atoms, and their sub-microscopic components seems to be inarguable and the principal glory of the modern mind. On the other hand, the reality of subjective sensations, desires, and may we even say illusions composes the basic substance of our existence, and religion alone, in its many forms, attempts to address, organize, and placate these. I believe, then, that religious faith will continue to be an essential part of being human, as it has been for me.

NORRIS: Writer John Updike from our series "This I Believe" in 2005. John Updike died today of lung cancer. He was 76 years old.

Copyright © 2009 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

19 Other Ways to Say “I Believe” in an Essay

If you’re wondering how to say “I believe” in an essay without using first-person phrasing, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of synonyms that you can use instead of saying “I believe” in an essay. We’ll also discuss whether you should use the original phrase at all.

Other Ways to Say “I Believe”

• One might argue
• It would seem
• This suggests
• It is my belief
• As I see it
• From my perspective
• It could be argued
• I would argue
• This illustrates
• This evidences
• In my opinion
• This proves
• In the author’s opinion

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• It’s okay to use “I believe” in an essay if the person grading your paper permits you to use personal pronouns.
• You can say “one might argue” if you want to use a more formal alternative in the third person.
• “It appears” is another good option that removes the personal pronoun “I.”

Don’t go anywhere! In the next section, we’ll discuss two great alternatives for the phrase “I believe” that you can use in your academic writing.

Moreover, we’ll provide some helpful examples and discuss whether it’s a bad idea to use “I believe” in your essay.

One Might Argue

If you’re wondering what to say instead of “I believe” in an essay, a great choice is “one might argue.”

Some academics may view this alternative as superior to the original phrase. After all, it is written in the third person. Therefore, you can get the same point across without using “I.” In some formal academic essays , it is expected by markers that personal pronouns should be avoided.

Additionally, this alternative makes it clear that your statement isn’t certain, just like the original. The word “might” implies that you are expressing an opinion or making just a potential argument.

Finally, let’s see how one might use this phrase in a few examples:

One might argue that the individual responsibility of consumers to buy sustainable products is far less than the responsibility that should be placed on large industries.

Although our findings show that fewer children are taking an interest in mathematics, one might argue that this has more to do with the teaching style of educators rather than the content of the subject itself.

Another way to say “I believe” without using the first person is “it appears.”

Like the original phrase, this one indicates that the statement following it is not certain. In fact, it is simply an observation .

Although this phrase is not necessarily superior to “I believe,” it does remove the personal pronoun “I,” which is often seen as preferable by teachers and professors.

It also has the benefit of using the same number of words as “I believe.” Therefore, it won’t increase your word count , unlike some of the other synonyms on our list.

To see this phrase in action, have a look at the examples below:

It appears that several of the mice in our experiment exhibited empathy when faced with one of their fellows trapped in a cage.

Although Otis Blackwell was a clear stylistic inspiration to Elvis, in addition to being the writer of many of his popular songs, it appears that only a small minority of the public is privy to this truth.

Can I Use “I Believe” in an Essay?

Whether it is okay to use “I believe” in an essay greatly depends on context .

There are some academics and writers out there who think using phrases like “I believe” is bad writing . Firstly, they argue that it is redundant . Obviously, you believe the statement you’re making, or you wouldn’t be making it in the first place!

Secondly, some academics think that personal pronouns should be avoided in academic writing . Therefore, it’s no good to start your statements with “I.”

On the other hand, in recent times, many academics have argued that all forms of education and information should be accessible. This means that everyone should be able to follow and understand them – not just people who were privileged enough to get a university education!

People who hold this opinion say that a phrase like “I believe” is perfectly effective. After all, it lets the reader know that you are expressing an opinion and not a fact. Additionally, it is straightforward and easy for any reader to follow.

Therefore, as a rule of thumb, we would always recommend speaking to the person who is going to grade your essay before you start . If they are a traditionalist and would prefer very formal writing, use one of our alternatives.

If they are happy to read a paper with personal pronouns and straightforward writing in it, go ahead and use “I believe.”

In conclusion, it’s okay to use “I believe” if the person marking your essay is okay with it!

We hope you found this article helpful. If you did, why not bookmark this page so you can come back whenever you like? 

• 19 Gender-Neutral Alternatives to “Dear Sir or Madam”
• 16 Other Ways to Say “Looking Forward to Working With You”
• 14 Other Ways to Say “Looking Forward to Meeting You”
• 25 Other Ways to Say “Looking Forward to Being Part of the Team”

We are a team of experienced communication specialists.

Our mission is to help you choose the right phrase or word for your emails and texts.

Choosing the right words shouldn't be your limitation!

© WordSelector

Power Lesson: “This I Believe” Essays

December 4, 2016

Can't find what you are looking for? Contact Us

“Doing homework”  by Predi is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

In this power lesson shared by high school English teacher Cynthia Ruiz , students write their own personal statements of belief. The essay pushes students to write about something that matters to them and helps them get to know each other on a deeper level.

I used to assign a “Letter to the Teacher” at the beginning of every year  to get a snapshot of how a student writes while simultaneously learning background information. Being completely honest, this assignment is also an easy way to get the first few back-to-school days started when a 90-minute class period feels like 900 minutes, because everyone is typically on their best behavior and not talking much. Although I enjoy reading the letters, the assignment doesn’t lend itself to revising and is written only for a specific, one-person audience.

I know building relationships with students is important and a way to get to know them is through their writing, so I did some research to see what other teachers were trying. I came across the “This I Believe” site  and immediately liked the concept better than an introduction letter for a teacher.

Assignment Guidelines

The first time I assigned a “This I Believe” essay was in the fall of 2014, during the second week of school. I planned it as a year-long endeavor, something we could work on as a distraction from other essays required to prepare for state testing. This past year, I did not assign it until late April; it would be our last major writing task. I wanted to give everyone plenty of time to write but held them to a firm deadline of having four weeks to work.

This time, I crafted my writing guidelines according to  those posted on the NPR site that hosts hundreds of This I Believe essays from around the world. My rubric still has some typical writing conventions, but overall I think it focuses more on student voice than structure. I made it clear that students had a lot of choice regarding both content and format. The biggest restriction came directly from the This I Believe site: a 500-600 word limit. I know a lot of writing teachers are divided when it comes to word count, but I figured it was still better than giving a specific number of required paragraphs and sentences.

One other requirement was that students use at least three “vocabulary devices.” This may seem like a restriction, but it actually supported student voice. Over the spring semester, we spent a lot of time reviewing both rhetorical and literary devices (anaphora, hypothetical questions, simile) and I told students to focus on the devices they genuinely felt comfortable using.

Helping Students Choose a Topic

Because the rubric leaves room for a lot of choice, I encouraged students to visit the featured essays site and not only read, but listen to real examples. I wanted them to see that this wasn’t just another run-of-the-mill assignment, that what they believe is important and writing is just one way to share those beliefs. I also made it a point to tell them our end goal was to share this essay with their entire class by way of a gallery walk.

After giving students time to explore the site, I had them “rush write” in their notebooks to see what immediate ideas they captured to help start the brainstorming process. Here’s the prompt I used:

This I Believe For 2 minutes: List words or ideas that you think about when you think of YOUR LIFE. (Can be feelings, symbols, names, events, etc.)

After students generated this list, I asked them to consider what they wanted to write about and share with others. I wanted them to imagine a larger audience and think outside of meeting my expectations.

For some, deciding what to write about was easy and they began drafting immediately. However, the majority of students struggled not so much with what they believe, but how to write about it. Even though they appreciated having so much choice, they still needed some direction to get started.

We continued the listing strategy by focusing on “most memorables”: most memorable events in life so far, most memorable stuffed animal, most memorable friends, family experiences, life lessons learned, and so on. I asked them to focus on why they remember what they remember, and whether or not it impacts any of their beliefs. One student remembered a saying his grandmother always told him that still provides comfort as he’s gotten older. Another focused on her family not having a big house when they first moved to America and how she’s learned to be satisfied with opportunities instead of possessions. While this strategy helped a lot of light bulbs go off, it didn’t work for everyone.

Another strategy I tried was using involved sentence stems: I know I am the way I am today because______. I know I think about things the way I do because _______. I think most people would describe me as ______. I emphasized that these phrases did not have to be included in their final products, but should help generate ideas. I talked with a few frustrated students about this strategy and they told me it made them realize they’ve never really had to think about themselves in this way, but ultimately, it gave them direction for their essays.

Drafting and Revising

Because of block scheduling, I gave students about a week and a half to complete a working draft, which required having at least two paragraphs of their essay done. I only gave a portion of two to three class periods to actually write in class; students were expected to write on their own time.

On the day drafts were due, I set aside class time for revision. I asked students to refer to the rubric and focus on voice and vocabulary strategies. Questions I told them to consider were: Does this sound like me? Do I talk like this to my friends or family? I gave students the option of reviewing their own essays or partnering up with someone to peer edit. Again, this was the end of the year, so we had already established a pretty firm community of trust in class. I don’t know if peer editing would have been as easy had I done the assignment early in the year.

Overall, draft day didn’t feel like the usual “revising and editing” days we’ve had with other essays. Students were very concerned with whether or not they were making sense, if they should add more, or if they were being too repetitive, rather than only being concerned about capitalization, spelling, and grammatical errors.

Sharing the Finished Essays

The culmination of this assignment was when the essays were shared in a gallery walk . The gallery walk is my answer to having students write for a larger audience, and it really helps this essay become about what students have to say instead of just another grade. I can’t count how many times I have returned tediously graded essays only to have a kid immediately walk over to the recycling bin and trash it! Sure he read the comments and suggestions I made, or saw the cute smiley face I left by an excellent word choice, but it didn’t mean much to him because the paper is graded and finished, and he is now done thinking about it. With a gallery walk, not only are students thinking about what they wrote, but they have the opportunity to think about what their classmates wrote as well.

I printed each essay without any names, and made sure any identifying statements were revised. However, there were quite a few students who said they were proud of what they wrote and had no problem if others knew which essay belonged to them. Because not every student turned in a final copy, I printed additional copies of some completed essays to ensure every student had something to read during our gallery walk, instead of drawing attention to the two or three students who did not finish the assignment.

I placed the essays on different tables throughout the room and allowed students to move around as needed; some chose to stand and read an essay, others opted to sit, while others sprawled out on the floor to read. I played soft music and asked that the room volume stay quiet enough to be able to hear the music at all times. I didn’t mind if students were sharing and discussing, and I really wish I recorded the various conversations and comments I overheard that day: “Wow! Did you read this one yet?” “Man. Who wrote this? I might cry. Good tears, though.” “This one is life, Ms. Ruiz.”

I provided a pad of post-its near each essay and told students to leave POSITIVE feedback for each other. I provided sentence stems to help:

Something I liked…

Something I can relate to/agree with…

Something that surprised me…

Something I want to know more about…

I really think…

I periodically checked to make sure no one was being inappropriately critical or just leaving cute hearts or check marks. I wanted students to think about what they were reading, and understand that feedback is a crucial part of the writing process

After about 40 minutes, each essay had received multiple written comments, looking similar to the picture below:

Overall, the feedback was uplifting and actually created a sense of belonging in each class. Students told me they learned so much about each other that day and were shocked by their classmates’ writing. A few said they wished they had written this essay sooner.

Sample Student Work

I was floored by some of the essays I received. Some made me laugh, some made me gasp, some made me cry. Compared to the typical papers I usually assign, this essay allowed my students to not just think about what they were writing but to care about their writing and to be intentional in the language they were using, both in word choice and rhetorical strategies, because it was about what they believe. It is some of the strongest student writing I have ever received as an English teacher.

Here are some sample paragraphs from students who gave me permission to share their work:

From a student who told me he hates school and hates writing.

From a student who by all outward appearances, comes from a traditional family.

From a student battling depression and anxiety.

From a student who missed almost a whole semester but is trying to stay in school.

Although this essay helped end the year with a strong sense of community, I think teachers could easily have students write it at the beginning of the school year or even in January at the start of a new year. I’d love to hear how other teachers have used an essay like this in their classes. ♦

Have you taught a lesson or designed a learning experience we should feature in Power Lessons? Send a full description of your lesson through our contact  form and we’ll check it out!

What to Read Next

Categories: Instruction

Tags: English language arts , lesson planning , power lessons

39 Comments

Cynthia and Jennifer, Thank you for sharing this Power Lesson; it’s one I plan on “borrowing” for sure in January. I love the connection built during the gallery walk. I can imagine this being truly powerful for all students. Well done!

I LOVE this!! I will use this in the Spring with my students. The excerpts in the blog post were so personal. I hope the students realize what a gift they shared.

Tonya, I agree. I’m always so grateful when students are willing to let us see their work here!

I love this assignment. I use it every semester with Public Speaking students, following a similar brainstorm and drafting process. Since the assignment comes from a radio program, my students audio record themselves, and our celebration of the work happens through hearing each student read the essay. Very powerful hearing their voices!

Ruth, thanks so much for taking the time to share this idea. I’m sure lots of teachers will love how audio enriches this assignment.

Thank you for sharing the students’ samples. Writing is such a great way to express oneself and when you make it personal students are engaged. ❤️ it! I am thinking about adding it as my last assignment for my 3rd graders!

Thank you for sharing, especially the students’ work samples.This will help inspire my students to share important details about their lives. Might I also recommend an excellent book I purchased used recently: Reading, Writing and Rising Up (by Linda Christensen)

I like this writing strategy. Last week I started something similar with my Arabic students. In groups of 3 to 4 students, they wrote stories (Brainstorm, first draft…) They started writing their final draft(with illustrations and drawings) on the butcher paper. On Monday, they will hang it on the wall and they will give each other feed back wile walking and reading each other’s essays. The problem with the foreign languages students writing is that they have brilliant ideas in English, but they cannot express them in Arabic or French… My questions is the following: Is there a way to adapt this writing strategy to World Languages students with taking into consideration the limited students’ language levels.

I love this assignment. I use at the end of the year with my seniors. I tell them to focus on a belief that they have formed over their past years of school and that will guide them as they make steps on their next journey — college, military, work, etc. Every year I am awed by the thought and pride they take in it. Their voices shine through the papers. The emotions, ranging from joy to sadness or humor to regret, overtake their essay making each both personal and universal. I also always write one that I individualize for each class and how they have shaped or firmed one of my own beliefs.

I love this, especially as a way to “re-enter” in January! I hope that I can use it effectively with my middle schoolers. Thank you so much for sharing this!

YES!! This was my first lesson in my first year of teaching and it completely set the tone for the rest of the year. The work I received from eleven year olds blew my mind, and I even submitted(with their permission) a few pieces to be published because they were that deep. Bravo to this I believe essays & sharing lessons like this with other educators.

Did you find that you had to add in any scaffolds/support for students? I want to try this with my 7th graders who really struggle with writing and getting started with ideas.

This looks like a fabulous project and one I am keen to try out next semester.

I, too, have been doing this assignment for a few years now. It is my favorite assignment of the year. I teach 8th grade English and I have my students share their essays aloud. We sit in a circle and listen to each student share his/her belief. It is powerful. We laugh. We cry. We learn. Having students write for an audience of their peers is challenging for them, but so rewarding in the end.

This looks great for January. I noticed that the This I Believe website has a high school curriculum for sale for $20. Has anyone used it? Is it worth it? Necessary?

This reminds me of an assignment I had in high school. It was called our “Capstone,” and was a year-long process (12th grade). We first chose three things that were important to our lives: a person, a place, and an event. Over the first semester we wrote about these in three separate papers. Then come second semester we had to connect them with a metaphor, and put together a 20 minute presentation that connected everything. It really allowed students to get creative while expressing what was most important to us.

Do you happen to have an example of this still? It sounds AWESOME and I would love to do it with my 8th graders!

Your students’ essays are beautiful, authentic and inspiring, as I am sure your teaching is. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for the lesson. I like this idea for journaling too!

A brilliant idea! Thanks!

Thanks for sharing and including student work examples. Essays like this are a great way to get to know students at a deeper level and could also make a good college entrance essay!

Thank you for sharing this. Inspirational and heartfelt writing from young people.

This is so inspiring and beautiful. Thank you so much, both of you for sharing this power lesson. I was lookibng for a writing task muy ss could include in their e-Portafolio. Can’t wait to try it!! Thank you again!!

I know this might be simplistic, but could you share more about the vocabulary devices?

Hi, April! For the vocabulary devices, I’m referring to adding similes, metaphors, hyperboles, imagery, etc. We usually practice devices like anaphora and asyndeton in my advanced classes, so those can also be used. One of my favorite lines this year was: “I mean, I thought a step stool would do the job but instead it was like climbing a 20 foot ladder just to finish my goal…” We talked about how using a vocab device is more powerful than “I worked really hard.” Hope that helps! Cheers!

This is sooooo great!! I love it!!!!!

I love this. Has anyone tried it at the start if the year? Are students willing to write about such personal experiences and beliefs with a teacher and classmates that they don’t know well?

Hi Lizzie! I work for Cult of Pedagogy, but I’m replying as a teacher. I teach college level freshman comp and I started my previous semester with this essay. Because it was the beginning of the year, I didn’t do a gallery walk; it was more of a practice assignment to get used to the flow of papers and feedback. They had to bring in a rough draft for in-class workshops, so I made sure they knew a few of their classmates would be reading what they wrote. For extra credit, I offered them the chance to record their paper as a “podcast” and post it on YouTube. I was blown away by how in-depth most of them went! In fact, I’m starting my fall semester with it again.

I love this assignment in the spring for senior English. Generally, kids are appreciative that we’re doing the final writing assignment about something that is ‘real world legit’. I’ve always been impressed by their level of attention (and attendance),as our gallery walk happens on the last day of their English class in June.

Hi! This looks like a fantastic lesson and I would love to try it with one of my English classes. I noticed that your writing guidelines link is no longer available. Is there anyway I could get this information? Thanks Kelsey

Hi Kelsey! Thanks for letting us know about the link. This was a guest post and we will be happy to reach out to Cynthia to see if she has a current link to the writing guidelines. If so, we’ll get that updated on the post as soon as we can. Thanks again!

I was wondering about the guidelines as well. I teach in China and we are out of school right now for Chinese New Year, so I would love to have this when we return in February. Thanks for your help!

Hi Karen & Kelsey! I wanted to follow up on your request for the guidelines to let you know that Jenn no longer has access to them. If you haven’t already done so, Jenn recommends to check out the writing guidelines posted on NPR. I hope this helps!

I teach a course called Theory of Knowledge. One of the concepts we study is ‘faith’ as a way of knowing or gaining knowledge. I remember the “This I believe” series on the radio and then NPR. I have my students read several of the essays from the website and a few I copy from one of the books published. Then, they brainstorm and write their own essays. This spring, right before the Covid shutdown, one of my students committed suicide. I had returned his essay to him only days before; he’d written about the importance of love and relationships in life. Being able to share his essay with his mother and brother (who I had also taught) was a gift for all of us. I think the inspiration to have students write these essays was somehow a preparation for this sad experience. I like the suggestions here and may use the sentence stems to help those who struggle to get started.

Hello! I want to say that I had some difficulties in writing essays and statements. When I entered college, the first thing I encountered was writing a quality application.

thanks for sharing, this is really useful information for me!

thanks for sharing informative!

This looks like an amazing lesson plan and although it is late in the year I will try to use it. could you please send the grading rubric you used?

Hi, there! Because this post was written so long ago,we have unfortunately lost touch with the author, Cynthia Ruiz. From what we understand, she is no longer in the classroom. However, you may be able to connect with her on Twitter by clicking on the Twitter icon at the top of the post underneath Cynthia’s name.

If you are looking to create your own rubric, the section of this post called Assignment Guidelines links to the NPR website where Cynthia found the writing guidelines that she used as a basis for her own. In addition, there is another Cult of Pedagogy post on the single-point rubric , which you might find useful. I hope this helps!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Success Advice

I am enough – a simple habit that will change your life.

I am enough. Repeat that to yourself. Are you enough? Do you believe it?

To be honest I never did imagine that studying and talking about self-acceptance, self-love and self esteem would be something I would become so passionate about.

Growing up it was never the kind of things that guys would talk about. I even remember mentioning that I’m looking into self-love as being one of the things that could be holding me back to one of my family members only to be told that I sound like a 40 year old woman.

But throughout all my study of success things like self-love, self-esteem and self-awareness keep popping up and in my opinion, especially in a facebook and instagram world these are an absolute necessity to anyone who wants to live a happy, healthy and successful life.

I Am Enough

I wanted to tell you about this simple daily habit of repeating “I Am Enough” after watching a video of renowned therapist Marisa Peer talking about it at AFest. You can watch the video below where Marisa talks about the miraculous transformations that can happen simply when you believe you are enough.

Marisa Peer says: “In my 25 years as a therapist, I’ve discovered that the root of so many modern problems—hoarding, excessive drinking, compulsive shopping, and over-eating—come right back to a need to fill the inner emptiness of not feeling “enough” with external things. The more you tell yourself you are enough, the more you’ll believe it. It sounds so utterly simple—and it is—and all you need is the commitment to do it and the belief that it will work.”

Why Make This A Daily Habit?

Everyday we’re being bombarded with messages that say the exact opposite. Whether that be through TV, newspapers or magazines…or even your friends carefully filtered social media profiles.

If you want to be successful then its simply essential that you have healthy levels of self-esteem and confidence and you can only do that when you unconditionally accept yourself as you are.

When you don’t think you are good enough you will not take the necessary steps required to achieve your goals.

For me, I had such high ambitions growing up, and because I failed to realise them when I wanted to, beating myself up and being hard on myself became the habitual way of trying to get myself to do things.

Then there was habit two – Set even more audacious goals because I “needed” to play catch up on life. I failed on those too and repeated the cycle of beating myself up.

In the process of doing that I unconsciously started telling myself that I wasn’t good enough even though everyone outside of me would think the opposite. If you want to lower your self-worth and destroy your confidence that would be the recipe.

If you simply remind yourself that you are good enough on a daily basis you will be able to counter the messages that we are being fed through external sources or your own negative self-talk.

I Am Enough – The 30 Day Challenge

You know when your confidence and self-esteem could do with a boost simply by asking yourself the question “If I was good enough what else would I try or do that I am not already doing?”

It’s crazy how many people don’t follow through on things simply because they don’t think they’re good enough, smart enough, experienced enough, attractive enough or whatever enough.

For me, for a long time it was “Who am I to advise/teach/blog about being successful?”, even though everyone else would be telling me I have a lot of experience and could really make a difference.

So in the 30 Day Challenge you will finally start believing you are enough do be, do or have anything you want in your life.

I Am Enough 30 Day Challenge Instructions

• Stand in front of a mirror, look into your eyes and repeat out aloud (with some feeling and emotion): I Am Enough. I Am Enough. I have always been enough. And now that I know I am enough everyone else knows it too. And I will always be enough.
• Do this 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes at night.
• You can also repeat this statement silently to yourself whenever you’re in the shower, driving or travelling.
• You can also set up a phone alert to remind you of this throughout the day.
• You can also write it on your mirror or anywhere where you will see it throughout the day.

I highly advise that you do this whilst in front of a mirror. Mirror affirmations are much more powerful because there is just something about looking into your own eyes whilst you say such statements.

It also sends the subconscious message that if you are making the effort and commitment to being in front of the mirror that you are important and that this is important.

It might be a little uncomfortable at first but push past that. It will be worth it.

And if you are at all questioning whether affirmations work, they do, they just take a bit of time and repetition. Anytime you are talking inside your head you are essentially doing affirmations and they worked pretty well right?

You’ll know when you believe you are enough because you will see a change in your behaviour and in how you feel. After that you can reduce the time or just set a few daily reminders to keep reinforcing your belief but make sure you do it for at least 30 days.

I Am Enough – It’s simple daily habits like this that are almost too simple that make us question whether they will actually make a difference but it will change your life.

Are You Enough?

Are you going to do the 30 Day Challenge? I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Share this post and get your family, friends and co-workers on the 30 Day Challenge.

Live Out Of Your Imagination, Not Your History – Stephen Covey

How To Use Stephen Covey’s 4 Quadrants To Be Productive

I'm the Founder of SucceedFeed.com and I truly appreciate you taking the time to read my posts and being apart of the Succeed Feed community. I started this website because I wanted to help people like you to maximize your potential and achieve your dreams. Feel free to reach out and connect. If I can be of any help to you on your journey I'll do my best.

You may like

The Curse Of Knowledge: How To Avoid Sabotaging Your Success

31 NoFap Benefits That Will Change Your Life

101 Brené Brown Quotes On Courage, Vulnerability & Shame

How Complaining Physically Rewires Your Brain For Negativity, Anxiety & Depression

How To Wake Up Early: 5 AM Morning Secrets

11 Simple Self-Esteem Boosters That Will Change Your Life

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The 5 By 5 Rule To Reduce Stress, Anxiety And Worry

The 5 Minute Rule – Become Emotionally Invincible

Search the site.

11 Other Ways To Say “I Think” And “I Believe” In An Essay

It can be tempting to say “I think” or “I believe” in an essay, especially when writing a personal narrative or opinion-based essay. The issue with this phrase is they tend to read as informal and weak. This article will explore some stronger alternatives that are worth considering.

What Can I Say Instead Of “I Think” And “I Believe”?

There are many different ways to express that what you’re saying is an opinion or a conclusion you have drawn using stronger wording than “I think” and “I believe.” Here are some options:

• In my opinion
• It could be argued
• Many believe
• This suggests
• It can be concluded
• It makes sense
• This proves
• This supports the idea
• X makes a strong case

The preferred option is “in my opinion.” “In my opinion” is clear and direct, and sounds more formal than “I believe” and “I think.” It’s a good way to make it clear that what you’re saying is your personal opinion while still sounding credible.

In My Opinion

“In my opinion” is a good choice when you’re writing a first-person essay. “Opinion” implies more fact-based consideration than “believe” and more depth than “think.” “Opinion” also comes off as more confident than both “think” and “believe.”

“In my opinion” sounds formal enough to be appropriate in an essay, but can still maintain the conversational tone that is typically expected in first-person essays.

Here’s what “in my opinion” looks like in context:

• In my opinion, every public school student should be offered a free lunch option.
• Reading through this book was challenging not for the content but for the dull writing style. In my opinion, it shouldn’t be upheld as a classic.
• In my opinion, neither argument was particularly convincing.

It Could Be Argued

This sort of hypothetical phrasing isn’t always considered strong, but “it could be argued” is still a solid choice for third-person essays that require you to explore various arguments.

“It could be argued” is useful when you need to analyze multiple arguments or look at something from multiple angles. It allows you to point out some arguments or thoughts people might have in general to develop your argument.

Here are some ways you can use “it could be argued”:

• It could be argued that teaching Shakespeare in school only serves to confuse students due to the extremely antiquated language.
• It could be argued that the color blue represents sadness, but there are many examples in the text that point to blue instead representing loneliness.
• The bird could be a representation of her fear. Conversely, it could be argued that the bird is there simply because the lead character loves birds.

Many Believe

“Many believe” is useful when you want to discuss widely held beliefs and the fact that these beliefs are widely held is common knowledge. You can also use “many believe” when you have a statistic to back up the claim.

“Many believe” is better than “I think” and “I believe” in those sorts of situations because it creates a less personal statement. That helps it feel more formal and makes the argument feel more expansive.

Here’s how you can use “many believe”:

• Many believe that eating any kind of fat is unhealthy, but nutritionists disagree.
• According to the poll, many believe that doing yoga and drinking enough water will cure certain mental illnesses.

This Suggests

“This suggests” is a great choice for drawing a conclusion based on the evidence you’ve presented. It’s stronger than “I think” and “I believe” because it explicitly ties your ideas to other ideas.

You’ll typically use “this suggests” after presenting some evidence or an argument. “This suggests” introduces your analysis and often your argument.

For example:

• The flowers in the vase didn’t die until after Ashley fought with her mother. This suggests that the state of the perpetually near-death flowers was serving as a metaphor for the state of Ashley’s relationship with her mother.
• Jodi’s favorite color was green. This suggests some part of her was tied to everything green represented in the novel, even if she denied it.

It Can Be Concluded

“It can be concluded” is a good replacement for “I think” and “I believe” in third-person writing. It emphasizes the conclusions you’re drawing based on previously detailed evidence.

Like “this suggests,” “it can be concluded” comes after you present some evidence or ideas. It directly connects your thinking to the evidence, which supports a strong argument.

 Here are some examples:

• As such, it can be concluded that the core message of the story is the real reward was the friendships we made on the journey.
• It can be concluded that he never knew what happened to his father and was simply making up different versions of the story as the subject was too difficult for him to discuss directly.

It Makes Sense

“It makes sense” is a phrase can use to introduce a thought or insight you have. It’s subtly persuasive and can fit into both formal and informal essay styles.

“It makes sense” is deceptively strong wording. While it may seem soft at first, it can be used to make some really strong statements.

Here’s how that could look in practice:

• It makes sense that the school wouldn’t provide free lunches for students. It’s a costly plan, and the school district has a long track record of investing in administration before investing in student welfare.
• It makes sense that the play’s love story ended tragically. The playwright was newly divorced when she penned it, and her poetry from this time shows a similar disillusionment with romantic relationships.

This Proves

“This proves” is a strong way to connect your conclusions and arguments to previously presented evidence. This phrase is a good choice when you’re confident in your evidence and your argument, as using it after shaky evidence can harm your credibility.

Here’s what this might look like in context:

• The students who got more recess time did better on tests than children who had more quiet study time. This proves that children need more playtime throughout the day.
• This proves my original hypothesis, though not in the way I expected.

This Supports The Idea

This is another useful phrase for directly tying previously stated evidence to your arguments and conclusions. Once you provide your evidence, you can go into your argument by saying “this supports the idea that…”

“This supports the idea” is a deeply academic phrase. It doesn’t come off too strong, nor does it read as personal or informal. It reads as objective, which can support your credibility in the eyes of the reader.

Here are some examples:

• Lisa ultimately gave the flower to Joan. This supports the idea that the flower was representative of trust.
• In this scene, the characters’ loyalties are made clear by where they are standing in relation to the protagonist. John is standing next to the protagonist. This supports the idea that, despite what he says, he truly was loyal to the protagonist.

X Makes A Strong Case

“X makes a strong case” is a phrase when you want to specifically tie in an argument someone else has made. It emphasizes the person who made the argument rather than what you think about the argument.

For example, if you wanted to say “I think Rodney is right about the dress code,” a stronger way to word that in an essay would be “Rodney makes a strong case about the dress code.”

Both sentences communicate that you think Rodney’s argument has merit, but using the “X makes a strong case” format emphasizes Rodney’s arguments rather than your evaluation of them.

This less-personal writing is generally considered to be more formal and thus more appropriate for academic writing.

Here are some more examples of how to use this phrase:

• The author makes a strong case in favor of the motion.
• In the novel, Susie’s father makes a strong case against the idea of Susie marrying a stranger.

“In my mind” is a strong phrase that is perfect for first-person narrative essays. It’s engaging, conversational wording that still maintains the formality expected in essays.

“In my mind” is a good way to word more personally held thoughts and beliefs without saying “I think” or “I believe.”

Here are some ways you could use “in my mind”:

• In my mind, nothing mattered more than the championship.
• In my mind, there was no way any of this could have a good outcome. I just didn’t see how it would work out.

Sometimes the best alternative to “I believe” and “I think” is simply to cut the phrase without providing a replacement. This makes your writing more succinct and straightforward and less informal.

Replacing “I think” and “I believe” can support the style and flow of your writing, but deleting the lead-in entirely is common advice. The argument is that since you wrote the essay, “I think” and “I believe” are implied. It’s redundant to include them.

Take a look at these sentences:

• I think the power outage was caused by the wind storm.
• I believe students should have mentors throughout their time in school.

Here’s what they look like if you remove the lead-in:

• The power outage was caused by the wind storm.
• Students should have mentors throughout their time in school.

In these instances, removing the phrases entirely without replacing them made for stronger statements.

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

• 10 Better Ways To Write “In This Essay, I Will…”
• 9 Other Ways To Say “In My Opinion” (Formal & Friendly)
• 10 Other Ways to Say “I Am” in an Essay
• Can An Opinion Be Wrong Or Right? Full Explanation

Am I Good Enough: 5 Reasons You Feel That Way & How To Feel Better

• Updated April 7, 2022

I Wish that I Was Good Enough

“Am I good enough?…I wish that I was good enough” is felt by everyone at least once in their lives or even on a continual basis. There is no sense in blaming yourself if you feel the same way. The truth is that many factors affect you as a person, such as how you were raised, who currently surrounds you, and how you were treated in the past.

How you feel about yourself is shaped by how you perceive the world and how the world and people around you have impacted you, either positively or negatively. For instance, children who were bullied in school might regularly find themselves guarded and a little bit defensive in order to protect themselves from what people may say to them. They may feel like they were never intelligent enough or that they were never pretty enough.

Thinking,”I wish that I was good enough” often inflicts more harm than good on our emotional state. Telling yourself that you wish you were better denies yourself of the self-appreciation and self-love you genuinely deserve. If others make you feel bad or if you think badly about yourself, it does not truly reflect who you are and who you can be.

Throughout this article, we will explore the question, ‘ Am I good enough? ‘ why you might feel this way, and what you can do to overcome it. We will help you recognize the thought and behavior patterns that typically lead to such feelings and then offer some expert advice on shifting towards a healthier, more self-compassionate, and loving state of mind.

So, if you have got some doubts about your self-worth, you are not sure if you are capable of success in your next project, or you do not think you are worthy of someone else’s attention and respect, this article is for you. No matter what makes you feel like you are not good enough, and no matter what task is in front of you, the mindset you adopt matters most.

Am I Good Enough? Why Do I Feel This Way?

The reasons why you do not feel good enough are unique to you. They are based on your unique life experiences, how you coped with stress as a child , who supported you in hard times, how they supported you, and many other factors. Still, there are some typical causes of not feeling good enough that most people can relate to, such as:

1. Low Self-Worth

Low self-worth can keep you constantly questioning if you are good enough, and it often uses a critical inner voice to convince you that you are not. There are many potential causes of low self-worth, ranging from difficult childhood experiences to emotional abuse to consistent failure.

Whatever is causing your low sense of self-worth, it is important to resolve it as soon as possible. Low self-worth can lead to interpersonal issues that can seriously impact your quality of life. It can jeopardize your ability to make good important life decisions and makes you more likely to feel overwhelmed by negative emotions and less likely to fully experience positive ones.

2. Automatic Negative Thoughts

If your self-worth is low, you might feel like there is no point in even trying to be successful. You will entertain what psychologists call  automatic negative thoughts —thoughts in which you jump straight to the conclusion that something terrible will happen without leaving any room for the possibility that things will go well.

For example, imagine there is an opportunity for a promotion at work. It is between you and several of your coworkers. You want this promotion to allow you to express yourself more freely within the company and open the door for greater opportunities later. However, the competition is so strong, and your mind convinces you that you cannot measure up to the talent and skill of your coworkers.

That is an automatic negative thought that can prevent you from trying your best. Without trying your best, your chances of getting the promotion are slim. Somebody else gets it because they believe in themselves, and that entire situation reinforces your inner critic’s claims that you are not good enough.

3. Negative Core Beliefs

Low self-worth , poor self-esteem, and self-doubt typically stem from deeply held negative core beliefs. A core belief is a  truth  you hold about yourself and the world around you. These beliefs usually develop in early childhood through experiences and evaluation of those experiences. Negative core beliefs are the primary cause for not feeling good enough, and they are often self-perpetuating.

For example, you believe you are not interesting enough to keep your date’s attention. Your feelings about that belief will likely sabotage any attempts to establish a strong connection. You will struggle with confidence because you believe you are doomed to fail, jeopardizing your efforts. When your feelings consume you and lead to not even trying to connect with them because you expect to fail, that will reaffirm your core belief that you are not good enough. We can carry negative core beliefs throughout our entire lives. Unless we recognize, address, and reframe them, they will continue influencing our thoughts and behavior.

Until we make the unconscious conscious, it will direct our life, and we call it fate. Carl Jung

4. Comparison

There will always be someone greater than us, and there will always be someone lesser. Someone will be taller, someone shorter. Someone will be richer, someone poorer. Someone who has a lot of friends, someone with less than you. If you have a habit of comparing yourself to others, you will eventually realize that it never ends. You can compare yourself to others for days and never actually get anywhere.

Why do we compare ourselves to others? It may be because someone told us that we were not good enough and that someone else was better. That could have been a parent, a teacher, a childhood friend, or a romantic parent. No matter who it was and at what stage of life we were in when it happened, comparison can be emotionally challenging. It leads us to always look at ourselves and judge ourselves unnecessarily.

5. Perfectionism

Perfectionism is renowned for leading to feelings of not being good enough. A perfectionist tries to achieve 100% success in everything they do, but their relentless striving often leads to exhaustion. Perfectionism typically stems from childhood experiences. Perhaps a caregiver, someone who you relied upon for love and affection, only gave you those things when you achieved something, such as good grades at school or when you behaved as they wanted you to. The problem with that child-parent dynamic is that the child learns that they are loved conditionally. They are loved only on the condition that they succeed. Equally, they equate failure with being unlovable.

How to Feel Better About Yourself

You are not doomed to feel unworthy or not good enough forever. It is entirely possible to shift your frame of mind, challenge negative beliefs, and feel confident and worthy in yourself.  It may be easier for some than others, depending on how you have handled these feelings in the past. If you feel unworthiness that has been around for a while and has led you into depression and anxiety, you may need an extra support system to help you. Still, no matter who you are and your current state of mental health , the following tips and advice should help you improve your mood and give yourself a break from the negativity.

1. Let Go of Unrealistic Expectations

Often, not feeling good enough stems from perfectionism. We want to do things perfectly, be our best looking, smartest, wittiest, most crying, loving, attentive, wise, and thoughtful selves every day, but how realistic is that? The more we expect ourselves always to be our best, the more likely we will feel disappointed when we have a day even slightly off. Instead of striving for perfectionism, it is best to accept your ups and downs, including the feeling that you are not good enough.

You do not have to berate yourself for having that thought. It is completely natural and happens to most of us. When such thoughts arise, the best thing you can do for yourself is not to try to escape, but to pay attention to them, then bring your attention to your breath, pause, and let the thought go . This is how we practice acceptance, a prerequisite for letting go.

2. Practice Self-Forgiveness

As you begin to let go of unrealistic expectations, a great place to start is with self-forgiveness . How do you usually treat yourself when you make a mistake? How do you feel about yourself when you let someone down, even if your mistake was an easy one to make? Like many people, you are probably quite harsh and unforgiving toward yourself. Instead of harsh criticism and self-grudges, try to practice self-forgiveness.

If you slip up or let someone down, you might think you should be punished, but does that approach serve you? Does it even serve others? Sure, it is important to be personally accountable when things go wrong, to apologize, and make amends when necessary and appropriate. Still, you do not need to be too harsh on yourself. Understand that everyone slips up sometimes. Everyone procrastinates, experiences failure and forgets to be mindful of others’ feelings now and again.

3. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Comparison kills joy. You will always feel less if you constantly compare yourself to others. That is not just true for unfavorable comparisons, either. Even if you compare yourself to others to make yourself better, that will inevitably backfire because you believe that someone else is less talented than you. You might feel superior temporarily, but when you start to feel down, you will perceive others as judgmental toward you in the same way.

No one knows your truth but you. If you’re secure in yourself, no one and no(thing) can touch you. Brittany Burgunder

4. Practice Self-Compassion

There already exists within you a part of yourself that loves you unconditionall y. Much of the work surrounding personal growth and self-acceptance does not create that self-love as much as uncovering it. Life can toughen us up and make us suppress our vulnerable side, but through self-compassion, we can reconnect with ourselves in a way that helps us experience abundant self-love and self-compassion is a tool we can use to get there. A key part of self-compassion is embracing your negative feelings with loving-kindness and allowing yourself to have positive thoughts . Too often, when we doubt our self-worth, we do not even allow our positive thoughts to exist.

5. Set Goals

Nobody is born confident. It is a feeling we develop through consistent effort and success. If you want to build confidence, it is important to set some goals . They do not have to be lofty. The whole point is to make them achievable. Set small, achievable goals regularly, goals that you now you can view but which are nonetheless challenging. Completing these goals will build your confidence and inspire you to take exciting risks.

When to Seek Help For Not Feeling Good Enough

It is normal to have occasional doubts about your self-worth. You are human, so it is impossible for you to be in a good mood and happy about your life all the time. Still, when such thoughts come up, we must deal with them. They can be uncomfortable and challenging, but they will only come back stronger if we deny or suppress them.

If you have been struggling with feelings of low self-worth and it is beginning to harm your life, such as your job, health, or relationship, it is crucial to seek help. Do not be fooled into thinking that seeking help is a sign of weakness—it is a sign of incredible strength.

Therapy for Not Feeling Good Enough

Low self-worth and not feeling good enough can sometimes lead people into a feedback loop of negative thoughts and behaviors that only make them feel worse about themselves and may lead to thoughts of self-harm and suicide. It is wise to speak to a mental health professional for support. A licensed therapist or counselor can offer support in several ways.

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

A popular type of support for those who experience low self-worth is cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT – evidence-based psychotherapy that addresses and aims to shift the interconnected relationship between our thoughts and beliefs, feelings and emotions, and subsequent behaviors.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a wonderful technique that has been around for decades now and has consistently helped those with feelings of low self-worth overcome their unhelpful patterns of thought and belief and reframe them into a healthier frame of mind. In CBT, a licensed therapist will listen deeply to your concerns. They’ll support you in developing a keen awareness of your thought patterns and help you recognize that they are just thoughts, not necessarily reality.

Am I really good enough? The reality is that nobody else can tell you whether or not you are good enough. You may get turned down from a job, rejected by a lover, or experience failure, but at the end of the day, being good enough comes down to how you feel inside. It is a state of unconditional self-love and acceptance that, though not always easy to cultivate, is worth all the effort of trying to achieve. Until you work towards that radical level of self-acceptance, you may never feel good enough.

The good news is you can achieve self-love. It is hard at times to love yourself, and you might face challenges, such as memories of past mistakes or unhealthy relationships, moments of self-loathing, striving to be the best version of yourself or a hell-bent need to be perfect. Still, with consistent practice and mindful living, there comes a day when you wake up, and you cannot help but smile with the thought,  Yes, I am good enough .

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up to our newsletter!

More articles

How to say goodbye in the best way—formal and informal goodbye’s, best morning routine checklist—10 helpful steps to boost your day, how to break codependency to foster a healthy relationship in 5 ways, 10 books on finding your purpose to begin living your best life, 9 best books for self-awareness to help you in your life’s journey, 10 books about finding your passion and living an incredible life, looking for practical self-care.

Sign up now to receive your free ebook and more practical self-care tips, advice and products, in your inbox.

**Please check your spam folder!**

Self-Esteem

6 ways to change the belief “i’m not good enough”, don't let this common negative core belief control your life..

Posted April 22, 2024 | Reviewed by Monica Vilhauer

• What Is Self-Esteem?
• Find counselling near me
• Negative core beliefs thrive in your core, gut, and instincts; that's why you can't talk yourself out of them.
• You cannot force yourself to believe "I'm good enough," but you can plant the necessary seeds to change it.
• "I'm not good enough" lives in your body, and your body must be a part of the process to change it.

I’m not good enough is one of the most harmful negative core beliefs that I’ve come across in my career as a psychotherapist. It’s a common belief that’s deeply ingrained and can become debilitating, but it can be changed.

What Are Negative Core Beliefs?

Negative core beliefs are beliefs that we have about ourselves or the world. They are binary beliefs that leave little room for flexibility or adaptation. Some common negative core beliefs are:

• I’m worthless.
• I’m unlovable.
• I’m undeserving.
• I’m unimportant.
• I’m stupid.
• I’m a failure.
• I’m powerless/helpless.
• I cannot trust myself/others.
• I have to be perfect/please others.

Negative core beliefs thrive in your core, gut, and instincts. They do not originate nor exist in your logical, rational mind. This is why you cannot talk yourself out of believing them. For example, if you experience the negative core belief of “I’m not good enough,” you will believe this regardless of the evidence that proves you wrong. I’ve worked with clients with successful careers, thriving relationships, and daily evidence that they are good enough, yet they continue to believe the opposite. It’s not uncommon for you to logically know that your negative core beliefs are untrue, yet you still believe them in your core, gut, instincts, and body.

Past experiences often shape negative core beliefs. For example, if you were treated as if you weren’t good enough as a child, you may grow to believe, “I’m not good enough,” as an adult. This belief becomes so deeply ingrained that it’s easy to feel that it can never be changed. Yet, it can.

Try these steps to change the negative core belief of “I’m not good enough” (or any additional negative core beliefs that you may experience):

1. Identify Your Negative Core Belief and Its Impact

First, you must identify if you believe “I’m not good enough,” even if you know it’s logically untrue. Ask yourself, do I believe I’m not good enough in my gut, my core, or my body? If so, what are some ways in which this belief is negatively impacting my life? Does it prevent me from taking risks or trying new things? Does it hinder my ability to connect with others? Does it sabotage my actions? This insight will be the first step to changing this belief.

2. Identify an Accurate Replacement Belief

It’s helpful to identify a belief that can replace “I’m not good enough.” This new belief must be logically accurate. If it’s not, you won’t believe it. For example, “I’m perfect” might not be an accurate belief, nor would overly positive beliefs. Instead, consider a more accurate belief, such as “I’m good enough.” Then, create an accurate definition of this belief. I’m good enough is not defined as perfection. It’s not even close to perfection. Think of a school grading system of A, B, C, D, and F. A is perfection, B is above average, and C is average. I’m good enough is average; it’s a grade of a C, not a B or an A.

3. Consider, Don’t Force

You cannot force yourself to believe your replacement belief. If you could, you would have done it already. Instead, gently consider it. For example, instead of saying “I’m good enough” one thousand times or trying to will it into existence, consider that it might be true and notice how you feel. It’s common to feel uncomfortable when you consider a replacement belief. Try to sit with that uncomfortable feeling. Imagine that every time you consider “I’m good enough,” you are planting seeds in your core as opposed to trying to force them to grow.

4. Involve Your Body

Negative core beliefs live in your body. Therefore, your body must be a part of the process when changing them. When you consider “I’m good enough,” notice how your body responds. Approach these physical sensations with curiosity, not judgment. Your body is not used to this replacement belief and might respond with sensations of discomfort. Sit with these sensations and see what happens. Ask your body if it needs anything, such as a stretch, a change in posture or breathing, or perhaps some patience as it considers this new belief.

5. Identify Evidence That Supports Your Replacement Belief

Imagine you are a scientist looking for evidence supporting the theory that you are good enough. How much evidence can you identify? Identify ALL the evidence, not just the evidence you think is important or has more value. For example, paying your rent, showering, and showing up to work might not feel like a big deal, but this may prove that you are good enough. When looking for evidence, it’s important to remember your accurate definition of “I’m good enough,” which is average, not above average or perfection. Try creating a list of your evidence and review it when needed.

6. Express Behaviors That Support Your Replacement Belief

How would you behave if you believed “I’m good enough?” Act in those ways. For example, if you constantly push yourself to achieve perfection and believe you are good enough, you might take a break because you have already proven yourself. If you rarely express your needs in relationships, you might start doing so because you are just as good and worthy as those you love. Try acting in ways that reinforce the belief “I’m good enough.” If you do, you might start to believe it.

It's unlikely that these interventions will immediately change the belief “I’m not good enough” or any other negative core beliefs. It’s a process that will take time and consistency. Remember, negative core beliefs are not created overnight, so it will take effort, consistency, and patience to help them transform into more accurate beliefs and promote self-worth.

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, is a Chicago-based trauma psychotherapist, national speaker, and author.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Online Therapy
• International
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Therapy Center NEW
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

Understanding what emotional intelligence looks like and the steps needed to improve it could light a path to a more emotionally adept world.

• Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience