Have You Ever Felt Like You're Not Enough?
Yes. I have.
There have been many moments in my life when I’ve felt like I wasn’t enough, not strong enough, not smart enough, not talented enough. That feeling, that weight, it lingers. It shows up quietly in everyday moments and louder in big ones. But then, I think about someone like Lionel Messi.
Messi wasn’t born the greatest footballer in the world. In fact, at just 10 or 11 years old, he was diagnosed with Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) by doctors in Rosario, Argentina. He was significantly smaller than other kids, and the treatment he needed involved daily hormone injections, an expensive and painful process. His family loved him dearly, but they didn’t have the financial capacity to continue the treatment on their own. That’s when FC Barcelona stepped in. They saw potential where others might have only seen limitation. They believed in him, invested in his therapy, and brought him to Spain, changing his life and arguably the world of football forever. Messi’s story is proof that even the greatest had to overcome something. That “not enough” feeling? He likely had it too. But he didn’t let it define him.
Do you think feeling like you're not enough is something we naturally learn?
I think so but not in the way people might assume. It's not that we wake up one day and decide we lack worth. It's more subtle than that. Sometimes, it's not even our voice telling us that we're simply reacting to the standards, expectations, or systems around us. Think about a situation where you're working a job, giving it your all, just to pay off a debt you know might take years. The pressure isn’t necessarily self-doubt, it’s the crushing weight of circumstance. But over time, it shapes a narrative in your mind: “Why can’t I do more?” “Why am I always behind?” That’s when the feeling creeps in, not in the form of self-pity, but as a quiet frustration that whispers, “Maybe I’m not enough".
But here’s the truth: feeling not enough doesn’t mean you aren’t enough. Often, it's the criteria we’re measured by. The unspoken rules of systems, institutions, or even social comparisons that make us feel inadequate.
Take the famous rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo. Two legends, unmatched in their own rights. Yet how often have we seen the Ballon d’Or go to Messi, while Ronaldo is left in the background. Does that mean Ronaldo isn’t good enough? Not at all. It’s just that recognition is often tied to preference, performance at a specific time, or the influence of a club or media narrative. These aren’t always fair and they certainly aren’t absolute.
Sometimes, one person’s success casts a shadow over another, not because one is greater, but because the system only allows one spotlight. That’s not a reflection of value just the shape of the stage.
See the public opinion below. Ronaldo was chosen as the real G.O.A.T.
Source
So, how do I handle it, those moments when I feel like I’m not enough?
I smile. Not because everything is perfect, but because I choose to hold on to hope. Smiling, even when it’s hard, reminds me that pain and pressure don’t have the final word.
I pray to God. Because I know I wasn’t created to carry everything on my own. I talk to the One who sees the full picture, who understands the journey even when I don’t. I remind myself that the same God who raised people like Messi to the top, who opened doors they couldn't open for themselves, is the same God watching over me. If He could bless them, He can bless me too... in His own time and way. Okay!
And then? I move on. Not because I’ve figured it all out, but because staying stuck in the feeling doesn’t serve me. I move forward in faith, knowing that my worth is not based on the standards of others or temporary setbacks. It’s deeper than that.
We all face it, that sinking feeling that we’re not measuring up. Maybe it comes during a hard season, a missed opportunity, or when life just feels stuck. So, what really helps when you're in that space?
What do you think would help someone who feels like they're not enough?
For me, it’s this: Think of those at the top. The people we admire , whether in sports, business, or any walk of life, weren’t always where they are now. Go back to their beginnings. Study the moments when they could have felt like they weren’t enough. You’ll often find stories of rejection, struggle, or pain that could’ve broken them. But something else happened instead: God helped them. Miraculously.
Take Lionel Messi, for example. Diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at a young age, his family couldn’t afford the treatment. Most clubs passed on him. But God opened a door through FC Barcelona, and the rest is history.
These stories remind us: feeling like you’re not enough is not the end of your story. It might just be the part where something bigger begins.
And that’s why I smile. I pray. I move forward in faith, knowing that the same God who helped others rise can lift me too. He hasn’t forgotten me. And He hasn’t forgotten you either.
Thank you.