HELLO! And welcome to your not so average weekend favorites.
I’ve been talking a lot about self-realization, self worth and growth on Instagram. It’s a place for me to send you inspiration in a photo, quickly write up a quote and spout it off to the world. But today I want to talk about something real that’s been showing up in my life. Something that deserves a write up.
Over the past few weeks, it’s been difficult to feel like I’m doing enough in all areas of my life. My happiness and enjoyment of success after an achievement is incredibly short-lived and then I’m onto the next project or task. I’m in a constant of doing more and never feeling like it’s enough. I’m sure many of you might feel the same way. In your careers, in your relationships, in your side projects or anything your devoted to. It’s a hard feeling to try and manage.
First, I’m here to tell you that you are valuable and you have unlimited potential. I’m also here to tell you that being like somebody else and imitating their success strips you away from your full potential to do what you were meant to do. We all have different paths — sometimes it just takes time for us to see what they are. You will get where you need to be.
I’m also here to tell you more isn’t always better; sometimes the more you take on, the more you feel weigh down if you don’t manage it. So how do you manage everything? This is something I’ve been struggling with.
The biggest realization in my own life has been centered around setting expectations, understanding self awareness and what that means for my life, career, goals and passions.
I am an idea person. This means that I could probably come up with a million ideas of ways to have a business, grow it, create it and keep it successful. I live on ideation. I like to think and brainstorm. And I love to create. That is who I am and for that, I am proud.
However, being an idea person and an executioner are two completely different things. This means that I can’t set the expectation for myself that I can continue to operate Ambitious Kitchen in all facets while it continues to grow. I need help. I can still be the brains and creator, but I can’t do it all. This has been the biggest shift in my reality lately: I just can’t do it all, and that’s okay. Even with Abra and our small team, I still can’t do it all.
I believe one of the reasons I don’t feel a sense appreciation for my success and achievements is because I’m constantly moving on to the next goal, project or milestone. But also, this is the society we live in. We are consistently told that we can do anything. And in truth, I believe that. But when is doing it all enough? When does it feel good and content?
Constantly challenging myself to no end and banking my happiness on each goal I set, doesn’t keep me happy. Doing more and more doesn’t fulfill me.
What fulfills me is spending time with my husband, long talks with my mom, traveling, creation (of any kind!), dreaming big, failing and picking myself back up, learning and inspiring all of you. THOSE are the wins I need to celebrate more instead of my Instagram followers. Those are the things I need to continue to stay true to. So, ask yourself: what actually fulfills me? What do you need to feel content? Those are the things that matter.
While blogging is one of the best things I’ve had happen to me, it’s also turned into something I never knew it would be. I’m adapting and growing, and trying to keep it real with all of you. When I started blogging I never knew that I’d be sharing my fashion, beauty, hair and everything in between on platforms for everyone to pick apart, compare and examine. Instagram wasn’t about being perfect or watching my day to day life on Stories (that didn’t exist).
Today there are still parts of me that aren’t online. There are parts of me that are wild and free without the internet and I like to keep it that way. I can’t please everyone who follows me, I’m not perfect and I will never try to be.
But I AM HUMAN, just like everyone else. I’m learning as I go. And while it may seem that I have my shit together, there are days where I don’t. There are times where I feel overwhelmed, stressed and confused, yet it gives me comfort that I can come here and write this to you and just be real. This blog has always, always been a place for me to be myself and I am thankful and PROUD of that.
So, this is a long-winded letter to remind myself that I am enough. You are enough. We’re doing enough. Tell your best friend, significant other, or coworker know that he/she is enough.
Remember to take some you time this weekend, and know that you don’t even have to tell anyone that you’re doing it.
Love to you, Monique! I’ve been following you for years and absolutely love everything about you and your blog. You’re the cutest! Plus, your recipes are damn good. It’s with 100% certainty that majority of my recipes come from you! Keep doing you, girl!!!! Xx
Love right back to you Amanda!! More great recipes to come 🙂 Thank you for your note!
Even though I have never met you I still feel that I know you. You have made me love what you stand for and what you do. You inspire others to be better to themselves and each other. Keep on being you because trust all your loyal fans in this:” you are enough” and you make a differance every day to someone out in the world. Your food is delicious and easy to make and your view of the world and all it offers makes all of us see more positively in our own lives. Keep on doing what you do as long as it is what you want or need to do.
That means so much to me Carol – thank you! I always want to bring positivity and delicious food to your lives, and I’m thankful that I have a place to do so. Thank you again!
😘😘 I have loved reading AK over the years and always appreciate that you stay true to yourself. Can’t wait to continue following wherever you take us next!
I’m so glad you’ve been part of the AK fam for years! Excited to share more in the coming ones 🙂
This is lovely; you are lovely. Thanks, Monique.
Thank you Megan!
So well written. I love everything about this! We are all enough. We all have a purpose and the potential is inside of us. We just have to let it shine!
Yes absolutely! Thanks for your note Kelli 🙂
Awesome post! I loved reading it! Happy international womens day to you!!
http://Www.themilestraveled.com
Thanks Caitlin!! Happy (belated) international womens day to you too 🙂
I needed this!! I have loved watching AK grow over the last few years, and it’s inspired me to start my own food blog journey (hopefully later this year)! I’ve been hesitant to get it off the ground because I keep focusing on how I can make it absolutely perfect right off the bat – but it takes time to get there. And I’m doubting myself before I even give it a chance. And I need to learn to be OK with that and just focusing on the small steps to get there. Thank you for this reminder that we are enough!
Absolutely! It’s okay to start small and to have bumps along the way – it’s the best way to grow 🙂 Hope you can take these messages throughout your journey!
I keep trying to think of something so amazing to say – then I realized I’m making myself crazy and my comment, however meager or not thrilling, is good enough!!!! Life does get crazy and most of the times while I am sitting or standing perfectly still my brain is spinning in circles at lightning speed. How can I manage this job, this house, four kids, my future, my present, all the sports, etc ETC — on top of my #1 passion which is food! Life is hard, but I’m enough! Even when I don’t (and never will) get it all done, at the end of the day I made good food because I wanted to and that’s good enough! So what if the dishes are still dirty!!
I also wanted to thank you for being such a large part of my life. May sound strange but my life is so much better with Ambitious Kitchen in it! I love your recipes, your stories, your energy. Following you makes me a better person. I applaud you for this post, keep it real like you always do and that’s how it should be! I hope you have an amazing weekend!
Denise – this note means the world to me! You are 100% right that at the end of the day we must remind ourselves that who we are and what we’ve done is good enough. I’m so glad that I can share my stories and recipes with you. Hope you have a wonderful week!
I really needed this today. Thanks for not being afraid to put yourself out there. Life is tough but we are tougher. We do as humans always feel the need to be perfect. I am a mother of 3 (21 year old son) and identical twin daughters who are (18 years old). I am all the time trying to juggle so many things working 40+ hours a week, always trying to do everything I can as a mother that needs to be done and a wife. We need to give ourselves permission to fail sometimes and not be so hard on ourselves when it happens. Thanks for reminding us that it is ik and that we are enough.
I hope you can keep carrying this with you Kimberly! You’re totally right that it’s okay to fail sometimes. You are enough and we are enough!
You are simply awesome. I’ve been following you for years and you always amaze me! Even though I’m older, I def look up to you w/ your blog(I wouldn’t even know how to begin, maybe that’s an excuse..), cooking, writing, health, courage, tips, determination, realness, balance, and style. Thank you so much for sharing your past, journeys, struggles, wisdom, and mmmmm fooood.. You’re a saint, chica! Congrats on married life, all the best❣
Thank you SO much for your note Meredith! I’m glad I’ve been able to share my journey along with all of my fav recipes. You guys inspire me and keep this blog alive, so thank you thank you! <3
Couldn’t agree with you more Monique. We all put too much pressure on ourselves, and try to please too many. Especially when we’re dreamers and always thinking about the next cool thing to do, then over promising and over committing! But, and this is a big BUT, we can do this because it’s in our DNA and we’d have it no other way. You’re a role model, even if you didn’t sign up to be, and your followers and I love you for your realness. Fuck ya here’s to keeping it real.
You’re 100% right. It’s almost a blessing and a curse to dream so big. You’re such a role model too Heidi! Thanks for your note <3
I find it incredibly refreshing to read this because some people live behind a facade… especially when FB and the like make it easy to do so these days. It’s easy to create “perfection” when you can show your “highlight reel” of living… whenever people look too perfect, I try to remind myself everyone has their imperfections; they’re lying if they say otherwise. Thanks for being yourself and acknowledging out loud what we all feel these days- I am enough and you are too 🙂
You’re totally right – it’s easy to curate life to show all of the “good.” I’m lucky to have a space where I can show you guys everything! Thanks for your note Brenda 🙂 means a lot!
yes yes and yes. so much yes to this. this is something that is CONSTANTLY on my mind. i have so many ideas…that i have a hard time focusing on ONE vision. such an awesome reminder to bring it all back to what truly fulfills you, brings you joy – and truly brings you LIFE.
Absolutely! Thanks for your note Marti <3
This is the best. I, too, am guilty of moving onto the next goal without even celebrating an accomplishment. But I am enough! You are enough! Love you, lady! 🙂 <3
It becomes such a habit! Thanks Christina – love ya girl 🙂
This is great, definitely needed this today. Thank you
Little reminders for the week <3
I am considerably older than you………This idea of not being or doing enough has plagued women forever. I want to tell you that I admire your honesty and authenticity so much……..it took me years to gain that……and not with the whole world looking on. I see, thru the blog, the love of cooking and homemaking and beauty. What grace and peace to bring to the world! Trick for me and many women is to learn to extend that grace to ourselves………how we learned to exclude ourselves from our own hearts. So for me it is a practice over and over again to come home to myself, to my own heart. How to do that is unique to each of us but I journal, breathing exercises, walking, yoga, good food and faith in something bigger than myself. Thank for your letterM
Thank you so much for your note Christine! You’re so right about learning to extend grace to ourselves. Love your ideas about journaling, exercise and good food too. Thank you!
Loved reading this post! Love your website / IG / recipes! My biggest inspiration as I am trying to work on developing the food / recipe creation aspect of my business more. You are amazing, keep doing what you are doing.
Thank you so much for your note! I’m so glad you’re finding inspiration here. Keep up the food + recipe creation! 🙂