Worthy

Written for Megan McCann, CEO and Founder, McCann Partners

The other day my brother sent me an old photo, unearthed from who knows where and unseen by anyone for decades. It was a picture of me, on the beach in a bikini with a terrible haircut and a toothy smile.

Looking at the photo, I remembered that day instantly. The smell of Coppertone and saltwater waves, the feeling of a sandy towel rough against my sunburnt skin, the taste of Coca-Cola warmed by the sun. I remembered how self-assured I felt, unabashed by my bare skin or bad bangs.

In the same instance that the memory washed over me, a voice sprang to life in my head and said, “I wish I was as confident today as I was as a child.”

I think a lot of us feel that way and, if you ask me, what we lack in confidence comes down to how we view our own worthiness.

So often I hear women (and sometimes men, but not as frequently) attribute their success to luck, being in the right place at the right time, or having a connection they can call upon.

Too rarely do they identify the true driver of their achievement: their own grit, determination, and hard work. They put up boundaries, protecting their hearts from accepting their improved status, and wait, in fear, for the other shoe to drop.

Let this be your call (and mine) to embrace these simple truths:

You are the reason for the good things in your life.

You can forget about the other shoe: more good things are on their way to you because you've put in the work.

You can and will be as confident as the bikini-clad, sunburnt, and freckly adolescent that I once was.

You are worthy.