Just Showing Up Is Enough
Stop doubting yourself and give yourself more credit (and a snack).
If you’ve read my Substack Notes recently, you may have noticed I shared a little secret… (and if you missed it, you’ll see the photos below).
The secret?
I’m applying to a local MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) program, and the application is due January 15.
To apply, I have to submit fiction writing samples. I’ve chosen one flash fiction piece and an excerpt from my novel.
Here’s the problem: I have nearly 100 poems—finished or in-progress—on my computer. But not a single finished piece of long-form fiction. I’ve drafted long-form projects before, yes—but those exist in dry, academic language.
So I did something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time: I booked a hotel room for three nights to focus solely on my writing. Free from mom duties, pet duties, wife duties. Free to put pen to paper and fingers to keyboard.
During that mini writing retreat, the familiar spiral began.
Am I enough?
Am I talented enough to finish this novel?
Do I know enough to get into this MFA program?
Will I get my pages to my developmental editor in time to revise them before mid-January?
That old fear—that I’m not enough—crept right back in. (🎶 Hello Darkness, my old friend… 🎶)
So I did what I often ask my coaching clients to do. First, I acknowledged my feelings instead of dismissing them or doubling down. Then, I stepped outside my own fear and listened to how I would speak to someone else.
And here’s what I realized: This “not enough” story is often rooted in trauma—especially for those of us who grew up trying to survive, mask, or steer the reins of an ADHD brain (often before we even knew what it was). That constant pressure to perform, manage, and prove ourselves can distort how we see our worth.
So instead of asking, “Am I enough?” I asked a different question: Am I giving myself enough?
Enough sleep.
Enough water.
Enough food.
Enough nourishing movement.
Enough transition time between tasks.
For example—I know it takes me about 15 minutes to shift out of one task, and another 15 to settle into the next. When I ignore that and push anyway, I pay for it with overwhelm, brain fog, and emotional exhaustion.
Push long enough without breaks, and your working memory overloads. Motivation drops. Despair sets in.
And hydration matters more than we think. Your brain is nearly 75% water, so even mild dehydration can lead to fatigue, irritability, and problems with focus.1 If you’re not getting enough water, that familiar brain fog can grow heavier, interfering with attention, executive function, processing speed, and memory.2
So I stopped asking if I was enough, stretched, ate a snack, and drank some water. Instead of feeding the downward spiral, I started asking if I was giving myself enough permission:
To be flexible
To let ideas marinate
To rest without shame
Maybe that meant less social media doom-scrolling. Maybe that meant saving shows as rewards. Maybe that meant two deeply focused days—followed by two days of rest.
And that’s what I did.
After my three-nights away, I became besties with the couch in my living room for two days. I watched my shows—cuddled my kid, pets, and husband. I talked with friends and family. I even made space to let my mind wander.
In rest, our thoughts spread apart and reform into something new—unforced, natural. And something beautiful happened… my brain relaxed enough that new, interesting ideas began surfacing without being chased. Connects were made and new cause-effect scenes became clear.
Rest didn’t derail my momentum—it restored it.
Growth Happens Through Doing—Not Through Perfection
Another way to reframe the “I’m not enough” story is this: Growth comes from action, not certainty.
It’s like training for a 5K. You don’t wake up and run five miles on day one. You walk. Then you walk and jog. Then you jog a little more. Progress builds incrementally. Slowly. Imperfectly.
Change doesn’t happen overnight. Confidence doesn’t arrive fully formed. We grow by showing up, even when we’re scared. Especially when we’re scared.
We grow when we:
Take risks
Pause when we need to
Share with people we trust
Let ourselves be seen
Receive feedback
Stay in motion, even at a crawl
Connection grows the same way. With others. With ourselves.
The Quiet Truth: Showing Up Is Already Enough
Are you giving yourself credit for showing up even when progress feels slow, fear is loud, or the path uncertain?
Showing up matters. It matters to your future self as much as your past self—the one who needs you to keep going. It matters to the promises you’ve made to yourself.
Just showing up is enough. It’s the first step back to yourself, to your writing, to the life you want to live. It’s enough because you are enough.
A Note on Messy First Drafts (and Why They Matter)
I drafted the original version of this essay using the voice memo app on my phone. I wanted the thoughts unfiltered. Raw.
At first, I hesitated. I paused. I tried to sound polished.
Then I realized that hesitation is exactly what stops so many writers from ever starting. I forgot things I wanted to say. I had to take breaks. I had to return and rekindle old thoughts.
And it reminded me: this is exactly what drafting a novel feels like. Messy. Scattered. Real.
This past week, I’ve been listening to On Writing by Stephen King while driving, and one line has stayed with me:
“Write with the door closed. Edit with the door open.”
To paraphrase this literary genius (my words): Drafting is human. Revision is divine.
Like many writers, I have a nasty habit of editing as I write—which strangles momentum. So now I’m practicing what feels uncomfortable… letting the mess exist and the first draft be ugly.
Because the mess is where life enters the work.
Revision doesn’t destroy the draft—it raises it. Like raising a wild, chaotic toddler into a beautiful, fully formed human being.
That’s what I want for my work: to bring it into the world and shape it with care. To rear it and offer it in a form that might help someone else feel seen, encouraged, and less alone.
If You’re Struggling Right Now…
If you’re hearing that voice whisper: You’re not enough. Try asking: Am I giving myself enough?
Enough rest
Enough nourishment
Enough gentleness
Enough permission to be imperfect
You don’t have to be ready, fearless, or finish it all right away. You just have to show up. And today, that is already enough.
Keep writing forward,
—Candice
P.S. Only a couple of spots remain in the Focused ADHD Writers Group. Click here to learn more and apply. We start January 7.
Let’s Connect!
📸 Instagram | 🧵 Threads | 💼 LinkedIn | ▶️ YouTube | 🌐 Website
Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism | Effects of Dehydration on Brain Functioning: A Life-Span Perspective
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise | Dehydration Impairs Cognitive Performance: A Meta-analysis
this reframe is so powerful - thank you!!