My TED talk is now live. In it, I share the darkest chapter of my life, the moment I finally told the people I love that I wasn’t OK, and how three simple words, “I am enough,” helped me find my way back.
Why I Shared This Story
For most of my life, I believed achievement would quiet the voice that told me I wasn’t enough. Instead, it made it louder. What saved me was telling the truth, first to the people I love, and then on the TED stage.
We expect physical illness. We plan for colds and broken bones, and we talk about them openly. But when it comes to our mental health, we whisper, we isolate, and we pretend we’re fine. Shame creates silence. Silence creates isolation. And isolation creates risk.
Talking honestly with even one person about how you’re really doing can save a life. If this talk resonates, please share it with someone.
The We Are ENOUGH Giving Chain
In the talk, I share the We Are ENOUGH Giving Chain. It began with a simple beaded bracelet I wore every day as a reminder that I am enough. Send one to someone you love, so they know every day that they’re not alone, and ask them to pass one on.
You are not broken. You are not weak. You are not alone.
You are enough, and you always will be.
Carpe Diem,
Blake
If you or someone you love is struggling, you’re not alone. In the US, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Outside the US, find support at findahelpline.com.
