My husband and I have been talking quite a bit about “what is enough.” In a world in which ambition, abundance, and wealth are always equated as positive, it can be difficult to set your own measure.
This exploration can go two ways. We can look at the conversation of “enough” as being an excuse for not pushing ourselves, not working hard, not “going for it.” It can be that safety we apply when we’re uncomfortable with success or when we’re known to self-sabotage.
It can also be permission to craft a life that is right for you. To establish boundaries based on values rather than accumulation. To choose gratitude for what you have rather than focusing on what you don’t. To see the beauty and wonder in the gifts all around us that cannot be bought.
What is “enough” for you?
I have no judgement, either way, we continue to dissect this conversation for our family, but I think it’s a worthy exploration.
You are the leader of your life. You get to choose what is meaningful to you.
As you’re barraged by messages of what you should have, should do, should be, have the courage to make the choices that are right for you. Choose your “enough.”
©OnStageLeadership
The sages teach: “Who is rich? The one who is happy with what he has.”
What they don’t say is as instructive as what they do say. Not: “The one who is satisfied with what he has.”
This world is, by it’s nature, not a place for satisfaction. Satisfaction is dead weight that pulls us down into apathy and complacency. What makes us happy is knowing that we’re doing the best we can do with what we have in order to live the lives we’re meant to live. Whatever we have, it’s always enough to be happy and never enough to be satisfied.
Thanks for this, Kimberly.
Wow… I love this so much! Such a simple concept… until we let preconceived notions of worth and success and purpose get in the way. You lay this out so beautifully, Kimberly. And while it does seem so simple, the challenge for all of us may be getting introspective and digging deep enough to, as you so eloquently say, “give yourself permission to craft a life that is right for you.” Thank you for this rich food for thought today!
Thank YOU, dear Melissa. So much of crafting a life that is right is surrounding yourself with the people who make you better and fill your heart. Which is why I’m so grateful you’re in my life.
Knowing your limits, adapting your expectations to reality, knowing how to put into practice relational strategies to improve communication and manage stress, are all skills that help the individual along this path to define, from time to time, one’s own enough.
I absolutely agree, Aldo. Unfortunately many people don’t really know themselves well and so they simply subscribe to society’s norms rather than identifying what will work for them at a more personal level.
Great timing, dear Kimberly. I listened to two powerful conversations yesterday on a long drive. 1. Garry Turner’s podcast with Brain Kelly and Mike Vacanti on connection and vulnerability, and 2. Brene Brown’s original TEDTalk on vulnerability and wholeheartedness. Your succinct and powerful words here reinforce the need to listen to our own voice around “enough” and not the voice of others. It took me decades – decades! – to realize that. My personal mantra is “Where and how am I trying to help?” I can’t fix it all, but I can make a little dent.
Thank you for holding up your message for all of us to see.
Jeff, I think you are one of the most thoughtful and reflective people I know. I am always richer for the contributions you make.
And what is enough? We seem to have that default setting to thirst after “more” and then “a little more” or “some more” after that. You scare me with these concise, yet powerful messages, that leave me pondering for so long after I read them. I’m left with the conundrum of yammering on way longer than your original piece or leaving stuff unsaid (always a huge “no-no” for moi :). I love this sentence most of all: “It can also be permission to craft a life that is right for you.” As you said in your comment, sometimes asking the same question on a daily basis leads to important exploration.
There is so much I love about getting a Tom Dietzler comment. Firstly, the fact that you read the entire conversation that is unfolding in the comments before you respond is amazing to me. You truly are one of the most thoughtful people I know and your thirst to learn and understand shows up in everything you do and how you do it (your “Learner” is showing!). Secondly, I’ve missed my Tom Dietzler time and I know you’ve been busy being a new grandparent and all, so this felt extra special. Thirdly, you always make me smile. That’s a gift. Big time gift.
Thank you so much, Dennis, for publishing this piece. I find it interesting how relevant this question continues to be for me on a daily basis. Maybe that’s the challenge and the power of the question – that we need to revisit it often to stay true to ourselves.
Such a life-enriching question, Kimberly! One that helps us discover, reaffirm, and assert our essential selves and what matters (or does not matter) most. I too believe that it’s a question we need to revisit often, because if we don’t, then its insidious cousin is likely to be lurking in the shadows… that cousin? The reverse assertion of ‘not enough-ness’: that we are (or do not have) enough. Thank you for always bridging us to our best selves!
Adore you, Janice! Thank you!