Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of “enough”…
So what is Enough, exactly?
Enough is the exact amount that provides fulfillment without excess. Less wouldn’t be enough, but more would be overkill. Like in the story of Goldilocks, it is the portion that is neither too hot, nor too cold. And the idea can apply to most things:
- Enough salary
- Enough house
- Enough responsibility
- Enough leisure time
- And so on…
The concept is central in the book “Your Money or Your Life”, first written by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominquez over twenty five years ago. The authors argue that when your definition of enough is more than you have right now, you “condemn yourself to the experience of perpetual poverty.” Ouch.
But on the flip side, when you identify your enough, an organize your life in a way that aligns with that definition, you free yourself to find greater purpose and make greater impact in your life and in that of the community.
So, what’s your enough? You may find you already have it.
Actions:
- Think about the categories where you spend most of your time and energy, e.g. your work (paid or unpaid), home life, hobbies, etc. For each, what would be “enough”? Consider in particular places where you currently feel unsatisfied, and be honest. For example, if it’s a promotion you’re after, would the promotion really be “enough”, or would it just trigger another cycle of desire?
- Repeat the activity above, but this time thinking about the categories on which you spend most of your money, e.g. house, food, car, health care, travel, etc. Again, what is “enough”? Can you sense any spaces where you might have excess?
- The next time you shop, think about the construct of “enough”… you may find you’re already at equilibrium.