Enough

Starting an insurance agency from scratch was a lot harder than I thought it would be. In the early years I would work until I just couldn’t go any more. Later I had a little breathing room and life was better. It was then I was confronted with an interesting problem. I had to decide how much is enough. I could have literally worked twenty four hours a day. It was impossible for me to talk to every potential customer. No matter how many I contacted, there was always going to be more. I had to decide how many was enough. 

Living in America made this an even tougher decision. Most Amercians measure themselves by their accomplishments and how much they have. It’s the water we swim in. Commercials are constantly telling me I am not enough unless we have what they are selling. They are designed to keep me in a constant state of dissatisfaction, chasing the carrot in front of me while running on a never ending treadmill. I’ll have enough when……….

I struggled with my situation until I read Smile for No Good Reason by Lee Jampolsky. He starts one chapter like this. “You are, no doubt familiar with the nagging voice in your head that keeps the pressure on by saying things like: ‘Take on more. Accomplish more. Get more done in less time. Make more money. Buy more and better possessions.’ Of all the things you can know, knowing what is enough is one of the most important.”

I finally realized that more isn’t always better. It’s just alway more. I also discovered that it is a steep slippery slope from not having enough to not being enough. Life is a happier place when I am okay with what I have and who I am. I can still work on improving myself and my situation, within reason, while being satisfied in the present moment as I discussed in my post Relax, but Don’t Let Go.Relax but Don’t Let Go (The Sweet Spot)

I’ve found a few things that help me know how much is enough. I don’t watch much TV, but when I do I record the program so I can fast forward through the commercials. Then I don’t see their messages that I need more. I spend less time in front of the TV too.

Starting with an idea of how much is enough helps. That way I don’t depend on how I feel at the time when deciding how much is enough. It’s already decided. Here’s a simple example. I love my wife’s cookies. I’ve been known to eat a whole container of them on a road trip. Don’t judge me, they’re terrific. Before I start eating them I decide how many I’ll have, like five. I take five out of the container and put the container away before I start eating any of them. It makes it a whole lot easier to stop when the five are gone. That reasoning can be applied to almost any area of life, like how long to work, ect.

Being grateful is another huge benefit. It’s easier to feel I have enough when I am grateful. It soothes the desire for wanting more when I focus on what I already have. I also remember a quote from Sir Thomas Malory. It’s in two of my favorite movies, Mary Poppins and True Grit. “Enough is as good as a feast.” I don’t need to add more to have enough or be enough. When I’m grateful, enough is always as good as a feast.

May you have enough today, one moment at a time.