What Is Enough? (Post #13)

2 Comments January 5, 2021 Tracy

How do you define enough? I mean how do YOU define enough? Have you had enough? How would you know? What I do know is that too little is not enough and too much is more than enough.

Dictionary.com defines “enough” as: “adequate for the want or need; sufficient for the purpose or to satisfy desire”

You see I believe there is a continuum with too little on one end and too much on the other, and enough right in the middle: too little – enough – too much.

How can this be? Since too much is past enough, then wouldn’t that be more than the amount needed to satisfy…like super-satisfy? Yet, it isn’t satisfying at all. Do we shoot right past fully satisfied to unsatisfied? It sure seems like it.

Perhaps the continuum ought to be: unsatisfied – enough – unsatisfied. Could it be that the only place of full, true satisfaction and joy isn’t more and more, it’s just enough?

The Enough Life Essence (Post #8)

1 Comment July 4, 2020 Tracy

Let’s talk about the real essence of this thing I call, The Enough Life. The Enough Life should not be confused with minimalism, it isn’t about minimalism. It isn’t about excess. It isn’t about feeling guilty for what you have or straining and striving for what you think you lack. It isn’t about settling for less or feeling pious for going without. It is all about getting to the heart of what you truly desire.

A place of enough is unique to each person, and unique to each area of life. There is no formula or 3-step process. It isn’t a cookie cutter approach designed to make us all the same or to create a standard marker for success. It’s individual and customizable. A unique and beautiful expression of who you truly are. The Enough Life is all about finding that place of optimal peace, joy, and satisfaction in every area of life. It’s about putting aside what the culture around you considers success and living out your own definition.

You see, I believe enough is the sweet spot in life. As if there is a continuum, or a scale, weighing the options. The idea is to achieve the perfect balance. Too little, and the scale tips to one side. Too much, and the scale tips to the other. The goal is just the right balance. That is the place of optimal peace, joy, and satisfaction.

One easy example that I was reminded of this spring is gardening. I love flowers but I don’t love to garden. I love they way they look and smell, but I hate having to water them. Enough flowers for me is just what will fit in the window boxes on my porch. A few pretty flowers, a small basil plant, a small mint plant, and a small cilantro plant. I enjoy sitting on my porch and seeing them. They put a smile on my face every time I pull into my driveway. I have fresh herbs for my salads and iced tea. And one full watering can will last me 3 days. That’s my sweet spot. The perfect amount of pleasure and effort…I am satisfied, I experience great joy, and I have peace in my heart. That is enough for me.

In contrast, my neighbor loves all things horticulture and has several horticulture degrees. He and his wife not only enjoy the flowers but they enjoy all of the aspects of taking care of the plants. So, while I have two tiny window boxes, they have dozens of pots of flowers all over their front porch, back deck, and patio. It is beautiful, truly beautiful. I am so glad that I can see them from my home, but I am also so glad that I don’t have to take care of them. Simply the thought of it exhausts me. All of that watering and weeding, especially in the hot, humid summer weather, would not be enjoyable for me. The plants would end up looking terrible, I would feel like a bad human for not keeping up (carrying around the woulda, coulda, shoulda baggage), and the chores would add stress to my life. But this is their perfect enough. It brings them peace and joy. Caring for the plants is not a burden at all. In fact, they get great satisfaction from both enjoying the beauty of the plants as well as caring for them.

You see, one persons enough may be someone else’s way too much (or way too little). Enough is not about judgement. Enough is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It is customizable to the needs and satisfaction of each person. Enough is the optimal place where peace, joy, and satisfaction intersect.

What is Enough? (Post #1)

Leave a comment November 16, 2017 Tracy

How do you define enough? I mean how do YOU define enough? Have you had enough? How would you know? What I do know is that too little is not enough and too much is more than enough.

Dictionary.com defines “enough” as: “adequate for the want or need; sufficient for the purpose or to satisfy desire”

You see I believe there is a continuum with too little on one end and too much on the other, and enough right in the middle: too little – enough – too much.

I have spent most of my life striving and straining for the next “thing”, only to run right past the point of enough to the point of exhaustion. We strive and strain and worry in order to find enough, but we end up with more than enough – we end up with excess. We pass right by enough and don’t even notice it. We think that when we get more we will feel satisfied. Yet, when we get to too much we still aren’t satisfied. How can this be? Since too much is past enough, then wouldn’t that be more than the amount needed to satisfy…like super-satisfy? Yet, it isn’t satisfying at all. Do we shoot right past fully satisfied to unsatisfied? It sure seems like it.

Perhaps the continuum ought to be: unsatisfied – enough – unsatisfied. Could it be that the only place of full, true satisfaction isn’t more and more, it’s just enough?