In Search of Enough
I once read an article that posed the powerful question, “How much is enough?” The authors researched the question and discovered that for most people there is no such thing as ‘enough.’ The more people have, the more they want. They found that “enoughness” is a moving target, that regardless of income, people usually don’t achieve.
This question struck me as one I would like to answer for myself. I know that I’ve always believed my yearly earnings should exceed the previous year’s earnings. I’ve strolled through larger houses and imagined myself in one. And as for peach pie with ice cream, well enough is never enough.
The article reminded me that continually wanting more will probably result in frustration and unhappiness. I’ve been thinking about how to overcome my desire to have more. I’m not certain I know the solution to this problem; however, I thought of some questions that I believe will put me on the right path.
What aspects of my life do I like best?
What do I value?
How do I differentiate between what I need and what I want?
How well am I meeting my needs and those of my family?
How does what I want support my values?
What price will I pay to fulfill my wants?
What would it take to be happy with what I have right now?
What will bring me joy and make my life complete?
With some work, the answers to these questions will help me answer the question, “How much is enough?” Once I’ve discovered the answer for myself, the really hard work begins…living with the answer.
