What is “Enough?”

What is “Enough”?

Enough. These few words are enough.

If not these words, this breath.

If not this breath, this sitting here.

This opening to life

we have refused

again and again

until now.

Until now.

– Enough, by poet David Whyte

So, what is “enough”?

It’s something I think about a lot.

In my Zen training, we have something called “The Great Vows For All” which talks about how “greed, hatred, and ignorance arise endlessly“. Greed, specifically, is just an extreme version of wanting and these vows point out that it arises endlessly. It’s beneficial to know that when we find ourselves stuck in a “wanting mindset”, it’s not some personal flaw – it’s part of the human condition.

I’m struck by how this idea of “enough” is one of the antidotes we can turn to in order to satisfy ourselves when this inflamed version of wanting shows up in us.

But back to my original question – what is enough?

Epicurus said, “Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.” In AA, it’s often said that one drink is too many and a thousand is never enough. And we can get caught in a “never enough” mindset when we compare ourselves to others. There’s always someone with more of something than we have.

If you can spend some time thinking about what constitutes enough for you – which is a worthwhile endeavor – then wherever you are or whomever you’re with, you can rest in the knowledge that you have enough. That you are enough.

The Tao Te Ching puts it this way:

“Fame or integrity: which is more important?

Money or happiness: which is more valuable?

Success or failure: which is more destructive?

If you look to others for fulfillment,

you will never truly be fulfilled.

If your happiness depends on money,

you will never be happy with yourself.

Be content with what you have;

rejoice in the way things are.

When you realize there is nothing lacking,

the whole world belongs to you.”

To discover the truth of “enough” in your life, you might set aside some time to consider this idea.

When I work with clients in the Spiritual Habits Program, I offer people weekly reflection questions so that they can dive a bit deeper internally to discover and experience within themselves the concepts we are exploring together in our sessions. So, I’ll offer you a reflection on this idea of “enough”. I’d encourage you to set aside a few moments to sit with this inquiry and write down the thoughts that come to you:

Sense what it’s like for you if you view your life in this moment as “enough”? Are there any obstacles that you discover that make it challenging for you to fully let go into this idea? What do you discover when you explore your life and yourself through the lens of having and being enough?

Wishing you well as you discover “enough” in yourself and your life.

To learn more about the 1-on-1 Spiritual Habits Program, you can click here.

To explore how applying Spiritual Habits can deepen your experience in your unique life, you can click here to book a free, 30-minute (no pressure) call with me to talk more about it.

I hope to talk with you soon, 

Eric