What is Enough?
So many of us live with this fear that we’re not enough. And with social media giving way to comparison culture it exacerbates the issue, leaving us feeling as though we also don’t have enough. So what exactly does it mean to be or have enough?
In today’s day and age, most people don’t understand the concept of enough until they lose something. We take so much for granted and because of how much time we spend on social media, we get sucked into this rut of comparison and envy. There’s this expectation created of what the perfect life should look like. We’re bombarded with influencer’s who have the perfect body and wardrobe, flawless skin, and who travel the world with their besties living in fairytale-land. Because of this, we think Summer would be a snooze fest unless we vacationed in Croatia or had a share house in the Hampton’s. But is that really true? Are those people really as happy as they portray themselves? For those who have discovered the meaning of enough, I believe they’d still be happy, even if they lost it all.
When it comes to knowing our own worth and feeling like we’re enough, some of us have this void that we keep trying to fill with meaningless and temporary things such as food, nice clothes, cars, or bigger and better homes. I was recently exposed to Geneen Roth during an IIN lecture. She’s this wise, little, spit-fire of a woman who’s written many books. She does a lot of work around emotional eating and she’s got an incredible outlook on life. One of Geneen’s Guiding Principles is to know what enough is. According to her, “enough isn’t something you can touch, buy or have. Enough isn’t an amount. It’s a relationship to what you already have.” You can look at this two ways: 1) in terms of the things you have or 2) in terms of who you are and what you have going for you.
The types of thoughts you keep in your mind create your reality. Therefore, there’s something really important about focusing on what you DO have instead of what you don’t. Finding appreciation in what you have is key. The truth is, you never know what tomorrow will bring. I, for one, don’t want to get to the end of my life and think, “yeah, I had all these amazing things, but imagine what could have happened if I had really shown up because I embraced my own gifts!” We should regularly check in with ourselves to reflect on the gifts we do have, rather than directing our energy toward what we’re not. Here’s what I propose - At the start of every month, along with creating your intentions for the month, take 10 minutes to jot down all of the gifts you possess. Maybe you have a huge heart or a wicked sense of humor. Maybe you’re proud of how toned your legs have gotten as a result of your dedicated exercise routine. Whatever it is, take notice of the qualities you possess, both physically and in terms of your way of being, and acknowledge that you are enough.
Then make a list of the things you’re fortunate to have. Be sure to also consider the relationships you have in your life. When I did this exercise, I thought about how irked I always get when my parents are loudly chewing with their mouth’s open in my ear at the dinner table. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves and I always bust on them for it. But you better believe how much I’d miss that sound if they weren’t around. The thought of that brings tears to my eyes and I’m instantly grateful for them and their loud chewing. Be present to those things that you DO have. When you can find gratitude for what you have, consider yourself in a positive light, and stop comparing yourself and your life to others - that’s when you’ll discover the meaning of enough.
