I Wish You Enough.

I Wish You Enough.

Flat worn out from the 
stuff.

Enough...it's become cutesy sign fodder and cliche at this point...but I truly believe it is one of the most powerful desired end states...if we're capable of accepting it.  I also believe that it is a fairly universal desired end state across most any category of your life and family.  When we "cap" any category of our life with a defined "enough" instead of an open-ended "more," we set ourselves up for contentment and peace.  There is power in having a "finish line" so to speak.  

Making a supply
run to the fort.

This concept is often brought into the financial component of our lives...and that makes sense.  Money can be an aweful bottomless pit of "always more" to be satisfied, happy, content, okay, peaceful, or whatever adjective you want to insert.  If, instead, we approach finance as an "enough" proposition, we don't have to scrimp and save every penny...nor do we have to become a slave to the "almight dollar" where we chase it relentlessly at the cost of other facets of life.  We can likely come to a point where we have "enough" of a house, car, salary, checking/savings account, retirement balance, investment, and so forth.  Too many people spend extra years at work and miss out on kids, grandkids, or other major parts of life in chasing money.  In reality, the old adage, "it's only money" is very true and by defining our "enough" we can then prioritize and invest the more scarce resource, time, in more meaningful ways.  

Hauling the 
little bro.

Branching beyond our financial lives, enough, is not only a good thing, it's vital.  Think about what life looks like when your spouse or children are never, can never, be enough.  How heartbreaking for you and for them to know you're always on the hunt for the "better version" of a wife, husband, or child.  Similarly, at work, there is a fine balance of being driven for more...and finding an enough level.  Recently I had an opportunity to attend a prestigous professional development program at a west coast university...at the cost of a month away from family.  At points in life, I would've jumped without much second thought or hesitation.  Today, fortunately, I (and our family) has settled into an "enough" status at work and had the fortitude to turn down the school.  

Shopping. 

Another way to think about this concept is in our daily lives, or rather the premise that "good enough as a better than perfect."  Too often, "perfect is the enemy of done."  In life we have to do quality work...and we also have to complete it.  I've struggled as a writer over the years with getting a book across the finish line because it isn't perfect...but it probably is good enough.  The peace of mind that can come with being done...being enough...as a thought process/lifestyle can be a powerful peace bringing notion.  

Taking a stand
on
consumerism.

As we continue the conversation, remember that the idea of "enough" doesn't stand alone in a vacuum but rather as a required pre-requisite to more philosophical desired end states like peace, harmony, and balance.  By defining, seeking out, focusing on, and being content with enough, we move closer to those rare lifestyles that we envy from the outside looking in.  The concept of "enough" is one that we have to be willing to fight for...since we're competing in an increasingly uphill battle.  A quick spin through social media and we see the neighbor's neighbor's great uncle just got a new boat.  Your best man's sister just went on a luxury vacation.  Consumerism and advertising try to convince us, toxically, that more is always better.  Bigger is better.  Nicer is better.  What you have is not enough...not ever.  

Painting with Tom
and Huck.

When we lose sight of our "enough" we tend to fall into the trap of "starter _____" job, house, spouse, etc.  By never being satisfied or defining happiness as "wanting what we have," we up the ante dangerously and habitually.  It's hard to be a hard charger climbing the corporate ladder, ramping up the spending, chasing the bigger, brighter, shinier without those things becoming who you are...no longer what you do.  When that happens, we get a worrisome too much of a good thing...is still too much.  The philosophy being that if one house is good, two must be great.  One spouse...two must be double the fun.  Whether it's the small stuff like ice cream/chocolate/donuts or the big stuff...the root is a lack of accepting "enough" as a finish line or goal post.    

It starts with a
plan.

Before we call it a week - think about other "enough" targets that we can bring into our lives.  Some of the topics for your family might include screen time, sitting time vs active time, preparedness for disasters, being in shape or working out, your career.  For us, an "enough" end state in those parts of life means that we're "in shape enough" - we won't be winning any triathalons at this point...but we also won't likely be having a heart attack at 50.  I won't make vice president or CEO, but our family is well taken care of financially and I don't have to be very often compared to "yesterday me."  

It can be timeless.

As we wrap it up, we'll leave with the idea that "living" an "enough" lifestyle can be generationally impactful.  As sage and legendary investing master (and "enough" guru), Warren Buffett puts it, "the perfect inheritance is enough money so that children feel they can do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing."  Similarly, in "wishing you enough" we hope that you (and yours) find the balance that is right for your family between drive and peace...between a hollow pit of "always more" and "enough."  

With you in the arena, from ours to yours...Happy Trails!

Call to Action: 

• Pick out a couple of areas in your life where you're stressed (or your family) and define an "enough target" that you internalize.  After a month or 6 or 12, see if you're less stressed.  
• 1 - ___________________ 
• 2 - ___________________
• 3 - ___________________
• Discussion: Consider what you/your family could/would/should (level of commitment) and start/stop/sustain (action) in terms of an "enough" goal.  

Further Reading, Motivation, and References:

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."  Oprah Winfrey