A friend recently shared an interesting anecdote. Joseph Heller had written the very popular book Catch-22. At a party given by a billionaire, a friend of Joseph Heller’s informs him that their host, a hedge fund manager, had made more money in a single day than Heller had made from his novel in its whole history. Heller responds, “yes, but I have something he will probably never have….enough.”

In a fast-paced world, it is so easy to get into the mindset and rut of constantly acquiring and enjoying. No matter how much we get, somehow the craving for wanting more gets stronger. It is like pouring oil in a fire, the more we pour, the stronger it gets. How often have we momentarily paused and reflected on what does ‘enough’ means for us?

Of course we must give ourselves a good quality of life, prepare for the future as best as we can, and maximise our potential and opportunities. But living with the constant dissatisfaction that we don’t have enough takes away more than it gives.

We fear that living with the feeling of enough will blunt our edge, kill our ambition and make us drift through life aimlessly with a resignation that whatever comes is okay. Nothing can be further than the truth. A correct understanding of enough can transform our joy and experiences.

It comes from a deep sense of gratitude, that in spite of our challenges there is so much in place, and the realisation that there are millions, if not billions who struggle for even their basic livelihood.

It comes from the contentment of having done our best, and not the dissatisfaction that we didn’t get what we wanted.

It comes from our inner security when we stop comparing ourselves with others. There will always be many having more than we do as will there be many not as blessed as us; that shouldn’t define who we are.

Having enough comes from the fundamental understanding and realisation that in essence, we are complete in ourselves. Things come our way because of our efforts and actions, but we don’t need them to complete us. We will live with the feeling of enough when we truly understand ourselves and stop feeling incomplete.

And when someone cares enough for us, and we discover true love, we live with constant love and inner abundance, knowing that whatever else we may or may not have, we have enough.

(Picture-Road to Montreux as seen from Caux)