“Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.” —Epicurus
Enough is a freeing concept and a liberating reality.
Those who have accumulated enough are left without wanting. They are no longer required to strive for more. Instead, they live free and content.
Most of us are driven by the desire to own enough physical possessions. This is good and true—to provide for ourselves and our family is a worthy pursuit.
Because of this desire, we spend our days pursuing the increased possession of material goods—both financial and material.
And while there is nothing wrong with this pursuit, I wonder if our culture has unintentionally shifted from the pursuit of enough to the pursuit of excess. Consider the fact that most of us already own enough:
Our roof provides shelter for our entire family. Our rooms are furnished with places to sit and lie. Our dressers are filled with clothes. Our closets are supplied with towels and linens. Our pantries and our freezers are stocked with food. Our toy chests house plenty of toys.
We already have enough.
Unfortunately, we live in a world that constantly redefines this notion of enough:
- 50 years ago, a house of 1,000 square feet was considered enough. Today, the average new home is 2,300 square feet—and still 10% of us rent off-site storage.
- 30 years ago, 1.5 televisions in every home was considered enough. Today, the average American home contains more televisions than people. And when every room is full, the industry begins to redefine enough in terms of size and picture-quality.
- 15 years ago, less than half of American adults owned a cell phone. Today, over 90% of adults own a cell phone—and 70% of 12-year olds.
Advertisers work relentlessly to redefine enough. In a consumer-based society, they are required to do so.
The goal of advertising is to stir within us the thinking that we do not yet own enough. Marketers work to change our attitude about their product or service from “that’s extravagant” to “I want that” to “I need that.”
Once they can convince us we need it, our purchase is just a matter of time. If they can make us believe we don’t have enough until we own their product, they know we will continue to pursue ownership of it.
Our definition of enough has been artificially moved by a self-serving entity. And because our new definition of enough remains unachieved, our ability to enjoy its freedom has been lost.
Once again, we are held in bondage to its pursuit. We spend more of our days pursuing the money to fund the increased possession of material goods. All with the goal of finally attaining enough.
But we already have enough. Once we train ourselves to recognize this truth, we are freed from the pursuit of more, we are liberated from the bondage of discontent, and we begin to experience true freedom in our lives.
Best of all, once we realize we already own enough, we are freed to pursue more worthy endeavors than the accumulation of excess.
Pernilla Lindström says
I live in Sweden, and have a small house so I got rid of stuff to make it simple. I pay to the bank, and buy only food and the things we need.
We have one car and go together so we save money, and better for the enviorment. But people aurond me, Want to have bigger house and bigger cars and boats.
Like your post, feels good to now that some more are happier whit less. Pernilla Lindström
lisa says
I have reached a point in my life that the more things I rid myself of the lighter & more free I feel. It remains a challenge to resist ads for the newest gadgets but thanks for opening my eyes & enlightening my mind to the truth of ” enough is enough ” .
ren says
Some people will never be able to fill that personal void. Instead of looking for what is really the issue, they believe they can full that void with material items…I don’t care if its something for a quarter at a garage sale…too many items does not buy happiness.
Jo says
You said that 90 percent of adults have cell phones but you didn’t take into how many land lines people still have. Yes we have cell phones but most of us have gotten rid of the house phone.
Anna says
Different country and different culture – but the same urge to accumulate. I live in Sweden in nothern Europe and Im at the beginning of my ‘enough’. I find that following this blog helps ‘infiltrate’ my mind to let go of the excess in my family’s life. I have done the same regarding healthy food and fitness workouts – it has taken 1 year of actively following some renowned blogs (+ lots of my own work of course :) to make those healthy choices without thinking but with happiness and content. My hope and desire is that in 1 years time I will know my ‘enough’ and will make the enough choices without to much struggle. Looking forward to all the coming posts!
Reggie says
With the recomendation of a lovely friend. I am reading “The life changing magic of tidying up” by Marie Kondo
The joy found in letting go of all the things you think you needed, wanted or were given.
Thanking the item for what purpose it served and the freedom to let it go.
Ash says
Whilst I hear what you are saying Joshua and know that deciding that we have enough and to no longer accumulate material possessions is good for us, I still find a compulsion to shop and accumulate. This also concerns the accumulation of “stuff” that I don’t even need! I think I feel that if I have the disposable income there that I should “dispose” of it. I am struggling to get out of this mind frame at the moment and often find myself lingering in charity shops and clothes stores during lunch hour and weekends just to see if I can find any bargains. If I do, I buy, regardless of whether I need the item or not. I also buy items that I think family/friends may like and gift them with the stuff. I think I comfort myself with knowing that the money I’m spending to purchase this item is going to charity or it was fairly cheap so will not affect my finances badly. I really would love to break the habit but I always feel this compulsive urge to shop and feel so good after I make a purchase! Maybe it’s the power of having the money to be able to buy things, but I just feel so empty when I deprive myself of going to the shops and spending. I have gone through phases where I’ve stopped myself from shopping for months which adversely results in me going on a massive spending spree afterwards! I live in London UK, where fashion and trends are very important and feel that I always have to keep up! However, whilst I buy the latest clothes and all of my wardrobes and drawers are completely full, I only really wear what I find comfortable and that is really only a few of the same garments each week! I really want to break this cycle of accumulating things that I don’t need and of constantly having an urge to go shopping! Whilst I have improved slightly in terms of how much money I spend, by going to charity stores and cheaper clothes stores now rather than expensive high street and designer stores, I still want to eventually kick the habit for good! Small steps I know…and I hope with each day I will continue to slowly change my habits. Say a prayer for me, please, and continue to share your helpful blogs! Ash
Serge says
Ash,
Here is advice for you, which worked for me:
When you want to buy any new thing, decide what it will replace and what you will get rid off.
Serge
Joyce says
I have adopted a saying from a local nursing home chaplain who regularly thanks the Lord for “The blessing of enough.” Thank you for your blog. It inspires me to press on toward a simpler lifestyle, so that I may redirect precious time on the needs of others.
David Richardson says
How many cups can any one drink out of at a time – one. The same goes for most things, we only need one.
Phil says
I think every person should define “enough” for themselves. I decided to remove a TV from my bedroom because I decided I didn’t need it.
It’s true that we live in a world of constant excess but it all comes down to individuals – there are people who “always want more” and people who “make best with what they’ve got”.