Having Enough
What would it be to live a life without money worry? All my life, my goal has been to have enough money not to have to worry about it. I don't want lots, though—I have no desire to be stinking rich. I just want enough.
Enough is Personal
But how much is enough? It seems to vary: for Allie it's the amount that erases her debt and makes a down-payment on a house. Steve wants enough to support him as he follows his creative love and builds a successful art practice. For Ella, enough is the amount needed to cure her breast cancer. Cindy says that enough is what she already has.
Enough Increases with Age
I have found that as I move through my life, enough has become a larger number. When I was 27, enough was the $800 I had when I packed up my Volkswagen and moved west. A few years later, enough meant being able to fly to Australia for my brother’s wedding. The number rose sharply when I bought a house and had children, and for a few conspicuously-consumptive years, enough meant a little bit more than my friends and neighbors.
Enough is Never Enough
Enough is Never Enough
The problem with "enough" is that it's never enough: the more we have, the more we want. If I can afford a simple vacation, I want a fancy one; if I can feed and clothe my kids, I want them to have expensive toys and activities.
How to Have Enough
Being in a state of wanting more leads only to wanting more. No amount will fill that glass. As I matured I realized it wasn't the amount of money I had that gave me security; it was my state of mind. So I started working on ways to be content with what I have. Here are some of my practices:
How to Have Enough
Being in a state of wanting more leads only to wanting more. No amount will fill that glass. As I matured I realized it wasn't the amount of money I had that gave me security; it was my state of mind. So I started working on ways to be content with what I have. Here are some of my practices:
- When paying bills, I used to sigh and reach for the checkbook with a heavy heart. My electric bill, for example, is usually higher than I'd like to be. But one day I considered what my life would be like without electricity: no heat, hot water, tv, phone, laptop (ack), and worst of all, no coffee. Suddenly my utility bill seems like a bargain. Now I pay bills with appreciation and a light heart.
- Reward yourself: give something away. Think how you feel when someone gives you a little gift. Remember that rewards aren’t necessarily financial. It can be as simple as weeding a friend’s garden, holding the door for someone or letting them go ahead of you at the supermarket. Think about "What can I give—how can I help today? What’s my contribution to the world today?"
- I have been rich and I have been poor. When I was poor, my boyfriend and I used to have parties so that we could return the empty bottles for food money. They were good parties. Less money doesn’t have to mean less fun.
- I think about those times when I was financially rich; I never appreciated how much I had. I was in the race to get more more more. Now I remind myself that one day I may look back at my present life and kick myself for not appreciating what I have now.
- I get creative with decorations, gifts, activities and fitness regimes instead of just throwing money at them. We are all creative souls, and should create each day; using money is often the least creative solution.
- When I buy something, I ask "is this purchase worth my life?" When we work, we trade our time—our life—for money which we then spend. I often decide that an item is not worth the amount of my life it would take to earn the money to pay for it. As an added benefit I have much less stuff to store, clean, insure and get rid of.
- When I accept paid work, I ask myself "is the pay fair exchange for the amount of my life the work requires?"Years ago I held a job where my boss trebled my pay and gave me the team and equipment I requested, but nonetheless, I left after eight months. The stress of that environment and toxicity of his leadership damaged my mental and physical health.
- When I am with my kids I soak up all the love and joy here and now. No amount of money will bring back their childhood, and I’ve heard too many stories of people who missed their kids’ childhood by working too much.
- If I want to buy something for a person, I get it there and then, no holiday necessary. It makes for fun spontaneous giving, and surprised recipients. “But it’s not my birthday” they exclaim, and you get to say “I know, but I saw this and thought of you.” Gifts can be more meaningful when they're off-calendar.
- Always put something aside for self-indulgent splurges. If that means a chauffeured ride to your weekly massage, then good for you, but if you’re less affluent, it can be a bunch of flowers or even a candy bar. Years ago when I gave up cigarettes, I promised to spend the same amount that I had been spending on killing myself, on flowers, which are concrete reminders of the gift of a longer and healthier life.
When I focus on enjoying what I have, what I love, and what I do, I wake up each morning grounded and peaceful. Slightly excited, I plan the day’s giving, and find myself calmly trusting the universe to provide what I need. Now that's abundance.
