One of the most powerful mindset shifts I've come across as an entrepreneur this year has been discovering and and embracing the immeasurable wealth of knowing "enough." This has been a process of big realization, followed by conscious reorientation away from our society's omnipotent grind toward the unattainable "more" and instead to my own definition of what "enough" is for me. 

 

This mindset shift is one of those that once you realize it, you kind of can't remember how you ever could have operated without it. It is a powerful redirect, and it instantly brings with it relief, authenticity, presence, appreciation, and a feeling of empowerment. All you need to do is notice where in your work you are stuck seeking "more," and pause, turn inward, and define for yourself what is actually "enough" for you. That is a greater wealth than anyone will ever attain from constantly grinding for "more."

 

 

HOW TO DEFINE "ENOUGH"

I will admit, before making this mindset shift, I sort of subconsciously thought of "enough" as a word that meant something closer to "just barely enough," like scraping by, or being mildly uncomfortable but not starving or homeless. That deserves some questioning, first of all. "Enough" in the sense we are using here means an amount that feels plentiful, abundant, comfortable, and able to meet all of your needs and give you freedom to do things you choose and enjoy doing with your time and finances. "Enough" is defined and specific, which makes it attainable. When something is defined and attainable, you know when you have it, and you can enjoy it.

 

 

THE PROBLEM WITH "MORE"

The problem with orienting ourselves toward pursuing "more," as in the desire for some undefined amount that is greater than what you have, is twofold: (1) "More" is a moving goal post — You won't even know when you now have what "more" used to mean to you at one point because once you have it, it doesn't seem like "more" anymore. It's now part of your normal life, and the goal post of "more" moves out farther. (2) "More" is not specific or defined, and therefore you can never actually attain it or enjoy it. You just think you need to keep going after more, which rushes you away from what you worked so hard to earn or achieve in order to continue to gain, earn, or achieve "more."

Nobody does this on purpose. If you're like me and reading this makes a gong go off in your head as you realize you've been totally caught up in pursuing "more" without meaning to, don't be hard on yourself. It can hardly be helped — it's in the air we breathe in our society, and it's arguably close to omnipotent in today's marketing and advertising across all industries. The good news is, once you bring this to light inside yourself, everything shifts. And defining "enough" becomes the antidote, your talisman, and your new guiding star.

 

 

JOURNALING PROMPTS FOR KNOWING "ENOUGH"

01 — If I could have everything I want:

• • What would my daily life look like, in detail? 
    
    
  • How would my life feel? 
    
    
  • What are a few things I can do in the next 3 days that give me that feeling?
    
    

 

02 — What does “enough” look like for me? 

• • What do I have, what can I do, and what does my life look like when I have “enough”?
    
    
  • How do I feel having “enough,” as opposed to constantly pursuing “more”?

 

 

THE GIFT OF READING

I have many times read in business books and heard on business podcasts the importance of defining what "success" is for you, rather than to seek what success looks like or how success may be defined by others. I had not, however, considered looking at the importance of defining "enough" for oneself in quite this way before coming across a passage in a book (that I highly recommend by the way) called The Psychology of Money, by Morgan Housel. In it he includes the following exemplary story, related by John Bogle, the founder of The Vanguard:

 

"At a party given by a billionaire on Shelter Island, Kurt Vonnegut informs his pal, Joseph Heller, that their host, a hedge fund manager, had made more money in a single day than Heller had earned from his wildly popular novel Catch-22 over its whole history. Heller responds, "Yes but I have something he will never have.... enough."

 

This is a powerful story because it shows such a clear example of how even when surrounded by nearly unthinkable wealth, our own personal sense of "enough" is actually a greater wealth than any infinite sum of money. With enough, a person can enjoy their life and not miss out on it in the ever-consuming pursuit of more. Knowing enough is living in appreciation, abundance, and peace. 

 

 

 

So, with that — happy journaling and reorienting toward knowing what enough looks and feels like for you. When I find good tools, I want you to have them too, and this one really gave me a big and beautiful shift. I hope it does for you too.

 

PS — Keep in mind that it will help to not just "set it and forget it" but to instead cultivate a relationship with yourself and what "enough" feels and looks like for you now. If I've learned anything on my entrepreneurial journey it is that you will continue to evolve and grow, especially as you apply yourself to your dream and channel of authentic service in life, so make little quarterly and annual check-ins with yourself as you define and refine what "enough" is for you along the way. This kind of intentionality and awareness pays real dividends.

 

Keep blooming,

XX 

 

Ready for more nourishment for your creativity and wellbeing? Join the Nectar & Bloom newsletter for  nurturing free resources, guidance & advice, first access to workshops & retreats, and inspiration from the studio.  

 

Book a 1-on-1 Remote Coaching session with me to strategize your next steps and receive a successful entrepreneurial plan for how to move forward here.

Connect with our community of like-minded creatives and floral artists @nectar_and_bloom.