How much is enough?

How much is enough?

Tim Connor

Want something you don’t have?  Got more stuff than you need?  Addicted to better, faster and more?

Welcome to where society and human behavior have evolved during the past few decades.  But let me ask you a simple question – is having or wanting more making you feel better, more successful, content, and peaceful or is it adding to your stress, anxiety, busyness, regret or false sense of security?

I have met thousands of people who believe that having more, bigger or faster will improve their sense of personal value, importance and self-esteem and in the end all having more does is increase their need for even more, better or faster so in many ways this life approach isn’t working.

I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t want to improve the quality of life, but come on – a new $400 I phone every year? A new car every two years? Two or three vacation homes? Eating out at restaurants six nights a week? Closets full of clothes you haven’t worn in years but keep adding more too– just in case?

I like stuff, I like security, I like being able to upgrade but is there a time when more is just too much?

If you are a hoarder, active shopper or concerned about what others think about you, you will most likely take issue with most of what I am saying here but I will ask you again – is all of this “more” adding to your value as a person or is it just your superficial attempt to gain acceptance of others?

Research over the years has indicated that the one thing everyone wants is happiness; the problem is that everyone defines happiness differently or uniquely depending on their background, gender, race and age.  Happiness when sought after from the outside-in will never give you what you desire.  Happiness is first and foremost an inside-out mindset.  Adding to your inventory, wealth, status or appearance might make you better looking, make you feel more secure or help you satisfy your cravings but in the end it has been proven time and time again that “more stuff” doesn’t make people happy.  So what does?

For starters it’s not the approval of others, no matter how hard we try to achieve this.  It’s not surrounding yourself with stuff that you believe will bring contentment and it’s not continually searching after more, the latest, the best or the most sophisticated.

I have read of Hollywood stars that spend hundreds of thousands of dollars a year trying to look younger or convince others that they are worthy of others praise, respect or adoration.  What a waste.  We are all getting older every day and there is nothing you can do to stop the forward movement of life or spend enough to get yourself another day.

So what’s the answer?  Is it more? No.  Is it satisfaction with what you have? Yes and no.  There is nothing wrong with wanting more it just depends on your agendas, motives or reasons for wanting more.

One thing I have discovered during my world travels is that the happiest people I have met have far less than the wealthy and endowed but they all have one thing and that is acceptance and gratitude for what they have.

I have watched more people have fun at a fast food restaurant with their family than couples at expensive upscale restaurants who believe that they are better off in some way.  I have watched more people have fun at simple vacation locations than people at high end resorts who look like they can’t wait for it to be over.

What drives you?  What do you need to feel worthwhile?  What brings a smile to your heart? Is it the simple things like; freedom, health, family or the ability to serve others or is it the constant need to improve, upgrade, add or modify something in your life?  If it’s the latter I will guarantee that at some point you will discover that no matter how much you have it will still leave a hole or void in your life that you desperately want filled.

Success is not about what you own.  It’s about how you use what you have or have learned to help others in some way.

Regardless of your interpretation of what I have shared here I ask you to consider one final thought – are you happy?  If yes, why?  If not, why not?

“The wise will always reflect on the quality

not the quantity of life.”

Seneca