When More Becomes Less

It is possible to have everything that you desire in this world, and to still suffer. In one incarnation of this phenomenon is the "when/then" syndrome. When I have X-amount of money, then I will be happy. When I have a bigger house, or a better job, or more time to myself, or more time with my loved ones... It can go on and on.

Perhaps if we can fully acknowledge what we actually have when we have it, we might be able to ease our sense of there never being enough.

We are constantly bombarded with messages that more is better. For example, our economy is measured in terms of growth, implying that we should be able to expect more year after year. How we are expected to maintain unlimited growth with limited resources and limited intelligence is a perplexing and troubling problem. 

It may be the same with our our own lives: we are never satisfied with what we have because we are always striving for more. The result is a cycle in which must work harder and be busier, which results in losing track of the precious moments we actually do have. According to Ann Wilson Scaef, "Modern consumer society functions as an addict, keeping us busy."

We have limited time and resources. Rather than striving to make more, can we simply be more present with what we have now?

"Enough," by David Whyte:

Enough. These few words are enough.
If not these words, this breath.
If not this breath, this sitting here.

This opening to the life
we have refused
again and again
until now.
Until now

Blessings,
Roger