Despite the red squiggly protests of my spell-check, 'enoughness' is absolutely a real word, and it’s a mindset that I am 100% here for. In a world that constantly whispers (or shouts) “more, more, more,” it’s wild that embracing enoughness can feel like swimming against the tide or even a bit radical.
Enoughness is all about realising and appreciating what you already have, instead of always chasing after more. It's about being content with what’s enough for you, without the pressure to keep adding to the pile. I love that enoughness is a double whamy - it’s all about us but it’s also about sustainability. We’re consuming more than at any other time in history, and it’s having a huge impact. By choosing less, I’m not only lightening my own load, but also being a bit lighter on the planet.
When was the last time you paused and asked yourself: “Do I have enough?” Not in a scarcity-driven, panicky way, but in an objective, mindful kind of way. Like Enough clothes. Enough gadgets. Enough house. Enough...stuff.
Enoughness is deeply personal. For some it’s hardcore minimalism and only owning half a couch, one pair of socks and a Swiss army knife. For others, it’s about maxing out their cherished macrame frogs collection. For me, it’s an ongoing practice of:
1. Constantly asking myself, "Do I really need this?" The answer is often no, and sometimes yes. But more often than not, it’s no, and that’s been ridiculously liberating.
2. Switching my default focus from ‘more’ to ‘enough’. Instead of chasing the latest fashion, the bigger house, the shinier air fryer – I’m learning to reframe my thinking to celebrate the stuff I already have. It might sound naff and overly simplistic, but I didn’t realise how programmed I had become to being on a constant quest for more. We are constantly told about the power of gratitude journalling for ourselves, well I’m learning to use that approach for my stuff.
3. Flipping the bird at comparison. As Mark Twain said – “comparison is the death of joy” but it’s also the uninvited fuel for wanting more. I’m not gonna lie, comparison is a hard habit to break. I sometimes really want that skirt that a colleague is wearing or my friend’s new throw cushions, and I wonder if having them would maybe make my life slightly better. But then my rational brain kicks in and I remember one of my favourite quotes: “Trying to be happy by accumulating possessions is like trying to satisfy hunger by taping sandwiches all over your body.” Roger J. Corless. Nailed it Roger.
As a rookie enoughness practitioner, I’m already blown away with the amount of energy, money, and impact it saves me. So, before your next impulse buy, try something different: Ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” or even better, “Am I already good with what I have?” It might be a gamechanger to less stuff, more headspace, and more room for the things that really matter.
