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Enough Is a Perspective, Not a Sum (Except When It Comes to Notebooks!)

How much is enough? That depends on where you’re standing when you ask the question

Cartoon line art showing a dissatisfied-looking person leaning against a wall. They are looking at a single, small round object that is sitting in their outstretched hand. On the other side of the wall, out of sight but visible to anyone who looks, is a large pile containing what appears to be thousands of the same object

If you’re struggling through lack of air, water, food, shelter or safety, nothing else is going to matter too much until the basics are covered. With regards to everything else, you can change your perception of how much you have by walking around to see it from a different angle.

Notice your immediate gut reaction when you consider if you currently have enough of each of the following —

  1. time
  2. money
  3. clothes
  4. furniture
  5. accessories
  6. pens/notebooks
  7. apps
  8. tech
  9. patience
  10. being valued by others
  11. success
  12. peace
  13. clear, uncluttered space

Now, granted, it’s very difficult indeed to have too many pens, notebooks, and apps, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility 😉.

This week, when frustration grates on your nerves, you’ll probably find a sense of not enough’ somewhere near the root. But what might you see if you walk all the way around to the shadowy side of the problem, and look at it from a new angle?

A grateful person is rich in contentment.” — David Bednar

This is not a call to unrealistic Pollyanna-ism. Rather, it’s a gentle invitation to be thankful for something you thought was lacking, but which you truly do have enough of.

Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.” — Bilal Zahoor

For most of us, enough is a perspective, not a sum. But not for all.

May we do all in our power to bring the basics (air, water, food, shelter, safety) to those who truly do not have enough. Everyone should have the luxury of being able to choose to whether or not to buy just one more notebook.

Up next How to Escape the PKM Trap of Sophisticated Procrastination Alone in the Noise: Creating My Own Space in a Busy Household
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