“More, more, more” is our society’s mantra. We aspire to do more, have more, be more. And while a growth mindset is often inspiring and invigorating, it can also become unhealthy. Grit researcher, psychologist Angela Duckworth teaches the importance of passion and perseverance, but also clarifies the risk of burnout when we’re too focused on pushing ourselves.

Enough offers a graceful antidote to these pressures.

Orient to your inherent value, “I am enough.” How does it feel to say this to yourself? Does your inner critic flare up, demanding more productivity or more self-improvement? Or can you let go and recognize your essential value, opening to this inherent truth about yourself and each of us? “I am enough.” Or try “I’ve done enough.” Does that escalate inner pressure or enable you to exhale and let go of perfectionism?

Truth be told: our society discourages such self-acceptance. Our economic systems depend on us feeling insecure and inadequate so that we’ll buy more products promising to fix our flaws and work harder for more status or money. Enough is radical. When exploring that we are enough, we might also sense that we have enough. In our competitive culture, even those of us—myself included—who are fully resourced, can be drawn into anxiously hoarding more, more, more. Consider “I have enough.” How does it feel to say this to yourself? Does anxiety spike, afraid you’ll become complacent? Or can you find gratitude for the economic, social, emotional and spiritual resources you have?

Enough offers an invitation to self-acceptance, relief from perfectionism, and access to gratitude while also supporting our boundaries. When we say to ourselves or each other firmly, “Enough,” we are setting a limit and pushing back on harm. It’s protective. How can you tell when you’ve had enough? Notice your internal enough line, supporting you having healthier boundaries.

By receiving the gift of enough, we are protected and supported—truly resourced. This frees us from an anxious scarcity orientation. Instead, enough empowers us to show up for ourselves and contribute to our society from an inner solidness anchored in acceptance, gratitude and safety.

Photo Credit: Bekky Bekks