“He who knows enough is enough will always have enough.” -Lao Tzu

There’s an old story of the authors Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller talking at a party being held by a big-time financial mogul. Vonnegut mentions to Heller that the host made more money in a day than they will make in their lives, to which Heller responds that he has one thing the host will never have—enough. 

This illustrates one of the oldest issues confronting humans, the continual desire for more—more things, status, approval, you name it. In the 5th century BCE, the Buddha concluded that constantly seeking out an endless list of pleasures to make us feel more fulfilled was the chief reason for all of humanity’s suffering. And given all of the unhappiness, depression, and anxiety that abounds these days, the Buddha’s assertion seems ever closer to being a universal truth. 

And what was the Buddha’s answer to this problem? Simply stop. Stop wanting more. Stop measuring yourself against everyone else. It’s a moving target, and once you realize that and stop pursuing it, you can begin to enjoy all you already have. 

You see, it’s not having or getting more that’s the real problem; it’s the comparing. When you are equating things you have to your value as a human being, then seeing others with more stuff, money, etc., only serves to make you feel like you have less worth. But that is foolish; you are worth much more than any stuff or money. Perhaps the Beatles got it right when they said, “The love you take is equal to the love you make.” In other words, what’s inside of you—your heart, mind, and soul—is what is truly valuable, and by giving more of that, you find enough. And once you have enough, it helps us all.

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