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Have you ever though to yourself, “What is Enough?” Who determines what is enough? To be honest, this could mean something different to every person and in every situation. Do we have enough? Did you eat enough? How much is going to make me happy? So much of our life depends on what we constitute as “Enough” but most people do not know when enough is enough, or even what they want for that matter.

Some experts will tell you to determine your end goal first. When you have a clear picture of what you want or what you want to accomplish, you can then set smaller goals. This is a great way to accomplish a goal, but what if you are not sure what the goal is?

You could want a material object or to have a family with a home and think you will be the happiest person on Earth. But will you? Will you be satisfied and sit back and enjoy the fruit of your labor? Most of us will not. Once we get what we strive for, we are on to the next thing. This is human nature. You never have to stop improving yourself or your situation but what will give you the satisfaction of feeling like the urgency is no longer there?

My question, however, is… how do you determine when enough is enough?

Is there a time when we will be fulfilled to a point of satisfaction and total fulfillment where we can sit back, relax and enjoy what we have created? How do you get there?

To me, this is fulfillment.

I struggled with finding fulfillment. Julian would tell me that if I had a free second, I would fill it up with something. This would, in turn, produce stress, anxiety as well as exhaustion. I couldn’t settle or sit and appreciate what I had.

One day I was reading a magazine and they challenged you to sit and look out the window for 15 minutes. I challenge you to try this. Sit there and do nothing. Do not allow your mind to think about what you need to do, what conversation you need to have or you have had or anything else. Just look out the window. Can you do it?

I totally could not. My mind would not stop. I would bounce from the bird flying by to where I needed to go, to what I wanted to make for dinner, to what time the next football game was and who I needed to contact for an upcoming birthday party, etc.

I simply could not sit there and look out the window and enjoy the beautiful scenery around me for even 5 simple minutes, let alone 15 minutes. This easy challenge was stunning to me. I wanted to relax, I wanted to appreciate the moment and the beauty around me. I wanted to focus on my children and enjoy watching them grow and learn and help mindfully lead them in this life. But how can I do this with so much going on around me. I can’t even do it for 5 minutes (que my sigh of defeat).

Over the next several months, I started haphazardly paying attention to what Julian had said to me that day. I started purposefully turning down activities and strategically telling people “No.” Over time, I did start to have a little more time. Then I consciously tried to keep that time free. This was hard as I am a natural busy body.

As the months went by, my time did start to fill back up but with more of the things I wanted to do and not obligations I had committed to. For instance, I made time to plant a garden, which I love doing. I worked on a home improvement project I had been wanting to do (one of my absolute favorite hobbies).

Along with the conscious effort to find my peace and fulfillment, I also prayed for my eyes to remain open to the things that were consuming my time and have more self awareness of how and why I felt the need to constantly fill my time. (In case you haven’t noticed, I pray a lot. I have experienced first hand the power of prayer).

I am now able to easily recognize my needs from my wants and I am able to sit back and enjoy the moment. I may not be able to sit and stare out the window for a full 15 minutes, but hey, I am a work in progress!

When I finally had that “Aaha” moment, I was siting by a campfire reading under the lantern with my feet up. Normally I would play with the fire, fix the kids beds and then find 10 other things to do. I could only read a few pages at a time because my mind would not settle. (No, I do not have ADHD!). I remember thinking, “I feel peaceful sitting here. I don’t need to get up and do something. I am going to sit here and read my book and enjoy this fire”. It was amazing! I think I stayed up for hours that night just reading and admiring the fire!

I encourage you to find your peace but, first, pray about it. Determine what your heaven on earth would be like. What do you see yourself doing that would make you feel at peace and totally fulfilled. Nothing is perfect, but if you can determine your dream, you can strive to reach it while blocking out all of the noise around you.

What is your happy place? What would make you feel content, like you have ENOUGH?

Please share your story in the comments!

If you are trying to find your fulfillment, you may also like Becoming Fit and Fulfilled!