Radically Enough

They lived (and still do) in the experience and expression of enough, or what I call sufficiency. Instead of seeking more, they treasure and steward thoughtfully what is already there. In fact, their efforts today are devoted to protecting what is there—the rain forest—as a resource for all of us. For the Achuar, wealth means being present to the f

the well-being of the community for generations to come. In medieval guilds, where mastering a skill and producing high-quality goods were highly valued, the focus was on maintaining a standard of excellence rather than constant growth. And of course, from Taoism to Buddhism, many Asian philosophies emphasize the importance of balance rather than t

The very act of savoring lets us set aside the mindset of more so we can enjoy ourselves. As Bryant puts it, “Just because you’ve obtained something doesn’t mean that you’ll enjoy it. In fact, you’re often just driven onto the next thing you want to acquire.” We don’t automatically feel grateful, and if we’re not careful, we focus far too much on g

Sufficiency is not a message about simplicity or about cutting back and lowering expectations. Sufficiency doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive or aspire.