You Will Never Have Enough, But You Have Everything You Need
If you're anything like me, you spend much of your days wishing for more. If I could just have another couple hundred dollars in my paycheck to cover baby expenses, I'd be set, I tell myself.
A few hundred dollars more and I could afford a nice vacation each year, maybe to exotic beaches and fantastic lands.
My home is nice, but a bigger one would be better, right? More room for the kids to run around and less bumping into each other or tripping over stuff.
We want more. That's why we set goals, why we rarely enjoy the things we have, the accomplishments we have made. We always have our eye on something more.
You will never have enough…
I won't pretend to know who you are, those of you who are reading this. Chances are you have your own great challenges that I can only imagine, just as I, as blessed as I am, have my own challenges and tests of character. I type these words hoping that we have a mutual understanding and respect.
I can make a basic assumption about you, that if you have the means and the opportunity to read this online, your basic needs are taken care of. You have clothing (though you may not be wearing it at the moment). You have shelter, possibly modest, but none the less sufficient to keep you safe from the elements. You are adequately fed to the degree that you choose.
You obviously have access to a computer, whether it be a public one from the library or one of your own.
You may feel like you have no one who loves you in the world but they are there, somewhere, I assure you.
You Have Everything You Need…
Please don't think that I preach against coveting and goal setting. A big part of what makes life special is setting goals and striving. I have little patience for bloggers who advocate a life of navel-gazing and doing less…way less.
It's a matter of finding "enough." And that concept of enough is a personal quest. No blogger can determine this for you. That's why keeping up with the Joneses is such a foolish endeavor. Learn to think for yourself and make your own decisions.
It's terrific to find inspiration from others, but don't covet what your neighbor has. The better that you can define your level of contentment, the easier it will be to bring that to fruition.
A blog post isn't going to tell you what you want. Like each of these levels, it is deeply personal and if you can habitually unplug from external stimuli, and really explore the question of "What do I want to create in my life?" only then will you truly be able to craft an authentic life.
I feel like I am waking up a bit (finally!) and have begun to quite publicly, on this blog, question my previous actions, create a new future, and enjoy a bit of what is happening now. When you realize that you are empowered to do this, it doesn't matter as much what is going on with the economy or what the Joneses have down the street that you don't.
Hopefully this sparks those of you who need it to do the same.
Note: I took a short break from posting last week in order to assess what this whole new parenting of triplets thingy was going to do with my time. I'm coming back with the intent to post two to three articles a week for the foreseeable future as this is what my time allows. I attempted to post on Sunday but the blogging Gods thrice conspired (yes I said thrice) against me as my host kept crashing as I wrote the article.
I appreciate everyone's time and patience and thank you for visiting the site.
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Comments on You Will Never Have Enough, But You Have Everything You Need
8:27 am
Thanks for sharing Charlie, I enjoyed your thoughts on this article. It's EASY to get drafted by the the world; Its CHALLENGING to tune in to yourself. And when I say yourself I mean as an individual; not the wife or husband, the mother or father… but me.
1:37 pm
Welcome back! It sounds like your week produced some great thoughts. I'll be looking forward to your upcoming posts.
3:38 pm
Charlie and Nikki,
From my eyes, way over here (on the other street) you see, my perspective is quite different. Yes, I am a parent, yes it is all a blur- a mad crazy beautiful frustrating blur of insanity that you eventually forget about that ends with the most beautiful gifts that can ever be bestowed upon humans. I know you do not feel that way now, not all the way – but you will.
You see, the both of you are doing what some cannot, would not, would shrink from, run away from, give up on, get nurses to handle, nannies, lose their ever loving minds, stark raving mad running out of the house down the street kinds of things, simply you are doing what God has intended you to do. And it's beautiful.
One day I was talking to a great mentor of mine and I was upset a bit about people who had kept canceling things on me – saying they will do this or that and then not end up doing them, not because they could not do them nor wished to not do them, simply they had fear in doing them. I am no stranger to fear, and I said, "I don't understand, it is not that I am never scared, unsure, or not afraid." I feel fear, my heart pounds, my head dizzies, but I still do what I do, the best I can do, with the ability given to me (and it may not be climbing Mt Everest but for me, it is enough) however, as I sat there just talking, he said to me:
"You know what the definition of courage is?" I said, "No."
He said, "Courage is facing what you fear yet still facing it and doing it and not allowing that fear to stop you." (something like that.)
The point is just that. You face what you have to and that is courage, strength and faith.
I will leave you both with that. I do not think you realize how utterly strong the both of you are, let alone how utterly strong your children are.
And THAT is simply lovely.
4:32 pm
Hi Susan,
Thank you so much for your beautiful comments. I consider you a spiritual mentor in many ways. I've watched you come so far over the last couple of years to become this amazing and confident woman who goes after her goals. Besides being one of my favorite poets, you are one of my favorite people.
Namaste,
Charley
4:35 pm
Hi Aja,
Thanks so much for your comments. I'm still figuring it out too. All I know is right now I'm very uncomfortable in my skin and that usually means I am close to a personal breakthrough to a happier, more joyous understanding. It's part of normal growth and, as Susan states in the comments below, it's something one should embrace and bless despite all its difficulties.
- Charley
4:36 pm
Thanks Justin. I've not been a very good A-List mastermind blogging member but I have three pretty good reasons why now. I am better for having met you and the group.
- Charley
12:47 am
Welcome back Charley, I don't know how I would cope with triplets, it's bad enough with two teenage sons
Anyway good to have you back with us and blogging again.
12:45 am
Charley: Such a true statement. Whoever is reading this blog I guess (including myself) has enough (or even more than enough – I guess someone who can afford a macbook pro, can take care about food, clothing and some room to live).
But like you I found it hard to find inner peace and contentment, while still being a person who achieves things and goals.
I found it to be in my attitude towards these goals. I focus on being content and grateful with what I have, yet seeing my future self as an expanded version of now, happy as well, with even more potential to express.
The key is not to postpone happiness until you achieve your goals. Because they won't produce happiness. Only you do. And you can produce it without any ingredients from your goals.
But achieving goals allows you to express your potential in another way.
So it is this duality that we must live with: enjoying our live today and still striving for expansion of our potential.
10:41 pm
Patrick,
That is the best advice I have heard in a long time and wholeheartedly agree. It is like saving all your money until you are unable to properly spend it as you once wished.
Charley (I never knew I was spelling your name wrong for years) thank you – what you have to say brings me inspiration, you are writing a book without realizing you are writing a book. Keep going . . .