“There is no greater calamity for a nation, or for an individual than not finding contentment with one’s own sufficiency.
There is no greater mistake for a nation, or for an individual, than to be covetous.
Hence, when one is content within one’s own nature, one will always have enough.”
Lao Tzu – The Tao Teh Ching, #46
Were you aware that picking too many flowers in the Spring from a fruit bearing tree will yield little fruit in the Fall?
Though common sense for most this is a metaphor for the senseless use and waste of our natural resources out of a deep discontent and unconscious egocentric gratification that permeates humans on this planet.
Take and use only what is yours – what you truly need – only what fills you with joy.
Gift the rest and appreciate it’s beauty from the flow of generosity.
When we gaze out into the world – outside of our own inner dialog, filters and standards – do we clearly see and embrace the blessings that contribute to what our life is now and always becoming?
Or do we gaze out from the contracted space of depletion and “not enoughness” always taking action from a scarcity consciousness that never, ever allows the sacred into our heart.
The Swedish proverb, “Enough is as good as a feast.”, reflects on contentment – whether as an individual or a nation – as pivotal to halt, reverse and shift consumerism, unconscious and short sighted use of our planets resources, and the ugliness of racial, ethnic and religious fanaticism leading to tensions, hatred and violence.
Finding contentment within one’s own sufficiency or “enoughness” is powerful. It is an inside job and a community intention.
The striving for more is replaced with compassion in action taken on behalf of the well being of all life – enough.
What a different world we would love in…..
….if we simply lived our life as enough.
Copyright Gaye Abbott, 9/19/19
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