This blog post was authored by RWS Executive Director, Margaret Floyd Barry and is a personal reflection of something many practitioners, including herself, can struggle with from time to time.
Something unusual happened this morning.
On my way home from my Wednesday routine—a yoga class, breakfast, and a few hours of work at a local café—I felt a profound sense of contentment. The air was clean, people I passed were smiling, and, for once, I felt completely “enough”. It was a rare and powerful feeling.
As a driven person with big dreams, I love the thrill of seeing them take shape. But, as fulfilling as that ambition can be, there’s a real downside: the constant striving means I often miss out on what’s right here, right now.
I don’t think I’m alone in this.
Our whole culture revolves around the pursuit of “more”: more success, a healthier body, a bigger house, smarter kids… The idea is that the more we have or achieve, the better our lives will be. But when is it enough? And what toll is this mindset taking on our well-being?
The truth is, this endless pursuit of more often keeps us in a state of stress and discontent—and in many cases, it’s making us unwell. When we’re constantly striving for a “healthier” body, for example, or pushing for “more” security or success, we’re often ignoring signals from our body and mind that we need to pause, rest, and appreciate what we already have. In this way, the very habits we believe will make us “healthier” can actually keep us sick.
I remember a discussion with successful, socially-minded entrepreneurs on defining “enough.” Was there a point at which they felt truly satisfied with their income, or a point beyond which they could reinvest back into community causes? It was a profound—and not necessarily comfortable—conversation that underscored how deeply we’re conditioned to always want more.
But what if, in chasing after more, we’re feeding the perpetual feeling that we ourselves aren’t enough? That our bodies, achievements, and lives don’t measure up? This cycle leaves us perpetually dissatisfied, even as we strive for better health, success, and happiness.
When was the last time you caught yourself thinking, “I’m not healthy enough, strong enough, successful enough”? This kind of mindset isn’t just emotionally exhausting—it’s physically taxing, too.
What if you took a step back and recognized that you *are* enough right now? That you have all you need?
Here’s my challenge to you:
When you catch yourself in that endless pursuit, pause. Take a moment to notice what you already have. Breathe, feel gratitude, and allow yourself to rest in that feeling of “enough”.
Notice how this simple shift in perspective impacts you:
How does this change your perspective?
And how does this new mindset affect your body, your mind, and your life?
We’d love to hear from you—share your thoughts on Instagram and tag us @restorativewellnesssolutions. Let’s inspire each other to embrace a life where health and happiness don’t always require “more.”
