Some of you may know this story…
Once upon a time, on a quiet beach, a businessman noticed a fisherman pulling in his modest daily catch and packing up to leave. It was still quite early. Curious, the businessman asked, “Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?”
The fisherman replied, “This is all I need to feed my family. After I’m done, I spend my day relaxing, playing with my children, taking siestas with my wife, and enjoying time with friends.”
The businessman saw an opportunity. “But if you caught more fish, you could sell the extra, and buy a bigger boat.”
“Why would I do that,” the fisherman asked.
“Well, then you could catch even more fish, build a fleet, and eventually, own a thriving fishing business!”
The fisherman asked, “And then?”
“Well, after years of hard work, you could sell the business, become a millionaire, and retire!” the businessman explained eagerly.
The fisherman smiled, “And then what?”
“Then you could spend your days fishing on the beach, relaxing with your wife, playing with your grandchildren, and spending time with friends.”
It was then that the businessman realized the “poor” fisherman was already living the life he’d dreamed of.
The Trap of “More” and the Freedom of “Enough”
How many of us live like the businessman, chasing “more” without really understanding why? More money, more success, more things.
Ironically, we often sacrifice the quality of life we want to pursue what we think will make it better.
Go ahead, read that again.
What if we stopped to ask ourselves, “What am I actually after?”
“What is enough for me?”
For me, one of my daily reminders is this: I know that I have more than enough, and that is why I am rich.
And by rich, I mean fulfilled, grounded in a peace within myself that doesn’t depend on reaching “the next level.”
I am abundant in so many ways. I don’t just have enough. I have more than enough. But the only reason I know that is because I know what “enough” is for me.
Defining “enough” can be as simple as understanding how you want to feel and live on a daily basis, rather than fixating on distant milestones or external achievements.
This can help orient us.
Recently, I explored this with a client, who felt uncertain about her direction in life. We discussed how our direction doesn’t need to be some distant future we envision; it’s about tuning into what truly makes us feel alive and fulfilled and making decisions in the service of that.
A Fun Thought Experiment: What If Money Weren’t a Factor?
Here’s a fun thought experiment: What would you do if money didn’t exist and you had absolutely no need for it?
Often, we see this question as something to ask “after” we have financial abundance, but what if it’s the very thing that could help us create abundance, or realize that it’s already here?
That’s my theory.
For me, if I had no need for money, I’d still be doing the same exact things—coaching, writing, creating. I have everything I want— a laptop to do my work and explore endless creative possibilities, a vehicle to take me places, healthy food that comes from the earth, a comfortable bed, some art supplies, a notebook and a good pen, nature close by. I don’t say this to brag; I say it to open up a new possibility.
When you take money out of the equation, what remains? What would you do if money wasn’t a factor?
Often, this question reveals our true passions, interests, and values. Instead of viewing “more” as the key to freedom and wealth, perhaps we can see that living authentically now not only leads to prosperity… it is prosperity. The truest prosperity of all.
Your Version of the Fisherman on the Beach
What’s your “enough”? What’s your “end game”? What’s your version of the fisherman’s life on the beach?
If you can define this, you gain a guiding principle: say yes to everything that moves you closer and no to anything that pulls you away.
Defining “enough” not only ends a scarcity-based life of endless striving and consumption, it also provides a north star that you can use to orient yourself.
Defining your “enough” might show you that the life you truly want is closer than you ever realized—maybe it’s even already here.
Once we identify what we truly desire for ourselves, we can finally let go of what we’re conditioned to want—what we’re told to want.
In doing so, we might find that our desires are simpler, quieter, and more accessible than we ever thought possible.
Or maybe we’ll still want the same things, but at least we’ll know it’s our choice, rather than one that was made for us by a world that’s largely gone astray and forgotten what’s truly important.
At least we’ll break out of the illusion that more money, possessions, successes or merits can make us feel safer, more worthy, or more abundant than we already feel within ourselves right now.
At least we’ll end the lie that we can ever have enough without first realizing when we already do.
Wow Zack! I guess we’re in sync. It so happens that this is exactly what this weeks’ episode of my podcast is about! I’m talking to a couple that got rid of all their assets and are living out of a backpack traveling the world. I’m finishing editing… and the conversation is so, so good! Loved your article as always! 😊