2 min read · Jul 8, 2020
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“That’s good enough” & “I’m good enough”
Those statements feel pretty different, don’t they? Why?
Typically, “that’s good enough” means it’s not great, it’s kind of good, not completely good, but it has enough good that we can move on, stop worrying and get to the next thing.
“Good enough for government work” is a cliche with an obviously negative slant.
On the other hand, most people I know struggle with feeling “I’m not good enough” to have what they want or not good enough to be doing what they’re doing and will be discovered to be incompetent!
This results in feeling our dreams are hopeless AND/OR we feel like imposters who don’t deserve our success.
Saying “I’m Good Enough” is a powerful declaration in personal development writing that helps to overcome self-limiting beliefs.
That’s good enough: Means STOP.
I’m good enough: Means GO.
I never noticed the difference till I stopped
and thought about the word “Satisfied”…
SIDENOTE: Words are powerful (understatement). That’s why I often think about words, what they mean, how we take them for granted, how they move us or stop us. I did a popular post on July 4th about the word “pride.” Doing this can change your beliefs, perspectives and ultimately your life. Try it.
Back to the lecture at hand…
SATISFIED… this is a fun word to play with too.
How does that word feel to you?
Say “I’m satisfied”
Does it feel like you’re saying, “that’s good enough, no need for more”…
Or does it feel like you’re saying “I’m content, I’m pleased. More would be great, but more isn’t needed?”
Until I sat with this word I thought saying I’m satisfied meant relinquishing my ambition to achieve.
It felt weak.
It doesn’t anymore. It feels powerful.
Because the actual definition is “Contented; Pleased” Nowhere does it say, “full, don’t want or can’t handle more”.
Yet most people I hang around with (pretty successful folks typically) never strive or yearn for “Satisfaction”.
Maybe they should. Maybe we should.
The inimitable Allan Watts once said…
“Increasingly, our world consists of destinations and goals, with the times and spaces in between them eliminated by jet propulsion…
…Consequently, there is little satisfaction in reaching the goal, since a life full of end points is like trying to abate one’s hunger by eating merely the precise ends of a banana”
To me, Satisfaction doesn’t mean “that’s good enough, stop trying”
It means, “I’m good enough, I’m happy, grateful and enjoy who I am, how I am and where I am. AND (not ‘but’) I’m open to, excited for and want more… without needing more.”
Perhaps that statement sums up one of the core philosophies of Señor Siddhartha Gautama so many years ago.
My charge to you… and one I’ll be practicing intently is saying “I’m satisfied” and feeling really good about that feeling.
After all, success without satisfaction is failure.
And simple-satisfaction is personal success.
