Sufficiency means an adaquate amount of something,
especially something that is essential. It's sandwiched between abundance and scarcity—right in the middle representing what is "enough."
An acquaintance called me to talk about their need to find different housing
arrangements. They were lamenting over the fact that landlords only show homes during traditional business hours.
I found that odd. I was a landlord for over fifteen years and knew I had to be willing to show our home on
the weekends. The market hasn't changed that much so I concluded this person might be telling herself a limiting story, which unfortunately gives them permission to stay stuck. Perhaps it’s easier to deal with blame that’s projected outward, rather than responsibility that is owned inward.
Gently, I reminded this person that even if this was true, they only needed one home, which means they only needed one landlord who would be willing to show the home on a weekend. She seemed happily surprised and agreed.
Then she shared her discouraged thoughts regarding roommates. She really did not want to have to share a home with young college students, but preferred someone like her, more mature in age and lifestyle. She said the majority of roommates are the partying-all-night, messy kind.
I've not been in the market for a roommate for quite some time, but knowing that she is available as a roommate, it seemed logical to conclude there must be others like her. Following the same theme, I told her she only needs to find one situation that includes roommates with similar lifestyle preferences to hers.
Instead of seeing either of these needs as limiting, she can actually celebrate how much easier it will be to confirm when she has found the right place. There will be a landlord who will show the home on the weekends, and if it includes roommates, they will be of similar
maturity, lifestyle and pace.
There won’t be any need to worry about which option to choose, because the answer will be obvious, including both of the things she’s looking for. She only needs one workable
scenario.
Fast forward a few days and I’m out on my morning walk, realizing that I usually only receive one meditation per week to share with you. Sometimes I haven’t received one all week, and I have to walk the morning
I am supposed to write to ask, What do you want me to write about? And wait for the answer, which always comes.
I only need one topic or metaphor each week. I’m not sending an email every day. So it doesn’t really
matter that I’m not having five spiritual downloads of content every week to share with you. I have exactly what I need. No more, no less.
Occasionally I go on a trip and I need to schedule a few weeks’ of emails in
advance and those always come at just the right time. In a culture that pushes us to seek more, more, more, because what we have doesn't feel like enough, sufficiency can often be found when we’re willing to re-frame our thinking from lack-focused to having enough.
Where do you need to apply the “I only need one” mantra? Where are you trying to squeeze more than you need out of life when one solution would be sufficient? Where are you distracted and deceived into lack mentality, while sufficiency is staring you in the face?
Our thoughts create our reality, far more often than the actual facts of our circumstances. We just have to be willing to tune into the hope in every situation.
For today, take inventory of every area of your life that is delightfully sufficient and embrace gratitude for this season of blessing and favor. Congrats on all your just-right gifts.
PS Just because it's Valentine's Day ...
If you have a special someone in your life, I'm happy for you. If you don't and you're good with that, I'm glad for you, too. If you are looking for that special someone and wondering if they will ever show up, be encouraged. It only takes one and it might be sooner than you think, and right on time. What
lessons can you practice in the mean time? Be sure to read February 14 in my book. The message is always relevant for all of us.
