I read something recently about this person picking a word for the year for themselves, and how they would try to live to that word for the year. I can’t remember what they selected, but it could be stuff like grateful, and trying to feel gratitude each day.
I loved the idea, and wanted to do it too.
Then, also reading somewhere about the word “enough”, I realised that was exactly what I wanted my word to be.
So, thank you to the person who inspired the idea and thank you to the other person that provided the word. I haven’t been original in any part of this but I’m extremely grateful to you both.
Enough
[ih-nuhf] adjective, pronounce, adverb
Sufficient for purpose, adequate quantity or number, or in a quantity or degree that answers a purpose or satisfies a need or desire. Fully or quite.
I am enough.
Enough is enough.
Don’t do too much – just do enough.
This word is perfect for me in so many ways, and I threw in those three examples at the end for things I need to keep telling myself.
I am enough.
I have anxiety, which means I will overanalyse and guilt myself into oblivion. I criticise myself, I have self-esteem issues, and I generally tell myself I’m not good…enough (see that word again?). In fact, I’m the opposite. I AM ENOUGH. I actually have some pretty darn good qualities, and every day I wake up and I keep trying. And that’s all I can ever ask of myself.
Enough is enough.
I also have the ability to let things go on for far too long instead of looking out for myself. I only started making ground with my eating disorder when I got fed up and declared “enough is enough”. I only got enough self confidence to walk away from my previous relationship when I realised just how insecure and low I was. This statement is a reminder to myself to re-evaluate the things that upset me, and work out whether it’s time to say “enough is enough” and to deal with the situation at hand.
Don’t do too much – just do enough.
This one is interesting – it could be taken to mean that being lazy and just doing enough is acceptable. That’s now how I’m taking it.
This one specifically refers to my ability to overwhelm myself with things, or jump into the deep end.
For example, this year I have a goal to run a half marathon. A friend and I were planning on an event in May. Yet when I look at my current physical fitness level, I’m not even running 5k right now. So to imagine turning that completely around and be ready to run 21.1 in a matter of months was difficult (not impossible) with a high risk of injury. I messaged my friend, we found we were both in the same boat and agreed to do the 10k instead. We’re still doing a half marathon, but we’re going to do one in the second half of the year.
This is the perfect example of not doing too much, and just doing enough. I’m following a training program that will see me prepared for my half marathon perfectly, without rush. I am training by doing enough. And that “enough” is 5 x 30min running sessions a week, with cross training and rest days mixed in (prescribed by the experts). That’s enough. No doing too much, no overtraining, and hopefully no injuries.
To remind myself I printed out the definition, framed it and stuck it right in front of my face on the wall in front of the treadmill. That way I am reminded every single day.
If you could pick a word for 2022, what would it be?