What if you shift from wanting “more” to wanting “enough?” Our culture conditions us to say we don’t have enough of anything and that we should always want more.

Anne Watts, the daughter of well-known author Alan Watts, is someone who lives her life with the spacious feeling of enough. Anne is a coach and master facilitator, with whom I co-led Financial Intimacy for Couples workshops. Despite having a simple life and relatively few material possessions, she experiences fullness, rather than scarcity.

Anne realized that the more money and possessions people have, the more they need to support their enhanced lifestyle. And according to Laurie Santos, the Yale University professor who created The Happiness Lab, research shows that once our basic needs are met, changing our circumstances has only a temporary effect on our happiness. As a result, Anne developed a preference for sufficiency. She and her husband traded a large home for a small home with little storage space – this kept her from being able to accumulate more stuff. As she let go of things in this transition to the new home, she felt lighter.

Anne has discovered that her wealth is so much larger than her material possessions. Having time for profound conversations and savoring the outdoors are additional sources of wealth.

Click below for an excerpt of Spencer's recent interview with Anne!

How to Experience "Enough" Through Simplicity