Sufficient (adj.) – Enough; Adequate

An interesting word, fraught with cultural and linguistic dubiety: while its definition would suggest a certain amount of positivity or optimism, its connotation is often quite the opposite. To have your work described as sufficient is essentially an insult. To say “my [significant other] is sufficient” sounds almost comically terrible. And no one is ever promoted for being sufficient. Instead we must be the best, the brightest, the most attractive, the richest, or the most famous. Our society is driven by superlatives; to be sufficient is no longer sufficient.

This superlative drive pervades nearly every aspect of life: we have to have the best business idea and make the most money; we have to have the best grades and graduate first in our class; we have to have the most friends and followers; and we have to have the biggest house with the nicest yard. Politics, science, religion, academics, relationships, friendships, and more are dominated by the superlative drive.

I’m not saying the drive to be better is inherently bad; we strive for superlatives because superlatives are, well, super. Excellence in any positive aspect of life is an admirable quality, and many superlative people are well worth emulating. But when this healthy desire to be better warps into an obsession (as it generally has) it quickly leads to shame, guilt, and self-loathing. We begin to believe that any blemish, misstep, or failure disqualifies us from a happy, meaningful life. Even imperfect-yet-good performances are viewed negatively, deepening our feelings of inadequacy, just as we begin to show improvement and promise.

The thing is, the world doesn’t operate on superlatives (no matter how many beauty salons and ad agencies would have you believe otherwise). Jeff Bezos may be the richest man in the world, but to say he’s the only one living a good life is nonsense (many people would say he isn’t even doing that). it doesn’t take $175 billion to be happy, or to accomplish something worthwhile, or be satisfied with your life. You may not graduate first in your class, but if you can still find a good job and provide for your family then why does it matter? You may not be the most beautiful or handsome, but if you have someone you care about who loves you (Note: there’s ALWAYS someone who loves you) then why are you worried? You may not be the most famous or prestigious person in your field, but if you’re still making a positive contribution and helping those around you, why are you unsatisfied?

Unlike the society in which we find ourselves, God Himself, the Great Superlative, doesn’t demand perfection before offering us His help and love. While worldly sources tell us we’re nothing if we aren’t the best, God is constantly trying to help us see our true worth. We do strive for perfection, but He still loves sufficient: when we have been sufficiently humble (Alma 5:27), when we repent sufficiently (Alma 24:11), or when we have sufficient hope (Moroni 7:3). We don’t have to be perfectly humble, perfectly hopeful, or perfectly penitent, just sufficiently so. And when we fall short, His grace is sufficient (Moroni 10:32).

We live in a world driven by superlative impulses. We are pressured to be perfect, to have as much as we possibly can; our egos demand more, and are never satisfied with what we already have. Enough is never enough. But it’s time for a resurgence of sufficiency. It’s time we begin to accept what is sufficient for our needs, acknowledging the good we have and the good we are. We can’t be superlative in every aspect of our life, and the drive for more and the unyielding demands of perfection cause only misery. Though we strive constantly and unwaveringly for excellence, sometimes it’s ok to have, to do, or to be, sufficient.

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