Reading “Enough Already: The Power of Radical Contentment” was like a cool drink of water.  Alan Cohen uses a mix of mythological stories and personal experiences to persuasively illustrate how we can challenge the media perception that more always equates to better.  His writing style is similar to the tone in his radio show on Hay House Radio -thoughtful and conversational.  I’d encourage you to read a chapter and mull it over before you continue.  Don’t rush through this book – there is so much to savor in each section that you can easily use each of them independently.

I had many favorites in the large array of topics, starting with the first chapter, “Enough Already.”  Alan presents a bold yet simple statement: Sufficiency is an attitude.   This concept is beyond radical contentment; it’s almost heretical in our over-marketed American society.  However, readjusting our focus can show types of abundance we may not have considered – the person who lets us through in traffic, a task which may not take as much time as you thought, and an unexpectedly mild day in the heat of Summer.  He challenges us to accept whatever circumstances are currently in our life and declare them Good.

I also loved Alan’s thoughts about the importance of prayer, and different techniques of prayer.  As Kathianne Lewis at the Center for Spiritual Living likes to say, “Prayer can change a situation, but more importantly, it changes us.”  Alan provides several practical ways to deepen this part of your spiritual journey, including focusing on the emotional qualities you’d like to experience, rather than praying for a particular outcome.  If you’d like to find out more on this topic, I’d highly recommend “Handle with Prayer.”  In his prior work, Alan provides comforting and compelling prayer samples at the end of each chapter.

I’m excited about implementing the ideas in “Enough Already”.  As Alan reminds us via Isaac Bashevis Singer, “Life is God’s novel. Let Him write it.”

FTC disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hay House for review purposes.