Recently, I watched the movie Coraline and a YouTube video on Taoist philosophy, and both left me reflecting deeply on human nature and our constant craving for more.
In Coraline, the children lost their souls, not because they didn’t have enough, but because even when they were given everything they desired, it still wasn’t enough. A chilling thought, isn’t it? This dark and haunting animation earned an Oscar for a reason—it shines a light on something real and unsettling within us. (I throughly enjoyed this thought provoking movie.)
Similarly, the Taoist philosophy video explored how this endless quest for “more” leads to stress, burnout, and withdrawal from peace. Or, like in Coraline, it can even cost us our souls—though perhaps not in a literal sense, but in how we lose touch with ourselves, our purpose, and what really matters.
Do you see the connection?
So, where do we draw the line? When do we step back and say, “I’m good. I have enough.”
I believe awareness is the first step. Developing an awareness of these traps—this cycle of more, more, more—can help us catch ourselves before we fall deeper into it. But awareness isn’t always enough. We need something more substantial: an armor to protect us from the constant pull of these traps.
How do we build that armor? Honestly, I wish I had a straight answer. But what I do know is this: it starts with doing the inner work. Looking at yourself—really seeing yourself. Asking the hard questions about what you truly need versus what you’re chasing out of habit, pressure, or comparison.
It’s not easy. It’s uncomfortable, messy, and often takes time. But I believe learning to “draw the line” isn’t just something we need—it’s something we all deserve. A chance to reclaim our peace, to step off the hamster wheel, and to say, “This is enough.”
(YouTube video in case you’re interested— click here )
The Wild Gems 