Everyone in modern society is taught that we should all aim higher than we are. This is evident in a wide variety of contexts, including films, books, articles, and even the way people converse privately. It’s common to hear people say, “I want to get better at.” or “I want to be more successful.” We’re always looking forward to a time when we’ll have more of what we’re pursuing in our lives. Love, respect, and more money. In advertisements, you’ll also notice a desire for more. McDonald’s “You deserve more” marketing campaign from a few years back is a great example of this. Apparently, Micky D thinks we all deserve “more savoury, sweeter” for breakfast. Companies and advertising agencies, however, are not to blame. Everything we ask for, they deliver. Many of us truly believe that our desire for more is the source of our happiness. The more effort we put in, the more content we feel—whether we’re pursuing our goals or we’ve achieved them. One of life’s tragedies is that striving for more only serves to undermine contentment. Humans don’t have a present-focused mindset. Restlessness sets in when we accomplish something. We have a lot to do and even more to have.
Today, Chanel can increase the number of its bags by nearly 60% without facing any opposition from its customers. It doesn’t matter how much it costs or how much we have to give up to get what we want. Our minds are constantly inventing new tales and justifications for striving for greater heights. Even if you’ve got a great life, you can always improve it. Whatever happened to accepting one’s lot in life?
I was brought up to believe that if you can’t afford something, don’t buy it. At the time that I got my driver’s licence, I REALLY wanted a BMW 3 series coupe, but I just didn’t have enough money. Because my parents couldn’t or wouldn’t financially support me, I bought an old Peugeot 106. Because it was old and broken, a New CD player was installed, but the old sound system made the music sound like it was coming straight out of a 1930s gramophone. However, I couldn’t find a picture of my own vehicle. To be honest, it wasn’t even worth taking a picture of. However, it resembled this one in appearance (mine was in worse shape).
Because I had a vehicle, I had more freedom. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t have to cycle or take the bus to school. I was satisfied with it. A valuable lesson in human interaction and relationships was also taught to me. My primary motivation for acquiring that BMW was to make a good first impression on others. I thought that having a car would make me attractive to women and that they would want to date me. Result of meeting a woman shortly after purchasing the automobile, she informed me: “No one cares about your car if you’re an asshole.”Years later, as I became more interested in philosophy, I discovered that it’s a long-standing idea. Heraclitus, a 2500-year-old philosopher from Ephesus in the Persian Empire, was one of the earliest philosophers. The more we place importance on things that are out of our control, the less we can influence them. When you place more importance on things outside of yourself, your self-worth suffers, and vice versa. I’m glad I was able to learn these things early on in life. Because I’ve come to terms with the fact that you don’t need to have everything you want to be content. While in the past, if we couldn’t afford something, we’d simply borrow money or find a new job. Just go into debt or give up your free time and energy to get what you want.
Ancient wisdom teaches you how to lessen your desire for food. Our natural desire to do and acquire more can be overcome by the Stoic philosophy. Because of Seneca’s first-hand knowledge of wealth, he held a firm view on human greed. Asked him, “What do you mean? “The poor are not those who have too little, but those who yearn for more. True wealth, according to this view, is a state of contentment with one’s present circumstances, regardless of how many material possessions one may amass.
The problem is that we’re all so restless, and it’s difficult to adopt this attitude. Giving in to our cravings only causes us to crave even more. Working on your desires on a regular basis is the most effective way to overcome this superficial way of life. Desires are inescapable and you can’t control them. The other day, I saw a man with a new car in the business park where I work. A Lamborghini Urus was involved. I’m not a huge fan of automobiles, but this one is a stunner. It’s a highly sought-after item because of its combination of performance and beauty. After seeing the car, my first reaction was “I’d kill for one of those.” Finally, my mind began to wander toward the possibility of making more money or selling off some of my assets. Minds work in this manner. As soon as you see someone who has a great job, you might think, “Maybe I should do the same.” After becoming aware of the thought process, I immediately ignored my thoughts to break the cycle.
More stuff won’t make you happier, that’s a fact. As a matter of fact, I believe that anything more than sufficiency can only lead to dissatisfaction. That’s because pursuing your desires is a self-destructive endeavour. Here are some ways we can ensure that we have few desires in the spirit of Epictetus, the other Stoic, who said that “wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few desires. “The best strategy is to express gratitude to someone else rather than keeping it to yourself. It’s hard to maintain a sense of gratitude when all you focus on is the things you have to be thankful for. Regardless of the type of relationship you’re in — friendship, romance, or professional — expressing gratitude to the other person can lift their spirits as well. Telling others how grateful you are for your own life can also be a great way to express gratitude to others. People who are thankful tend not to want to change anything because they appreciate what they already have in their lives.
In order to avoid becoming a slave to something, have a second and third option in case things don’t go as planned. Suppose you believe that your self-worth is tied to your ability to obtain a promotion or a new position. Nevertheless, as the Stoics pointed out, we rarely get our wishes granted. Having multiple backup plans is essential because of this. Don’t rely on a single person, job, goal, or anything else. Keep trying new things if the first one doesn’t work. The act of moving around will keep your metabolism revved. And a person who is more active is less prone to having a desire for things they don’t need.
How many times have you done something that you didn’t enjoy, even though it’s obvious? You’ll spend the majority of your waking hours at a job you despise if you have one. The situation isn’t ideal. Optimize your life so that you can be content with it from the inside out. Take pleasure in what you do, and you’ll be happier. Nevertheless, this does not entail that you should aim for pleasure. When you do a good job, you may also feel a sense of accomplishment. Regardless of the task at hand. We all get used to everything, so why not live simply? Anything less than what you have will feel like a punishment to you when you upgrade your lifestyle. Hedonic treadmills can be avoided by never getting on them. Even if you have a lot of money, you should try to live simply.
You don’t have to leave your house to have a good time if you’re tough enough. Working from home is a viable option. It is possible to exercise at home. It is possible to raise the temperature when the weather is cold. You are free to order whatever you want from the menu. Comfort, however, softens you. Life is also difficult. As a result, it’s better to be a tough individual. Instead of taking the elevator, use the escalators, continue your plans regardless of the weather, travel lightly, and so on. It’s best to steer clear of the simplest solution. Saving time is definitely a plus. Even though it’s important to have a positive outlook, it’s not worth sacrificing your inner strength for it.
A person’s level of happiness has nothing to do with anything outside of themselves. It’s a by-product of living a happy and fulfilling life. When you’re always on the lookout for more, you’re constantly on the go. I don’t think that’s a life worth living. Relax and focus on the things that make you happy, and you’ll discover you already possess all the resources necessary for a content life.