Are you Always Looking for More?
Recently, someone recommended a book to me called The Soul of Money. I read it, liked it and found myself listening to its sequel via audiobook. (I say sequel, but I’m not entirely sure if that’s accurate – in any case, it’s another small book written by the same author on the same topic.)
The author has a number of points that made me think. But one of the biggest things I responded to was the idea that most of us, day in and day out, are fighting a battle against more. Our fallback M.O. is to want more of anything we have, or anything we do.
I know this well.
Growing up, my mother always had a phrase, “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” To this day, it’s still in her email signature. Now, while this may be a funny phrase, I don’t feel it’s a very helpful phrase. (Alert, Mom!) In reality, more ain’t usually that good.
More food. More clients. More stuff. More money. There’s all kinds of more. And many of us want all of it.
Don’t get me wrong – sometimes it might be good. But most of the time, those of us who are lucky to have the resources we need (a full belly, a roof over our heads), don’t actually need more. We want more, sure. But do we need it? No.
And yet we spend immense resources trying to claw after it, day in and day out.
There’s a movement instructor I know who says that in all our physical movements we should be asking ourselves “How can I do less?” So, for example, when you get up from bed in the morning, try to think about how your body could best lift you up so that you are doing as little as possible. When you’re sitting in a chair, same deal. Think of how your body can do less. Because, as she says, our bodies want to do the easiest thing, and that easiest thing (standing up straight, balancing your weight on two feet, etc.), is what is best for our bodies in the end.
Now, if we take this concept beyond the physical, it can help us. Instead of looking for more, look for less. Want to go shopping, or stay at home? Want to eat more, or put down the fork? Think about when you can choose less, and go after it, full force.
So, to you.
When Can You Choose Less?
The same
Such a good perspective, Claire. I heard something a couple years ago: “The only thing that’s lacking in any situation is what we’re not bringing to it.” The truth is, we all have more than enough and it’s our wanting more that makes us unhappy. Maybe the only way to be free enough to have anything is to let go of everything.
I read a quote recently where it said you can be happy or unhappy. You are one or the other. They are mutually exclusive. Similarly with more or less, more or less. Half full or half empty? We can’t push the happy button all the time either. Less is more in a asetic sense too. The recluse that strives for less and less of the world but more and more of enlightenment. Balance of happiness. Balance of needs. Consciousness needs to be brought to the table every now and then.
True Claire!,
I agree more with you on the above subject of ” More” of everything in life. In our quest for ” more” we become slaves of the very things we yearn more of. There is a song that says ” The More Money you have the More problems you have.” I think moderation and balance are very cardinal to human life.
There is also a saying that “the best things in life are free”!,such as nature and other things endowed to us by God.
Less is not necessarily good because, sometimes, you will always come up short of things to share with others.
Interesting idea. It makes me think of the “homo aeconomicus” concept.
Growing up in New Orleans, I know all too well the comforts of taking life easily and slowly. Since moving to Los Angeles, I have learned all too quickly that not everyone else is from New Orleans.
People here want more. It’s why they move to LA. I am one of those people. It’s why I moved to LA. I agree that every now and then it is important to “do less,” after all, driving ourselves into the ground is rather counter productive.
However, I do not believe there is any shame in wanting more, so long one’s aspirations do not inflict harm on others. Wanting more out of life can lead to greater motivation to better ourselves. However, I’m also a firm believer in being grateful for what we DO have.