There are days when my inner peace is troubled or just not there. It can be due to the political environment and struggles of our world, a troubled relationship in my life, my weight, a task I really do not want to do, traffic, road construction, money (the lack of it). I could go on but I’m sure you have your own list. Sometimes I find myself thinking I’d have more peace if I did more walking, got more rest, spent more time in prayer and mediation, more solitude, more…. a lack of something? Then at some moment of clarity I stop and laugh at myself. More is not my answer, although this culture wants to convince me it is. I’ve come to realize it’s not the wants that bring peace and serenity but it’s the acceptance and gratitude of what I already have. And, maybe having less will allow more peace, letting go of something(s).
6 Comments
Tom Dills
Kathy often says that we live in the age of “Bigger-Better-Faster-More,” and the manufactured desire for things we don’t or can’t have can cause a big conflict for those of us who choose not to participate in that mindset. As you say, it can be tough to remember that “more” isn’t the answer. And that definitely is not the message that those who try to sell us all that “more” would want us to hear!
Monte Stevens
Very true Tom and thanks for the comment!
Cedric Canard
I’m with you on this one though my wife would argue with us both I am sure 🙂
But yes, less is more. Consumption is great for the economy but perhaps not so great for the individual. I know I’m not doing much to help the economy but I’ve found, like you, that the less I have, the easier life becomes. My wife reckons I should have been a hermit or a monk 😉
Monte Stevens
Thinking we need more is not just a selfish or greedy response but we are bombarded daily. And, once I want something it seems to have roots that sprout instantly and grows. 🙂 I have actually had my oldest grandson call me a hermit. I have so little that my home seems barren to them.
Cedric Canard
I think I’d like your place 🙂
As for selfish and greedy… I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone (including myself), do anything that wasn’t, on some level, for selfish reasons. As for greedy, well, sure, that can play a part, but I suspect more often than not, people are just wanting to fill a hole in their lives, in their psyche. And let’s face it, our education system doesn’t exactly teach us how to examine our lives and our selves. We are not well equiped to counter that daily bombardment you mention.
I find that many people do not even understand the value of the things they want. The value of something seems to only be thought about in terms of money or status symbol.
I do know some people however, who are wealthy and have way more things than I’d be comfortable living with, but they can talk about any single item they own in ways that let you know there was no greed associated with their purchase. They talk about aesthetics, form and function in great detail. They know who made it or designed it. They can even talk about it within an historical context, listing all the things that came before it so that this particular thing could come to be. What you get from them is a sense of pure appreciation, which to me, makes it okay. Much like how you feel about your fountain pens Monte.
Consumption is not a bad thing in itself as long as it is done with consideration rather than on impulse. Unfortunately, impulse comes naturally without effort while consideration needs to be learnt and practiced.
Monte Stevens
Again, we’ll said, my friend. Consumption is a necessity in life but we can take that too far. In reference to my fountain pens, I do have three that are very pricey, at least for me. Some would consider those a waste of money while the quality of those pens are astounding, lasting for years.