THE THING ABOUT
THINGS
Here’s the thing about spending
your life/energy/talents chasing
things: the more you get, the
more you want. They never fulfill
their promise of happiness. It’s a
pretty cruel ruse once you really
think about it.
Get the car you’ve been dreaming
of for years and after a few days,
you’re already thinking about
the next one. Move into your
dream home or get your dream
job and within a couple of weeks
the attraction has faded and the
sparkle has gone. It’s no longer
exciting. Your attention moves
on, to the next desire.
What life has taught me (and I’m
certainly no guru and definitely
don’t have all the answers) is that
things can never bring you a
joy that lasts.
I want to be incredibly clear:
there’s absolutely nothing
wrong, in my mind, with having/
collecting/wanting nice things.
They make the climb to The
Mountaintop more pleasant.
I guess what I’m trying to say
is that perhaps the key for us
is not to worship them. Not to
get hooked by them. Not to be enslaved by all things material.
Enjoy them. Just don’t get caught
in the trap they often set.
So that begs the question:
“Where does real and
sustained joy/happiness/
fulfillment come from?”
Here’s a quick list, based on my
current level of understanding
(big idea: we cannot see any
higher than the level of our
understanding; the more we
understand, the more we will
see...like scaling a mountain):
Where Does Real and
Sustained Joy/Happiness/
Fulfillment Come From?
• Spending your life in
pursuits that realize your
potential and awaken your
talents (growing)
• Transcending our fears and
letting go of limiting beliefs
• Achieving worthy goals and
creating success on our own
terms (rather than according
to the definition of success
of those around us)
• Rich and meaningful
relationships
• Elevating in self-knowledge
• Adding value to others (from
clients and co-workers to
people in our communities)
• Making a positive difference
and having an impact on the
world around you
So yes, own things (it’s a very
human hunger). Get the shiny
objects of allure that call out for
your attention. And once you own
them – enjoy them. But don’t let
them own you. Possess them. But
don’t be possessed by them.
Robin Sharma
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