Things that are of value are double-edged swords. We can get immense happiness, joy and utility from having things that we value, but at the same time we are susceptible to the pain of not having those things we value. Additionally, we are also liable to experience the troublesomeness of having to strive for those things we value. For example, a woman who wants a man who is both competent and good looking certainly has more on her plate to deal with than one who would just rather have competence. But at the same time, having more things to value means that you're more selective, which means having higher standards. People chasing things they value are likely to enjoy the hunt itself and play it like a game.
Choosing to follow a philosophy of life that is more zen (where detachment means no loss and no unhappiness) or more liberal (where it is better to have loved and lost than not loved at all) might ultimately be a matter of what one tends to gain or lose.
Showing posts with label value. Show all posts
Showing posts with label value. Show all posts
Sunday, 25 December 2011
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Entitlement And Appreciation
What's the key to being resilient, tolerant, adaptable, humble and less judgmental?
I think the answer lies in believing that nothing you have is deserved. Not in the sense that you don't reap anything you sow, or own anything you create, but in the sense that you're never entitled to anything in the first place.
With such a mindset in place, everything can be appreciated at greater depth. The value of everything and anything becomes illuminated with clarity now that one realizes that for everything one owns, a million other things might've conspired such that one's possessions were never to be. Our very existence and life experiences will be taken less for granted, as will the lives of others, particularly those who are underprivileged. Our achievements will be deservedly attributed more to the conditions around us - such as our friends and family - we now recognize more clearly as having allowed us to seize the moment, rather than arrogantly believing that we are all just our own islands.
I believe the world can be beautiful once again with this perspective in mind.
I think the answer lies in believing that nothing you have is deserved. Not in the sense that you don't reap anything you sow, or own anything you create, but in the sense that you're never entitled to anything in the first place.
With such a mindset in place, everything can be appreciated at greater depth. The value of everything and anything becomes illuminated with clarity now that one realizes that for everything one owns, a million other things might've conspired such that one's possessions were never to be. Our very existence and life experiences will be taken less for granted, as will the lives of others, particularly those who are underprivileged. Our achievements will be deservedly attributed more to the conditions around us - such as our friends and family - we now recognize more clearly as having allowed us to seize the moment, rather than arrogantly believing that we are all just our own islands.
I believe the world can be beautiful once again with this perspective in mind.
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