This analogy is very apt. I stopped giving money (and wealth in general) power over my emotional state. I only care about making rent and many of my recent luxuries are buying independent art like games and music as well as local shops.
Turns out, if you stop wanting all the time, you also stop consuming.
I had to consciously do this as well. It’s one of those journeys that makes me want to annoy people by talking in circular little one-liners like a monk or Yoda. It also revealed to me just how much my more conservative family members obsess over the money or the stuff that other people have.
It also turns out, similar to what you said, is that the way to get enough “stuff” in your life is not to acquire all the stuff. That will never work. The way to get enough stuff in your life is to simply stop caring about getting more stuff.
And make no mistake, I DO like my stuff! I have actually spent a considerable amount of money on material possessions in the past month. I have also been daydreaming about what kind of car I’ll get next. (disclaimer for my c/fuckcars friends, I live in low density suburban USA bordering rural areas; I’m gonna have a car forever)
But, they aren’t mindless consumption. The purchases are to support my hobbies that make my life/brain/health better. I have been building my collection of high quality tools because one major hobby of mine that required some construction has inspired an offshoot hobby of woodworking. The dopamine hit from buying something new and shiny is still there, but with my learning and planning coupled with the positive effect of having something to look forward to, not to mention it gets me outside and moving heavy stuff around, I have had no regrets and am getting the desired benefit.
I mentioned the car because, like the tools, it is a catalyst to enhance something I enjoy. It is not a status symbol or collectible. In my case, I have always enjoyed the dynamics of driving and I had manual transmissions in my first three cars which I do not have now. And my drive to work is a couple miles of twisty semi-rural road. I think I want a roadster.
This analogy is very apt. I stopped giving money (and wealth in general) power over my emotional state. I only care about making rent and many of my recent luxuries are buying independent art like games and music as well as local shops.
Turns out, if you stop wanting all the time, you also stop consuming.
Calm down there Siddhartha… /s
It was my introduction to Taoism that helped.
I had to consciously do this as well. It’s one of those journeys that makes me want to annoy people by talking in circular little one-liners like a monk or Yoda. It also revealed to me just how much my more conservative family members obsess over the money or the stuff that other people have.
It also turns out, similar to what you said, is that the way to get enough “stuff” in your life is not to acquire all the stuff. That will never work. The way to get enough stuff in your life is to simply stop caring about getting more stuff.
And make no mistake, I DO like my stuff! I have actually spent a considerable amount of money on material possessions in the past month. I have also been daydreaming about what kind of car I’ll get next. (disclaimer for my c/fuckcars friends, I live in low density suburban USA bordering rural areas; I’m gonna have a car forever)
But, they aren’t mindless consumption. The purchases are to support my hobbies that make my life/brain/health better. I have been building my collection of high quality tools because one major hobby of mine that required some construction has inspired an offshoot hobby of woodworking. The dopamine hit from buying something new and shiny is still there, but with my learning and planning coupled with the positive effect of having something to look forward to, not to mention it gets me outside and moving heavy stuff around, I have had no regrets and am getting the desired benefit.
I mentioned the car because, like the tools, it is a catalyst to enhance something I enjoy. It is not a status symbol or collectible. In my case, I have always enjoyed the dynamics of driving and I had manual transmissions in my first three cars which I do not have now. And my drive to work is a couple miles of twisty semi-rural road. I think I want a roadster.