Many have too much but none enough. This is true for almost everyone today. In this materialistic world, a man is respected for not what he is but what he has. Possessions have become our identity.
No matter what we have, we want more – better versions, new upgrades, better lifestyles and so on. There is no end to the desire to acquire more.
And this temptation for more has invaded all areas of life. But does ‘more’ really make us happy and content? Are we happy even when we get what we desire? Does this yearning for more ever ends?
We can never get enough of things we don’t need, because the things we don’t need can never satisfy. We want riches but what we actually need is fulfilment.
So how to overcome this desire for ‘more’? Well, I suggest a simple 3- step formula: Rethink…Refuse…Reduce!
- Rethink: Whenever you have this urge of buying something, ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” Don’t just blindly follow your temptation. Take time to pause and think. Think how acquiring this particular thing is going to impact your life. “Will it really make a serious difference to me? Are these things really better than the things I already have? Or I am just trained to be satisfied with what I have now?” Think about the pros and cons of your action. Let not your mind run on what you lack as much as on what you have already.
- Refuse: Most of the times we know we don’t need this particular thing but we still give into momentarily temptation. Learn to refuse, to say ‘No’. We already have so much in excess, saying ‘No’ just this one time is not going to make a difference.
- Reduce: If we find it hard to refuse and we must act upon our urges then learn to ‘reduce’. If we want to buy clothes then instead of buying a dozen dresses, buy just one or two. If we are too tempted to eat that chocolate or pastry knowing well that it’s going to add on those extra calories which we worked hard to get rid of then just have a bite. If it’s so hard to resist then give in to the temptation but just remember to ‘reduce’. In this way, we will be doing minimum damage to our finances, our health and also will not feel the lack.
There’s no harm in giving to our desire if it is what we really need or if it is going to add value to our life. Learning to be satisfied is just as easy as being satisfied and definitely much more pleasant.
So next time, you have this urge for ‘more’, just remember it’s time to rethink, refuse/reduce!
© 2017 Shaloo Walia All rights reserved
Very true Shaloo. There is no limit to our desires. Man just doesn’t seem satisfied with what he has. I think the idea of 3 R’s is excellent to use in our everyday life.
Desires not only cause clutter in the house but also dissatisfaction and restlessness in the mind.
very effective write up. Desires are endless.
Thanks! Desires are endless and thus cause dissatisfaction.
When there is something I think I want, I write it down and wait two to four weeks. If I still feel the same after that amount of time, then I will make the purchase.
Very effective technique!
That’s a great technique. I must remind myself of doing that the next time I see something I want that I already have at home
It works wonders.
I’m sure it does. I’ll test it for sure the next time
increasing post