Less choices vs Many choices and Happiness
By Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (47072)
India
October 10, 2018 11:56am CST
Disclaimer: The short passage that follows is a work of my imagination and any resemblance to any play, literary or cinematic work, or to any person, earth being, alien or a hybrid and the circumstances is purely coincidental.
"
Matt to Hendricks: 'Hendricks, you now have five flower pots of different colors. So you must be a happier person as compared to when you just had a single Marigold flower pot?'
'No Matt, I am more confused and more unhappy1'
'Why so, you always longed for more number and varieties of flowers. You now have Dahlia, Rose, Tulip as well as Hibiscus.
You can't be happier!'
'Matt, for the first few days, I thought like this. I thought- here I just had one flower pot, and when I used to look at other people's plants and trees, I used to think :'Hey when will I have more flowers and plants?'
Yet as days progressed, I started having another problem. Initially, I gave more attention to Dahlia and Tulip and Rose and Hibiscus suffered. Then, I applied some changes and it looks Rose and Hibiscus suffered.
I started getting more conscious, and when finally I managed a time table, it began stressing me, as I began to skip some of my TV programs or evening walk times in the park.
Now, I wish I had just one flower pot to take care of. I was probably happier then!'
"
Well, Matt and Hendricks were just imaginary characters and it would be a long story if I delved in what happened next.
Yet, what I want to illustrate is that at times, in our lives, we long for more and more of certain things.
It could be more clothes, more decoration items, more mobiles, more cars, more friends, and so on.
Yet when that actually happens, except for a few initial days, we start feeling confused, sad and at times unhappy.
So why is that? Why we don't feel happier at more of the things?
It is not a simple question to answer, and I believe some scientific research or Thesis might also be on such things.
What I personally feel is that we first need to deeply think as to why we want more of certain things. Do we really need them? If no, are these things that really make us happy without unduly stressing us?
Like in the case of books, I feel that I like reading them, even when I am a bit down.
Yet, if I have more of a collection of cakes or biscuits, it might not make me feel as happy as it sounds.
What do you folks say?
5 people like this
4 responses
@ptrikha_2 (47072)
• India
10 Oct 18
Yes @franxav it is more a question of our state of mind.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47072)
• India
11 Oct 18
@JudyEv many a times, we get influenced by many things and turn up making not so right decisions.
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
20 Oct 18
This world tries to convince us that more is better but it may not always be so.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47072)
• India
21 Oct 18
@1hopefulman yes indeed, and sometimes people even start hounding someone who wants to remain aloof and not delve too much into the game of materialistic possessions.
1 person likes this
@informationshelter (111)
•
16 Oct 18
Nobody can find the time and have the knowledge, talent, and skill to do and achieve everything and anything in life every single time. We are not some kind of a superman, and our limitations as human beings leave room for other people to grow and flourish, as well. After all, gluttony is a sin, and it is usually punished.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47072)
• India
17 Oct 18
@informationshelter well said - sorry what does gluttony exactly mean?
1 person likes this