Why you don't need the latest and greatest to be happy...

Dear Stoic,

In today's world, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that buying more things or having the latest and greatest will bring us happiness.

But as Seneca pointed out 2000 years ago, this way of thinking only leads to dissatisfaction and unquenchable desires.

In his letter, Seneca talks about how even back in his time, people were already falling prey to the idea that they needed the latest and greatest bathroom design to be happy.

Sound familiar?

It's a phenomenon that still exists today and psychologists have even given it a name: "hedonic adaptation."

Essentially, what used to be a luxury becomes a necessity that we expect and soon, the marketers are successfully convincing us that we need another thing, and then another one.

It's important to recognize that the things we think will bring us happiness are often driven by social approval and not our natural needs.

Our natural needs for food, shelter and warmth are easy to fill but desires for the latest fashion or gadgets are endless and unquenchable.

This is where the Stoic philosophy comes in.

Stoicism teaches us to focus on what is truly essential and to be content with having enough.

Before you complain about how you can't buy the latest gadget from Apple, remember

Half of the global population lives on less than US$6.85 per person per day.

By learning to be satisfied with less, we can free ourselves from the never-ending cycle of needing more and more.

As Seneca puts it, true poverty is not a lack of material possessions, it's a lack of contentment.

So, the next time you find yourself wanting something new, take a moment to ask yourself whether it's a genuine need or just a desire driven by social approval.

And remember, as stoics, we strive to be content with what we have and to thrive with less.

Thank you,

Abdu Khol