If there is one thing I have learnt that has changed the way I think profoundly during my short time, I can say that it’s this.
Having more does not equal happiness.
This applies to money, relationships, objects……… anything.
Instead, I’ve discovered the true value in getting by with less, and making do with what I already have.
Some would see it as being ‘cheap’. I see it as a smarter way of being that gives me satisfaction, happiness, and a feeling of freedom that allows me to do so many more activities which feed my love for life.
Of course, there is no shortage of opposition to this belief. That’s fine.
I now know it’s not my way. My path winds clearer, uncluttered, simple.
What inspired this post is the following illustration of minimalism as a story told between a successful businessman, and a successful man – both of whom believe they have it all.
See which man you prefer to model. I know which one I admire most.
I hope you enjoy it.
Excerpt from my favourite book, The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss.
An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal
Mexican village on doctor’s orders. Unable to sleep after an
urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to
the pier to clear his head. A small boat with just one fisherman had
docked, and inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The
American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.
“How long did it take you to catch them?” the American asked.
“Only a little while,” the Mexican replied in surprisingly good English.
“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” the American
then asked.
“I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends,”
the Mexican said as he unloaded them into a basket.
“But… What do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican looked up and smiled. “I sleep late, fish a little, play
with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia, and stroll into the
village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my
amigos. I have a full and busy life, senior.”
The American laughed and stood tall. “Sir, I’m a Harvard M.B.A.
and can help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the
proceeds, buy a bigger boat. In no time, you could buy several boats
with the increased haul. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing
boats.”
He continued, “Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you
would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening your own
cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution.
You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, of course,
and move to Mexico City, then to Los Angeles, and eventually New
York City, where you could run your expanding enterprise with
proper management.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, senior, how long will all this
take?”
To which the American replied, “15-20 years. 25 tops.”
“But what then, senior?”
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the
time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company
stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”
“Millions, senior? Then what?”
“Then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village,
where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids,
take a siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings
where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos …”
Does this story sound familiar to you?
It seems that this is what we are trained to do in our modern society – to ‘think big’ and ‘aim for the stars’.
Most of the time however, what we really want in life is simple pleasures – food, relationships, comfort – which are easily within reach.
Are you going in the right direction?
Do you feel pressured to own a village, when what makes you happy is sleeping in your little hut?
That’s great. Why?
You’re aware of the discomfort of the situation, and once discomfort intensifies, action is born.
You are the master of your domain, the leader of your troop, the bearer of the map.
Go ahead, embrace a minimal lifestyle. Find your happiness now, not in 25 years’ time.
I see it as a journey to experience more with less. To live within my means, not my wants. To question the value of my activities, experiences, and belongings and determine if they are of positive or negative influence.
It’s a journey. One I have chosen as a quest, an adventure, as a new way of being.
I plan to live life happy now. How?
Live Simple.
Thanks for reading my work.
Like it? Please share with your friends on social media. The more people I can inspire, the happier I’ll be.
Until next time…..
Yours in inspiration,
Jason
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