“We become what we love.” —Unknown
It’s a simple, powerful idea. That is absolutely true.
For a long time, we’ve been told the good life means having more stuff: a bigger house, a new car, trendy clothes, the latest technology, the coolest toys, and so on.
Because of that messaging we’ve received since birth, we’ve spent much of our energy chasing these things, thinking they’ll make us happy.
But fullness of life is not found in the things we possess. Real happiness doesn’t come from what we own. Even worse, that line of thinking can actually hold us back.
Consider for just a moment the foolishness of defining the good life in terms of physical possessions:
Stuff Comes and Goes.
Think about it. Our money situation can change overnight because of things we can’t control, like the economy or natural disasters or someone’s decision above you at work. Should our happiness ever be tied to things outside our control?
It’s a Luck of the Draw.
The amount of stuff we own often depends on where we were born and who our family is. That’s pure chance. Should something as important as our happiness be left to chance?
“Stuff“ Doesn’t Feed the Soul.
No amount of material goods can ever fill the deeper needs we all have. In fact, often times, chasing stuff takes our attention away from the things that really make life worthwhile.
More Never Fully Satisfies.
Even people who have everything they could ever want still look for more. If we keep thinking that the next new thing will make us happy, we’ll never find peace.
So, what should we do?
Rather than focusing on what we have, we focus on what we’re chasing.
Because what we pursue in life means a lot more than what we possess!
The things we want most guide our choices every day. They show us where to put our time, money, and effort. What we chase shapes our lives more than anything else.
And here’s the really good news: Every day, we get to choose what we chase.
We alone get to decide what’s most important to us. Isn’t that empowering?
So what are you going to chase?
This is an important question, and the answer can change your life.
Today go after things that have true, lasting value: love, kindness, fairness, beauty, and hope. Make it your goal to make someone else’s world better, even if it’s just a little bit.
When it comes down to it, the worth of our life isn’t measured by what we have. It’s defined by what we go after.
Let’s not waste our days collecting things. Let’s fill them chasing what really counts.
I started out in the 1970’s thinking I needed more of everything and after years of having to have this and that I realized how much time, money and family I missed out on trying to stay ahead of the bills. I was chasing all the wrong things. Most of my adult children have turned their backs on “stuff”. Their dreams are keeping things as simple in this fast paced world as possible. No dust collectors or packed rooms for them.
I turned 70 last November. Been retired 10 years. I would say the last 5-7 years, I’ve chased sunrise in the morning…. coffee in hand, stroll lazily in the garden, talk to my plants, pull weeds here and there, listen to the birds. When I wake up, I can’t wait to spend 1-2 hours of just being in the moment, no agenda, just pure peace and contentment. Que sera sera has given new meaning to living a life of simple abundance… what will be will be.
Used to be get dressed, check out the sale at the mall….oh no, that’s torture now. I’ve got all I need.
Amen, Joshua! This day I chase Christ and I chase self-care so that I can be strong and be a blessing in someone else’s life. I’m oh so glad that when I chase the Lord He doesn’t outrun me! —-
Even though he can :D
I have a chance to sell my condo and move into a duplex house with a good friend. I would then have enough time and money to live my dream of traveling the world (I am retirement age.) But I am so afraid to let go of my own home, even though our land lease runs out in 20 years and I may then find myself homeless (we will not be bought out, only evicted!)
I’m dealing with some serious questions, the most important being, ‘how do I want to spend the final years of my life?’ And, ‘Am I brave enough to do it both while I still can, and now that the opportunity has arisen?’
Advice, please? Thank you!
I say GO FOR IT and don’t look back. My husband and I are in our late 60s and spending more and more of our time helping our 4 elderly parents (ages 86-94 and a 5 hour drive away) who still live in their own homes and aren’t realistic about moving anywhere else or parting with their many possessions. We are VOWING to make incremental changes to downsize our home size and possessions in the next 10-15 years, so we (and our children) don’t find ourselves in this same predicament down the road.