We live in a culture that is never satisfied and always desires more:
More money. More clothing. More toys. More square feet. More followers.
In fact, in many ways, the pursuit of more defines our entire society:
More power. More wealth. More prestige. More reputation. More sex. More. More. More
But there is a problem with the lifestyle choice of desiring more. When we constantly desire more, we are never satisfied. Because no matter how much we accumulate or achieve, more always exists.
By definition, it is unquenchable.
No matter how much money is in your bank account… there can always be more. No matter how big your house… there can always be more. No matter how many likes on your Instagram post or views on your Tik-Tok video… there can always be more.
When more is the goal, we never fully arrive. It is insatiable. And that is the problem with always wanting more. Happiness and contentment will always elude us if we are looking for it in the acquisition of more.
I suppose, if it was commonplace to see an end to this pursuit, that would be a different story. If human beings eventually arrived at a level of more, and suddenly became content, we could all strive to reach that magical level.
But that is not the example surrounding us. Quite the opposite in fact. Most everybody who acquires more, only continues to pursue it.
We see it in the lives of individuals who amass great fortunes but are not satisfied.
We see it in the world’s largest corporations who continue to pursue greater and greater market share and profits.
We see it in those who acquire power and then work relentlessly to keep it and expand upon it.
In the early 1900’s, John D. Rockefeller was the richest man in the world. He was once famously asked by a reporter, “How much money is enough money?” Rockefeller replied, “Just a little bit more.”
The richest man in the world, not satisfied, still in pursuit of more. More can never satisfy.
Other larger, less anecdotal studies, come to the same conclusion that even the wealthiest among us are never fully satisfied.
Of course, we don’t need to look at the lives of others to understand this phenomenon. One look in the mirror reveals the same motivation inside us.
The average American home has tripled in size in the last 50 years and continues to grow larger and larger. The average American woman owns 4X the amount of clothes as her grandmother, but continues to purchase. The average American home has 300,000 items inside it… and yet Amazon arrives on our doorstep several times each week.
When more is the goal, we will never find contentment. More is always a moving target. Never fully attainable.
We live life with only two options:
1. We can continue to pursue more. We can believe there is a better life waiting if we were just to acquire more money, more property, more fame.
2. We can reject the false notion that more is needed to discover happiness. And we can find contentment in our circumstances and gratitude for the blessings we already possess.
The choice is yours.
As for me, I’ll choose contentment with less.
Abbe says
I always appreciate your articles…but I wish women weren’t used as examples of owning 4x the amount clothes as their grandmothers. Some women own more because more is expected of women now than it was in their grandmother’s day. Many men own more clothing their wives or other women. A man using this an example could seem chauvinistic.
Jeanie says
Abbe, I believe the stats do show it’s primarily women who own the most clothing in the U.S. We don’t have to bow to what we think are society’s expectations of us; it’s possible to dress professionally and attractively without owning a lot of clothing and footwear.
Reese Hicks says
My gosh give the PC stuff a rest and just enjoy the article.
Tina Eckart says
In my experience you are so “right on” in this article. I recall as a high school girl that I had 5 outfits of clothing, one for each day of the week. I took special care of my clothing. I appreciated what I had. There was no sense of “more” in my family due to tight finances. That was the most peace I ever had in my mind. As I got older, worked and had more money, I started acquiring more clothing. The addiction of more began to take hold. I haven’t had “clothing peace” since I was that high school girl. I’m working toward finding that peace again by decluttering and not replacing.
Lisa Beth says
Amen to this wise post and the comments above. Praying for more minimalist discipline in my life and yes, space = peace. Thank you for encouraging message.
Ruth Hiensch says
Yes, we are a society in hot pursuit of more! The fundamental question that follows is WHY? If we understand the root of this problem, we can better control the impulse.
Berham Demitri says
I lived in Ohio for five years before coming to California for work. I have seen a big change in the way business becomes more competitive to survive and so are the youngest. Ads, and fast pace living. Where else can you be on a 4 lanes on the highway… Cost of living in fashions. Try hard to save on little things!
Diane says
I wonder how much of what is stuck in the Suez Canal is really “important?” Medical supplies, sure. Containers and containers of clothes and gadgets? Not so much.
JMichelle Ransom says
I enjoyed reading this and it was a great reminder to be content. I have actually more than enough and I plan to donate a large portion of it. Please keep me in your prayers as I would like this to be how I roll out, donating unneeded and unwanted items on a weekly basis.
are731 says
I always appreciate your articles but I wish women weren’t examples of ones owning so many clothes. Women own more clothing because we fill many roles that weren’t expected of our grandmothers. There are many men who own more clothes than their wives or other women! A man using women as an example of having 4x as many clothes seems a little chauvinistic.
Diane says
My husband owns more shoes than Imelda Marcos, and she has 20 years on him! ?♀️.
joshua becker says
In my original draft, I included her story. But took it out before publishing.
Cheryl Love says
Thank you for your insightful articles. They help me gain clarity and understanding. It is almost as if they are a daily mediation to keep my attention focused. They keep me on the path that I have chosen which is one of contentment and simplicity.
Thanks
Cheryl Love
Chuy says
Hi Cheryl, this is Chuy and Jan, we also enjoyed the article and as a reminder to encourage us on our journey to less equals peace!
Denise says
This article is soooo true. I now see wanting more affects the same part of the brain that reacts to addiction wether it’s crack cocaine, sugar or shopping. The need to get more and bigger is an addiction and like all addictions we must go through withdrawals to let things go. I remember going into a Japanese persons home and thought it was so empty with almost no furniture but all these years later I realized the peace that was in that space. Space=peace
Clutter=confusion
Mary Lou says
Thank you for the reminder!