Lao Tzu teaches us to: “Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things

are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

Among the many things Lao Tzu was interested in, one of the most important to him was the feeling

of inner peace and harmony. This, he claims, is impossible to attain when we are concentrated

on the things that we don’t have - the myriad material objects and earthly possessions that

we think we lack. Considering the age we live in - one where the world of social media and celebrity

gossip are particularly prominent - Lao Tzu’s sayings on this matter ring truer than ever. In

today’s day and age, people live stuck to their phone, scrolling through their sensationalized

social media feeds. We’ve all stumbled across a friend’s photo, who just happened to come back

from a relaxing vacation in Hawaii, or are at a massive party, having the time of their

life. Meanwhile, we’re lying idly on our bed, wishing we could have similar experiences. What

we fail to realize, however, is that even if we attained all those things we’re certain we desire,

we would still end up unhappy. It is our intrinsic nature that

makes us constantly and perpetually desire the things we don’t have. You might think

that by getting a million dollars, you would instantly attain a state of pure happiness,

but you would be wrong. The instant you fulfill your desire, a multiplicity of other desires will

begin to pop up in your unsatisfied mind. Once you have one million dollars, you will want ten.

Once you have ten million dollars, you will want fifty million, and so on. This pattern

of craving can continue endlessly, depriving us of the feeling of satisfaction we so deserve.

This is why we must let go of our desire for things we don’t have, and be content with the

things we do. Lao Tzu advises us to “Lessen selfishness and restrain desires”. Instead of

spending so much of your time and energy wishing you could have your friend’s expensive car,

release your need and desire for those things, and focus on what you currently have. Focus on

the things that you more likely than not, are taking for granted and underestimating. Think

about the fact that as you watch this video, you have access to pretty much anything you

want on the internet, that you are likely well fed, that you enjoy shelter, that you have

relatively good health, and many other things. It is a natural disposition of ours to turn a

blind eye to the things that we already have, and focus solely on the things we

wish we could have. You get the life partner of your dreams, for example but once you’re

in a relationship with them, you begin to take them for granted. This disposition is endemic,

it is virtually synonymous with the human condition. Yet, it is something that - with the

right principles - we can overcome. As mentioned earlier, we need to realize that we are already

connected to everything in our lives that we think are missing, such as love, happiness and

inner peace, we just have to align ourselves the right way. And one of the ways to align ourselves

is to be content with little, appreciate and be grateful for everything we have around us.