Human psychology is a very interesting subject and it is bound to be, given that a single human brain is capable of such complex ideas and thought processes that modern science still finds difficult to replicate or even understand fully.
It’s a wonderful machine, the human mind. One that creates the entirety of a person’s identity, memories, nature, preferences and intelligence. But, for an intelligent species, we haven’t yet completely understood our own selves.
Thanks to many bright minds over centuries, we have managed to gather a great deal of wisdom about the workings of our minds. Answers to many plaguing questions have quenched our thirst of knowledge of the self but still many remain.
Among many, one question still puzzles us. What does it take for us to be truly happy? Is it money? If so, just how much? Is it food, material things, health, family, or a combination of all these? If so, why do some people seem discontented even after achieving all these?
This one is very common in our human society. We keep comparing our lives and everything in it, with others around us. We do it even with strangers whom we’ll never even see again.
Also, the corporate culture that is prevalent in today’s world doesn’t help. In fact, it facilitates such comparisons. We think that we got to have the latest and greatest things that these corporations keep pumping out so we can feel superior to others. (Not everyone does this, but a lot do!)
And it’s not only the material stuff that is the subject of our comparisons but other important as well as trivial things like health, relationships, the way we look, respect, the extra plate of fries that the person next to us has.
This comparison never allows us to be truly happy. That’s because there is always going to be something that the other person has and you don’t. Even the richest of people do not have everything they desire. It would be well for us to realise that not everything can be achieved in life so, we should spend our energy being grateful for what we have.
The human race is an ambitious race. It’s precisely the reason why we stand where we do today. It’s also the reason that the words typed on a keyboard by a person in one part of the world can be read by anyone else in the world regardless of distance and time.
Our curiosity and ambition have led us to achieve great deal for our species and will continue to do so for a long time to come. But if every cloud has a silver lining, ever rose has thorns too.
The same ambition and curiosity that have led to our many breakthroughs, can often be the reason behind our discontent. It seems like it is in our nature to remain dissatisfied, to keep looking for more, to keep questioning and trying to find answers.
Of course, at any given time the technological prowess of a species only allows it a certain portion of the questions it has. That means that there are always bound to be some unanswered ones which will be the reason for our discontent.
While I think that there are more reasons why we are never fully satisfied, the above mentioned reasons are what I believe to be the main reasons. In my personal opinion, I don't think we will ever be fully content with our lives. Some of us maybe but a vast majority certainly won't.
The reason for that is there will always be that 'something' that we would like to have in life. Even if we determine for ourselves exactly how much of everything we want to be truly satisfied and happy, and even if we achieve all that, there will be something else you would keep wanting to add to that list.
It is human nature. It might sound pessimistic or negative even to have this belief but we humans may not ever be satisfied. Now, who's to say if that is a good thing or a bad thing as long as we live a life worth living.
My only advice would be to be grateful for what you have. I firmly believe in the 'Law of Attraction' and so I know that if you are grateful for things in your life, you will get more of the same. Maybe, then we will all be content? Knowing that we can have anything as long as we stay grateful.
