As human beings, we are creatures that are never satisfied, and I think that is good to a great extent because it makes us evolve. How do we think of making great changes in humanity in terms of development if we are satisfied with our present or current situation? It is something we must do deliberately if we want development. That is in the aspect of human development.
How about us as individuals? Personally, our wants are never satisfied. If we hope to get something and we eventually lay our hands on it, we will certainly desire another thing. It is just in our nature to do that. Human wants are insatiable. Our needs are not. If we are to look at it from that angle, then I believe this world will be a better place for all of us. Yet, it may not happen because we often measure ourselves against other people. We compare our growth with the growth of others too.
In this world of competition, what do we do as human beings?
We know that life is a competition, and it is only when you get to a certain level in life that you realise that you need to collaborate with people instead of being in competition with them at all times. But when we are in primary school, secondary school, and even higher institutions, we often recognise and celebrate those who are highly intelligent and those who take the first position in class.
But is life really about the position you take in class?
Does it not make other students feel inferior? Does it not create an uneven or unhealthy form of competition instead of encouraging partnership and collaboration? We have made academic performance something that students must pursue at all costs, and this does not really help children see themselves as colleagues and partners who can learn from one another.
We want to have it all. But is it possible to have it all? I don’t think so. If we want something today or pray for a particular thing, whether it is a material possession, love, or anything else, and we eventually get it, we as human beings will still seek something better than what we have.
And is that a good thing? It is, to some extent. The desire to improve ourselves can push us to grow, create, and achieve more. But when we have to pursue these things at all costs, then we can say there is a problem. At that point, we need to ask ourselves whether what we are pursuing is truly worth the price we are paying for it.
We all come into this world with nothing, and we are going to leave without taking anything with us. That does not mean we should not leave a legacy for those who come after us or leave something for our children and families to benefit from while we are no longer here. But everything has to be moderate.
We should learn to pursue progress without losing ourselves in the process. We all have to make it through life, but we must ensure that we do not gather what we have through crooked means. There is nothing wrong with wanting more, but there is everything wrong with allowing our desire for more to make us forget what truly matters.
Note: the image is modified using MANUS AI