Light From Many Lamps IV: “Enjoy your life without comparing it with that of others”
For me personally, I can relate well to this quote above by de Condorcet as I’ve noticed that whenever I achieve a goal or obtain a desired item, my contentment for it lingers briefly before looking towards the next venture. My transfixion towards future enterprises is like an insatiable hunger at times in that my present actions always serve as a means to an end which doesn’t end. Being a competitive person, my desire to achieve or obtain material items can be attributed to my desire for others’ acknowledgement. However, I’m also aware that this behaviour is unsustainable as there will always be someone out there with more, meaning my materialistic lust will never be satisfied.
Marquis’s quote reminds me that in order to enjoy life, I should worry less about the activity of others and instead stay in the present to master my own craft. Focus is what allows us to allocate our mental energy towards a specific task and is something I should constantly remind myself in order to achieve my desired ends. When we can transfix our attention towards a specific task, such as studying hard throughout this program, we’ll be able to complete our tasks at a higher quality. Producing high quality content may also achieve our ends at a faster rate as high quality content can lead to exposure, which may open up more individual opportunities.
To me, Marquis’ quote also has a another meaning where we can find inner peace if we can be content with the possessions we have, rather than constantly comparing ourselves to what others have. We need to remember that items are only as valuable as the value we individually place on them. Items that fall outside our material needs are the ones that’s subject to the influence of others and we need to be cognisant of this. The constant cycle of keeping up with the latest trends can lead to some financially irresponsible consequences if left unchecked.
References
Watson, L. E. (1988). Light from many lamps. New York: Simon & Schuster.
November 22, 2018 @ 9:45 pm
Hi Ruiz,
I loved that you chose this story to write about. I think the lesson behind it is not only a valuable one, but is something that this generation could benefit from so much. Too many people are living outside their means and going into debt in attempt to “keep up with the Jones”. Or they see on Facebook that other people they know are going on vacations and feel like they deserve a vacation too, despite the fact that they might not be able to afford it. They see people with new cars, new homes, stylish clothes and it makes them want those things too.
People want to have the latest gadgets, toys, phones etc., and spend their time and money collecting possessions thinking it will make them happy. This reminds me of the famous quote by George Carlin: “Trying to be happy by accumulating possessions is like trying to satisfy hunger by taping sandwiches all over you body”. As you mentioned, this will never bring people happiness because they will always being looking for the next thing to accumulate. True happiness comes from being happy and grateful for what you have. Although it might be hard to learn, I believe that it’s a lesson worth mastering.