Positive psychology, also known as the psychology of happiness, teaches that no matter their level of material wealth, people always find discontent and desire more. The richest people are not happier than the other classes, because there is always more to be desired. Therefore, it actually appears impossible to ever achieve happiness.
Pirkei Avot famously claims, "Who is rich? The one who is happy with their lot" (Pirkei Avot 4:1).
This statement clearly makes a value-statement about happiness, but it also describes an actual psychological phenomenon.
Taking stock of whatever we are blessed with helps cultivate a sense of gratitude and satisfaction that blossoms into happiness. We can now abandon the Sisyphean pursuit of some elusive 'happiness,' once we understand that happiness is not to found in external acquisitions, but in internal reflections. Once liberated from the empty pursuit of wealth, we actually find more time for the deeper pursuits of learning and growth.
Is it fair to assume that truly everyone can find happiness in whatever they have?
Is today just a way of advocating for material minimalism?
Lived practice:
Try out a gratitude practice. One common practice is keeping a gratitude journal. Take a couple minutes to write a short list of what you are grateful for today.
