Swim Upstream to Wealth

Last night I plopped myself down in front of the TV after a long day. As usual, there was nothing on TV. I happened across Fight Club, the movie with Ed Norton and Brad Pitt. I had seen it before, and I didn’t really care for it. But, I decided to watch since I didn’t feel like reading or using my brain.

One statement made by Brad Pitt’s character really hit me. Norton’s character was complaining about losing his possessions in a fire, and Pitt’s character questioned why. He went on to say, “we work in jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don’t need.”

Pretty profound. How many people do you know that hate what they do for a living or look at their life’s work as just a job; yet, these folks have all the latest gadgets and love to talk about them. It is as if they have no purpose or driving cause in life, just stuff.

An ancient Buddhist saying talks about how our possessions eventually possess us. I think if you can turn off the societal pressure to have the nicest car, house, gadgets, etc. that you will experience a much happier life. You may even be able to focus on your true calling in life, rather than working to pay for your true master - your possessions.

Filed under: Economics