“Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.” — Lao Tzu
In developed countries like Japan, obesity is now a more serious issue than hunger. We live more affluent lives than kings did a hundred years ago.
Today, information is everywhere. If we don’t know something, we can easily search for it on the Internet. In the past, we had to find someone knowledgeable or go to a library.
We also have endless entertainment, such as movies and dramas, which we can enjoy at home. In the past, we had to go to a movie theater to watch them.
These days, artificial intelligence can answer our questions instantly. It almost seems to know everything, like a god.
But here is a question: have we actually become happier than before?
Our lives have become more convenient and comfortable—almost like heaven. But what about our happiness?
People tend to compare themselves with others. On social media, we constantly see people who appear happy, which can lead to jealousy and dissatisfaction.
We often focus on what we don’t have rather than what we already have. This may be why it is so difficult to feel truly happy.
In the future, our lives will likely continue to improve. However, we may still struggle to feel content.
Perhaps the problem does not lie in our external circumstances, but in our mindset and perception.
As Lao Tzu said, true contentment comes from within.
Improving our external environment is important, but developing the ability to feel content is just as essential.
Without contentment, lasting happiness is impossible.