The world is increasingly designed to depress us. Happiness isn’t very good for the economy. If we were happy with what we had, why would we need more? How do you sell an anti-ageing moisturiser? You make someone worry about ageing. How do you get people to vote for a political party? You make them worry about immigration. How do you get them to buy house insurance? By making them worry about everything. How do you get them to have plastic surgery? By highlighting their physical flaws. How do you get them to watch a TV show? By making them worry about missing out. How do you get them to buy a new smartphone? By making them feel like they are being left behind.

To be calm becomes a kind of revolutionary act. To be happy with you own non-upgraded existence. To be comfortable with our messy, human selves, would not be good for business.

Quote from Matt Haig, reasons to be alive.

I like the sentiment of this quote. I’m not sure depressing is the word I would choose. I definitely agree that “want” is manufactured and encouraged by manufacturers, advertisers and associates; to be calm, particularly the aspect of that that is “not wanting for anything”, is important.

But we’re human; I believe a bit of self-directed desire is important. But be aware of where it is coming from, and what it gains. The big things I want are things that help both me and the people around me, and is internally driven. It feels good, is sustainable, and self-propagating. I try hard to diminish the “want” that is externally driven, which is often temporary.