this post was submitted on 22 Apr 2024
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The best ones are thoughts that many people can relate to and they find something funny or interesting in regular stuff.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Seneca taught us that contented poverty is an honourable estate.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

Sounds like propaganda from horrible dystopian society.

Although there was a study done on lottery winners to see if they were happier after 6 months. They were not

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

So stop all the commercials telling us how much better things can be

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

Freedom from what?

I think there's an important distinction to make with this: contentment vs complacency. They're similar, but distinct. Contentment resonates more with the gratefulness aspect of your statement, whereas "wanting nothing" leans more toward complacency. Contentment is more oriented with a sense of joy or peace, whereas complacency is apathetic and numb. Only one of those sounds like freedom to me.

In addition, I would argue that it's impossible for a human to truly "want nothing" (sorry Buddhist friends). Even the most enlightened soul would desire to see peace throughout the world. In fact, if you truly wanted nothing, I don't think gratefulness would even be possible--what is there to be grateful for if you didn't want any of it in the first place?

Related reading: the Oatmeal on Happiness

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

he who knows when enough is enough will always have enough

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago

I mean. sounds like buddhism.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago

As someone who is driven to create, this is just not true for me. I am constantly wanting this or that in order to create something magical. Just accepting what is, does not lead to creation. Being creative is freedom for me.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

I certainly haven't figure out how to be happy without being grateful. And I've noticed comparison seems to serve little purpose other than to undermine gratitude.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago

To quote the decimal system:

I expect nothing, and I'm still let down.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Might be happiness for some, but it's certainly not freedom, in any normal sense of the word.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

In what sense? Aside from whether it's practical to really desire nothing, if you could wouldn't you be free by definition because you could do and have absolutely everything you wanted, that being nothing?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

At the very least and no matter how humble your threshold is, everyone wants food, shelter and some kind of company.

The first 2 cannot be attained for free in our world's ergo, you cannot be free from whatever obligations you may incurr to procure them

This is all nice theoretical advice.... Not to be used literally in practice

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago

Nobody wants nothing, that’s conceptually silly

[–] [email protected] 23 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago
[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Same here and I'm lucky enough to have them visit my back yard regularly. 🦆🦆

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

Be careful you don't have a panic attack when they leave your pool