I have read several studies that have stated that once you are beyond a certain level of subsistence, more wealth does not bring you more happiness (see here, here, and here).  If you are reading this, you are probably one of those people with enough to live on.  So the question is what are you after?  Certainly not power; that too, is ephemeral and it just brings more desire.

Happiness…that is what you are after.  How do you obtain it? The third article above states that we tend to have a “set point” of happiness, regardless of our life condition.  This may very well be true.

Happiness from virtue?

As I have mentioned many times, I think our happiness is derived from our perspective on how things really are.  Our perspective can be widened by understanding the three Stoic concepts of control, fate, and impermanence.  Understanding these concepts takes work.  That’s the theme of my entry today, that you can read my interpretation of the Stoic philosophy, you can reach the end and say, “Ah-hah!” and you are not even close to finding happiness through virtue.  This pursuit has to be done through constant tending of your mind.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could throw some seeds down, and a garden would just grow itself?  Unfortunately, this is not the case.  We have to nurture those seeds constantly, water them, feed them with fertilizer, look out for pests, pull the weeds, and THEN we have to know when is the right time to harvest.  Wow!  All that for a garden!

Seems happy. I wonder if he has a garden?

So imagine how much work it takes to nurture your own virtue.  I maintain that this endeavor is far more tedious than growing a garden.  Maybe a simple meditation based on a Stoic viewpoint, performed daily or whenever needed, could help.  Maybe right before bed and also before you place your feet on the floor when you wake up, you can simply remind yourself:

• Control – There will be much I cannot control, but I can control my attitude
• Fate – Many things will happen to me, much will be unexpected
• Impermanence – Someday I will be gone, someday it will all be gone
• So (Telling yourself in the day):  Live as if today were your last, but serve as best you know how, and be mindful and pleasant
• So (Telling yourself before bed):  Sleep deeply, leave it behind for now.  If you awake tomorrow, you will be ready.

It’s just a suggestion.  Maybe you can make your own Stoic Meditation or your own Creed.