(h/t to the exceptional Paul Rosenberg for opening my eyes to this truth)
Pop culture tells us that personal fulfillment and satisfaction are a matter of drinking the right beverage, driving the right car, wearing the right clothes or having the latest gadget.
Just look at how happy everyone seems in commercials.
Their message is, consumption is king.
But the thrill that comes from acquiring mere things is more fleeting than we think. To maintain our sense of fulfillment, we have to keep on consuming in order to generate that temporary hit of dopamine.
It can become a type of addiction that drives people to extreme lengths to keep getting that heady rush that comes with getting something new.
The rush is real but also very short lived. What brings lasting fulfillment is knowing with certainty that you are a good and beneficial person.
This kind of knowledge isn’t driven by pride. It comes from engaging in consistent, productive actions that serve and bless the world.
And this can include seemingly small actions.
My grandfather was a builder and often pointed out the various homes and buildings he’d helped construct in his hometown. He wasn’t bragging. He was proud of what he had helped create.
Likewise, anyone who has helped someone learn a new skill, served others in times of need or simply raised good kids can also feel lasting satisfaction for having done so.
Simply acquiring things always leaves us craving more.
The satisfaction of performing fulfilling deeds becomes a part of us forever.
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