15 short ideas that help you master wanting less so your life transforms

Untethered Mind, Friday Edition, 4-min read.

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The more we want, the more we suffer.

Even wishing for happiness can bring about a sense of unhappiness. The mere act of wanting seems to put us in a state of lack.

Mastering the art of wanting less can change your life. Here are some ideas to help you get there:

Stoic philosophers like Seneca and Epictetus emphasised the importance of moderating desires.

According to Stoicism, true happiness is found not in acquiring more but in wanting less and being content with what one has.

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“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” — Epicurus

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Wanting less starts in the mind.

We must first make peace with the idea that having more isn’t necessarily better. In most cases, more adds complications.

What if having—and even doing—less was something to strive for?

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Minimalism, as a personal philosophy, is about more than just owning fewer things.

Its philosophy encourages intentional living by focusing only on what matters most. When we focus on what matters, it makes sense to minimise.

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Buddhism teaches that desire is the root of suffering.

We can achieve inner peace and enlightenment by practising detachment and reducing desires.

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Hedonic adaptation is our tendency to return to a baseline level of happiness regardless of positive or adverse events.

Acquiring more shit might provide temporary pleasure, but eventually, we revert to our baseline, and we seek more, leading to continually sensing lack.

Wanting less can break this cycle and lead to sustained contentment.

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Psychologist Barry Schwartz’s concept of the paradox of choice suggests that more choices can lead to less satisfaction.

Simplifying choices and reducing desires can lead to greater happiness and less anxiety.

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How would your life change if you shifted your philosophy to reducing your options?

This could apply to your finances, your diet, relationships, and career, like with the following examples:

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Simplifying your approach to work.

What efficiencies could you achieve by doing more with fewer things? This starts by looking at your most high-leverage activities and dropping those that don’t move the needle much.

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Eating a simple, high-quality diet fewer times a day.

Order the components in bulk and minimise the time for prepping.

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“Simplify, simplify, simplify! Instead of three meals a day, if it be necessary eat but one; instead of a hundred dishes, five; and reduce other things in proportion.” — Henry David Thoreau

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Invest in closer, more meaningful relationships with fewer people rather than trying to maintain hundreds of loose connections.

Go and talk to your friend you haven’t spoken to in years.

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Focus on activities that align with your personal goals, mission and values, and say no to crap you say yes to just to please others.

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Spend selectively on experiences, higher-quality things, and items that align with your personal values, which will bring long-term satisfaction.

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“My goal is no longer to get more done, but rather to have less to do.” — Francine Jay

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Avoid career paths that lead to burnout and dissatisfaction, even if they offer higher financial rewards.

Enjoyment is currency, too.

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Be conscious about screen time, and use of dopamine-stimulating habits.

When we reduce both, we have a significant advantage because our mind is stiller, our senses aren’t as numb, and we’ll be more creative.

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Research shows that increased income and wealth do not lead to greater happiness after a certain point (once you’ve got enough to live decently).

This suggests that pursuing more is not necessarily a path to fulfilment.

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See the art of wanting less as a practice.

What’s one thing you can do today to develop your practice?

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