You are wired to feel contented when things are simply normal
Happiness is not some great mystery
It is the opposite — it is SIMPLICITY
You are wired to feel contented when things are simply normal
When you’re not dying of starvation
When you’re not freezing amidst the snowstorm, far away from your comfty cave
When you’re not running away from the saber-toothed tiger
When your Neanderthal neighbour is not trying to crush your fucking skull!
You are wired to feel contented when things are simply peaceful and normal
Nothing fancy
You are not wired to have a fucking plasma in your cave
You are not wired to have 10 supercars in your cave
You are not wired to have the newest smartphone in your cave
You are not wired to be entertained in EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF YOUR TIME IN YOUR CAVE, TIME IN YOUR CAVEMAN COMMUTE, TIME IN YOUR CAVEMAN JOB
You are not wired to have a very big savings account in your cave
You are wired to feel contented when things are simply normal
You are wired to feel contented when things are simply normal
When your Neanderthal neighbour is not trying to crush your skull
When your wife and friends are not trying to crush your skull
When your boss is not the saber-toothed tiger, hurrying you
When your debt, your ambitions, your plans, your ego are not a fucking boulder squeezing you to the ground
Save yourself from that nonsense — and you are wired to feel pretty fucking good
You are wired to feel contented when things are simply normal
When you’re hunting when you’re hungry
Resting when you’re tired
Getting out on the sun when it’s shining and receding to your cave when it’s raining, before the fire
Running very quick one moment and walking very slow the other day
Loving your cave-woman and loving your cave-family
Cooking that mammoth stew and feasting on it together
Then straying for 1-2 days, a mile or two away from the cave, to enjoy some healthy peace of mind
You are wired to feel contented when things are simply normal
We don’t even know what’s normal any more
We don’t even understand the value of peace
We don’t even understand the value of relaxation
We don’t even understand what it’s like to be genuinely motivated to do something
We don’t even understand what it’s like to work without schedule
We don’t even understand what it’s like to live in a world of actual danger
(yet without any dangers we face)
…and yet it’s nothing mysterious
it’s nothing expensive
your lifestyle is more expensive
your pride is more expensive
your pipe dreams are more expensive
simple life is not expensive
normal life is not expensive
it’s rare, yes
we became collectively greedy and built our lifestyle around that greed
now it made us miserable
we don’t know what’s normal any more
but we can relearn that
we can reclaim that
try it for yourself
don’t try to PLEASE yourself your usual way
don’t try to PLEASURE yourself your usual way
don’t try to SATISFY yourself your usual way
try doing it like you once would
like your ancestors would
look within and see if you’re stressed. release that stress
look within and see if you’re tired. rest fair bit
look within and see if you’re bored. simply do something new!
look within and see if you’re lonely. go meet new people
look within and see if you’re antagonistic. be friendly instead
look within and see if you’re greedy. let go of that desire! live simply for some time!
look within and see if you’re unexcited. do something inspiring
look within your body and notice how it stiffened up after a day of sitting! move yourself!
look around yourself and see your stuffy place, the likely hostile urban environment, the repugnant plastic all around you, the inhuman noises inhumanly persistent… go for a walk!
You are wired to feel contented when things are simply normal