I was raised by my grandparents until the age of three and during those three
the age of three and during those three
the age of three and during those three years I learned one of the greatest
years I learned one of the greatest
years I learned one of the greatest lessons of my life and that was to
lessons of my life and that was to
lessons of my life and that was to appreciate the small things and to be
appreciate the small things and to be
appreciate the small things and to be thankful my grandfather
thankful my grandfather
thankful my grandfather otherwise known as Adya was a frugal
otherwise known as Adya was a frugal
otherwise known as Adya was a frugal person he never wasted he saves money
person he never wasted he saves money
person he never wasted he saves money food water as if he couldn’t afford
food water as if he couldn’t afford
food water as if he couldn’t afford those things sometimes on his morning
those things sometimes on his morning
those things sometimes on his morning walk to the market
walk to the market
walk to the market he’d pick up lost or wanted things that
he’d pick up lost or wanted things that
he’d pick up lost or wanted things that have been chucked by the neighbors and
have been chucked by the neighbors and
have been chucked by the neighbors and he’d bring them home and as you can
he’d bring them home and as you can
he’d bring them home and as you can imagine this would drive my grandma
imagine this would drive my grandma
imagine this would drive my grandma crazy because he was bringing back what
crazy because he was bringing back what
crazy because he was bringing back what we valued as rubbish he was an escaped
we valued as rubbish he was an escaped
we valued as rubbish he was an escaped Angier and nor was he poor or lacked the
Angier and nor was he poor or lacked the
Angier and nor was he poor or lacked the ability to afford these things but
ability to afford these things but
ability to afford these things but purely because he appreciated the
purely because he appreciated the
purely because he appreciated the essence of the ordinary objects in the
essence of the ordinary objects in the
essence of the ordinary objects in the essence of a changing world consumerism
essence of a changing world consumerism
essence of a changing world consumerism is ever growing inequality is growing
is ever growing inequality is growing
is ever growing inequality is growing but what about our happiness government
but what about our happiness government
but what about our happiness government authorities are desperately trying to
authorities are desperately trying to
authorities are desperately trying to measure the correlation between
measure the correlation between
measure the correlation between happiness and income but measuring the
happiness and income but measuring the
happiness and income but measuring the GDP rate of a country purely does not
GDP rate of a country purely does not
GDP rate of a country purely does not give a clear depiction of happiness rate
give a clear depiction of happiness rate
give a clear depiction of happiness rate we assume that a sporty a car a bigger
we assume that a sporty a car a bigger
we assume that a sporty a car a bigger house and a better paying job will bring
house and a better paying job will bring
house and a better paying job will bring us joy because they didn’t past right
us joy because they didn’t past right
us joy because they didn’t past right well no because embellishing and the
well no because embellishing and the
well no because embellishing and the material world creates a society where
material world creates a society where
material world creates a society where we are constantly comparing to one
we are constantly comparing to one
we are constantly comparing to one another we want more and more and greed
another we want more and more and greed
another we want more and more and greed takes over greed is the unnecessary
takes over greed is the unnecessary
takes over greed is the unnecessary great need of more it makes us do dumb
great need of more it makes us do dumb
great need of more it makes us do dumb things where
things where
things where money and diminishes our ability to
money and diminishes our ability to
money and diminishes our ability to appreciate the small things we keep
appreciate the small things we keep
appreciate the small things we keep buying the latest technology the newest
buying the latest technology the newest
buying the latest technology the newest dropped clothing line but it never quite
dropped clothing line but it never quite
dropped clothing line but it never quite satisfies the recent release of the
satisfies the recent release of the
satisfies the recent release of the iPhone X serves as a prime example of
iPhone X serves as a prime example of
iPhone X serves as a prime example of this and I’m sure it has emptied the
this and I’m sure it has emptied the
this and I’m sure it has emptied the pockets of many I have a friend who has
pockets of many I have a friend who has
pockets of many I have a friend who has brought every single iPhone to be ever
brought every single iPhone to be ever
brought every single iPhone to be ever released
released
released and recently he was desperately trying
and recently he was desperately trying
and recently he was desperately trying to pre-order the newest one and I
to pre-order the newest one and I
to pre-order the newest one and I remember asking him why are you spending
remember asking him why are you spending
remember asking him why are you spending a thousand pounds on a new phone when
a thousand pounds on a new phone when
a thousand pounds on a new phone when you only just brought one ten months ago
you only just brought one ten months ago
you only just brought one ten months ago he confidently replied of well there’s a
he confidently replied of well there’s a
he confidently replied of well there’s a longer life battery span on this one so
longer life battery span on this one so
longer life battery span on this one so I can increase my social activity then
I can increase my social activity then
I can increase my social activity then he hesitated for a little while and then
he hesitated for a little while and then
he hesitated for a little while and then continued to say well everyone else is
continued to say well everyone else is
continued to say well everyone else is going to have one so I may as well be
going to have one so I may as well be
going to have one so I may as well be the first otherwise or seemed like a
the first otherwise or seemed like a
the first otherwise or seemed like a right loser
right loser
right loser so there the true reason why he was
so there the true reason why he was
so there the true reason why he was spending so much money and buying
spending so much money and buying
spending so much money and buying another iPhone was so that he could
another iPhone was so that he could
another iPhone was so that he could fulfill his own social expectations and
fulfill his own social expectations and
fulfill his own social expectations and to live up to the 715 million other
to live up to the 715 million other
to live up to the 715 million other iPhones currently in use
iPhones currently in use
iPhones currently in use Steve quartz an anti-consumerist and the
Steve quartz an anti-consumerist and the
Steve quartz an anti-consumerist and the professor of philosophy and neuroscience
professor of philosophy and neuroscience
professor of philosophy and neuroscience at the California Institute of
at the California Institute of
at the California Institute of Technology studied consumer neuroscience
Technology studied consumer neuroscience
Technology studied consumer neuroscience he led to a surprising conclusion that
he led to a surprising conclusion that
he led to a surprising conclusion that the reason we consume so much is so that
the reason we consume so much is so that
the reason we consume so much is so that we can fail we’ve come closer to those
we can fail we’ve come closer to those
we can fail we’ve come closer to those that are richer than us and so that we
that are richer than us and so that we
that are richer than us and so that we distance ourselves from those beneath us
distance ourselves from those beneath us
distance ourselves from those beneath us imagine if we doubled everyone’s income
imagine if we doubled everyone’s income
imagine if we doubled everyone’s income overnight it would have no effect on
overnight it would have no effect on
overnight it would have no effect on your ability to catch up with the rich
your ability to catch up with the rich
your ability to catch up with the rich because theirs would have doubled as
because theirs would have doubled as
because theirs would have doubled as well sociologist Max Weber suggests that
well sociologist Max Weber suggests that
well sociologist Max Weber suggests that our social status is defined by the
our social status is defined by the
our social status is defined by the three P’s of stratification power
three P’s of stratification power
three P’s of stratification power prestige and property therefore
prestige and property therefore
prestige and property therefore psychologically it explains that the
psychologically it explains that the
psychologically it explains that the reason we splash our cash to buy the new
reason we splash our cash to buy the new
reason we splash our cash to buy the new thing
thing
thing that we don’t need so that we can build
that we don’t need so that we can build
that we don’t need so that we can build or preserve our social status a recent
or preserve our social status a recent
or preserve our social status a recent survey of Millennials asked were their
survey of Millennials asked were their
survey of Millennials asked were their most important life goal was an 80% said
most important life goal was an 80% said
most important life goal was an 80% said it was to be rich and successful and 50%
it was to be rich and successful and 50%
it was to be rich and successful and 50% of them said it was to be famous our
of them said it was to be famous our
of them said it was to be famous our desire of wanting to be rich is perhaps
desire of wanting to be rich is perhaps
desire of wanting to be rich is perhaps a product of media advertisement family
a product of media advertisement family
a product of media advertisement family competition or perhaps our educational
competition or perhaps our educational
competition or perhaps our educational system throughout my educational career
system throughout my educational career
system throughout my educational career I have been constantly given the
I have been constantly given the
I have been constantly given the impression that in in order to be
impression that in in order to be
impression that in in order to be successful I have to be striving for the
successful I have to be striving for the
successful I have to be striving for the best paying jobs however that’s not true
best paying jobs however that’s not true
best paying jobs however that’s not true because success is subjective my success
because success is subjective my success
because success is subjective my success could differ from yours we rely on the
could differ from yours we rely on the
could differ from yours we rely on the stories and memories of successes as
stories and memories of successes as
stories and memories of successes as examples of who we should follow alumni
examples of who we should follow alumni
examples of who we should follow alumni or those who have achieved wealth
or those who have achieved wealth
or those who have achieved wealth through their meritocracy their journey
through their meritocracy their journey
through their meritocracy their journey sometimes seem are so easy from an
sometimes seem are so easy from an
sometimes seem are so easy from an outsider’s perspective however Harvard
outsider’s perspective however Harvard
outsider’s perspective however Harvard psychology professor and the author of
psychology professor and the author of
psychology professor and the author of stumbling across happiness suggests that
stumbling across happiness suggests that
stumbling across happiness suggests that research reveals that memory is less
research reveals that memory is less
research reveals that memory is less like a collection of photographs than it
like a collection of photographs than it
like a collection of photographs than it is a collection of impressionist
is a collection of impressionist
is a collection of impressionist paintings rendered by an artist who has
paintings rendered by an artist who has
paintings rendered by an artist who has taken considerable license with its
taken considerable license with its
taken considerable license with its subject so we forget that the rays came
subject so we forget that the rays came
subject so we forget that the rays came from stressful nights at the office or a
from stressful nights at the office or a
from stressful nights at the office or a steeper tax tab similarly when we buy
steeper tax tab similarly when we buy
steeper tax tab similarly when we buy that sporty-er car while that high
that sporty-er car while that high
that sporty-er car while that high deflated while before our first trip to
deflated while before our first trip to
deflated while before our first trip to the mechanic think of happiness
the mechanic think of happiness
the mechanic think of happiness generated from money as like a caffeine
generated from money as like a caffeine
generated from money as like a caffeine buzz we get a raise we spend it we adapt
buzz we get a raise we spend it we adapt
buzz we get a raise we spend it we adapt it to improve circumstances and we seek
it to improve circumstances and we seek
it to improve circumstances and we seek more money again we work up a sweat on
more money again we work up a sweat on
more money again we work up a sweat on what the University of Southern
what the University of Southern
what the University of Southern California economist Richard Easterling
California economist Richard Easterling
California economist Richard Easterling calls the hedonic treadmill in so many
calls the hedonic treadmill in so many
calls the hedonic treadmill in so many areas we know when enough is enough when
areas we know when enough is enough when
areas we know when enough is enough when we’re healthy would
we’re healthy would
we’re healthy would strive for extreme help after a good mil
strive for extreme help after a good mil
strive for extreme help after a good mil were full
were full
were full we don’t order another steak to augment
we don’t order another steak to augment
we don’t order another steak to augment our satisfaction and a Stephen Hawking
our satisfaction and a Stephen Hawking
our satisfaction and a Stephen Hawking suggests we are in the danger of
suggests we are in the danger of
suggests we are in the danger of destroying ourselves with greed and
destroying ourselves with greed and
destroying ourselves with greed and stupidity in the Western world the story
stupidity in the Western world the story
stupidity in the Western world the story of wealth is failing to translate into
of wealth is failing to translate into
of wealth is failing to translate into extra happiness we think that the more
extra happiness we think that the more
extra happiness we think that the more money we have the happier we are a 20%
money we have the happier we are a 20%
money we have the happier we are a 20% raise however does not give a 20% raise
raise however does not give a 20% raise
raise however does not give a 20% raise of happiness there’s a happiness
of happiness there’s a happiness
of happiness there’s a happiness threshold despite huge increases in
threshold despite huge increases in
threshold despite huge increases in income in almost every developed country
income in almost every developed country
income in almost every developed country happiness levels have stayed largely
happiness levels have stayed largely
happiness levels have stayed largely static over the past 50 years and in
static over the past 50 years and in
static over the past 50 years and in 1974 Richard E sterling suggests that
1974 Richard E sterling suggests that
1974 Richard E sterling suggests that people in wealthier countries were no
people in wealthier countries were no
people in wealthier countries were no happier than those in poorer ones a
happier than those in poorer ones a
happier than those in poorer ones a survey of more than 2,000 adults led to
survey of more than 2,000 adults led to
survey of more than 2,000 adults led to the surprising conclusion that the small
the surprising conclusion that the small
the surprising conclusion that the small things in life bring us the true joy and
things in life bring us the true joy and
things in life bring us the true joy and happiness think about the most recent
happiness think about the most recent
happiness think about the most recent thing that made you happy or the kind of
thing that made you happy or the kind of
thing that made you happy or the kind of fun that you had in mind I doubt it was
fun that you had in mind I doubt it was
fun that you had in mind I doubt it was the time that you got promoted or even
the time that you got promoted or even
the time that you got promoted or even the first time that you brought your new
the first time that you brought your new
the first time that you brought your new home people often recall that their
home people often recall that their
home people often recall that their fondest memories are the ordinary
fondest memories are the ordinary
fondest memories are the ordinary moments that gave them joy and that
moments that gave them joy and that
moments that gave them joy and that instant time so whether that be the
instant time so whether that be the
instant time so whether that be the picnic to the park in the park or
picnic to the park in the park or
picnic to the park in the park or watching sunset or perhaps even
watching sunset or perhaps even
watching sunset or perhaps even generally being with our family as the
generally being with our family as the
generally being with our family as the little things remember the little
little things remember the little
little things remember the little moments in our lives which can pass us
moments in our lives which can pass us
moments in our lives which can pass us by but which can also mean so much more
by but which can also mean so much more
by but which can also mean so much more than 82 percent of people said the best
than 82 percent of people said the best
than 82 percent of people said the best things in their life was what they did
things in their life was what they did
things in their life was what they did not expect
not expect
not expect according to Glenn Williams research and
according to Glenn Williams research and
according to Glenn Williams research and Nottingham Trent University the way to
Nottingham Trent University the way to
Nottingham Trent University the way to happiness mean not just the big things
happiness mean not just the big things
happiness mean not just the big things that we plan in lives on the contrary
that we plan in lives on the contrary
that we plan in lives on the contrary they are rather unexpected
they are rather unexpected
they are rather unexpected two things that bring us every day smile
two things that bring us every day smile
two things that bring us every day smile and they fill our lives and make us
and they fill our lives and make us
and they fill our lives and make us happier so why is it so hard to accept
happier so why is it so hard to accept
happier so why is it so hard to accept the idea that wealth cannot increase a
the idea that wealth cannot increase a
the idea that wealth cannot increase a mental health so what does make us happy
mental health so what does make us happy
mental health so what does make us happy motto world recently posted an article
motto world recently posted an article
motto world recently posted an article on the 80 little things for a happier
on the 80 little things for a happier
on the 80 little things for a happier life they claimed that instead of
life they claimed that instead of
life they claimed that instead of allowing ourselves to enjoy every plate
allowing ourselves to enjoy every plate
allowing ourselves to enjoy every plate pleasant moment in our lives it seems
pleasant moment in our lives it seems
pleasant moment in our lives it seems like we’re always rushing to catch up
like we’re always rushing to catch up
like we’re always rushing to catch up the focus is always on tomorrow and
the focus is always on tomorrow and
the focus is always on tomorrow and never than now many of us can wobble for
never than now many of us can wobble for
never than now many of us can wobble for a second when our favorite brand isn’t
a second when our favorite brand isn’t
a second when our favorite brand isn’t at the supermarket or when someone skips
at the supermarket or when someone skips
at the supermarket or when someone skips the head and the cue we feel agitated
the head and the cue we feel agitated
the head and the cue we feel agitated when we have to wait a nap – and
when we have to wait a nap – and
when we have to wait a nap – and crossing or when we have to stay late at
crossing or when we have to stay late at
crossing or when we have to stay late at work so if these more petty little
work so if these more petty little
work so if these more petty little things can impact us why can’t the good
things can impact us why can’t the good
things can impact us why can’t the good things why can’t we enjoy nice weather
things why can’t we enjoy nice weather
things why can’t we enjoy nice weather smile of a stranger a scented fragrance
smile of a stranger a scented fragrance
smile of a stranger a scented fragrance or a cup of hot coffee or tea
or a cup of hot coffee or tea
or a cup of hot coffee or tea accompanied by splendid view super haps
accompanied by splendid view super haps
accompanied by splendid view super haps the reason that I viewed Adia as a
the reason that I viewed Adia as a
the reason that I viewed Adia as a frugal person was because I was trapped
frugal person was because I was trapped
frugal person was because I was trapped on the hedonic treadmill myself he saved
on the hedonic treadmill myself he saved
on the hedonic treadmill myself he saved money because he didn’t feel the
money because he didn’t feel the
money because he didn’t feel the compulsive urge to buy more he was
compulsive urge to buy more he was
compulsive urge to buy more he was satisfied with what he already had more
satisfied with what he already had more
satisfied with what he already had more importantly he didn’t need more like all
importantly he didn’t need more like all
importantly he didn’t need more like all of us we don’t need the most expensive
of us we don’t need the most expensive
of us we don’t need the most expensive phones or the sportiest car we do this
phones or the sportiest car we do this
phones or the sportiest car we do this so that we can indulge and looking
so that we can indulge and looking
so that we can indulge and looking better than everyone else
better than everyone else
better than everyone else anything more is purely just a luxury
anything more is purely just a luxury
anything more is purely just a luxury and all the items that he picked up from
and all the items that he picked up from
and all the items that he picked up from the floor unwanted by others when his
the floor unwanted by others when his
the floor unwanted by others when his eyes beautiful genius creations I’d like
eyes beautiful genius creations I’d like
eyes beautiful genius creations I’d like to end on a quote from the Dalai Lama
to end on a quote from the Dalai Lama
to end on a quote from the Dalai Lama man because he sacrifices his health in
man because he sacrifices his health in
man because he sacrifices his health in order to make money
he sacrificed his money in order to
he sacrificed his money in order to recuperate his health and then he is so
recuperate his health and then he is so
recuperate his health and then he is so anxious about the future that he does
anxious about the future that he does
anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present the result being
not enjoy the present the result being
not enjoy the present the result being he does not live in the present nor the
he does not live in the present nor the
he does not live in the present nor the future he lives as if he is never going
future he lives as if he is never going
future he lives as if he is never going to die and then he dies as having never
to die and then he dies as having never
to die and then he dies as having never really lived thank you
really lived thank you
really lived thank you [Applause]
”
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