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chrisweekly • yesterday at 3:05 PM • 2 replies • view on HN

It's not impossible (and I'd substitute "evolved" for "designed").

Yes, wanting "More" [time, money, love, status] is pretty firmly ingrained as an advantageous trait. But you can override your instincts (e.g. declining a drink when thirsty, if you learn the glass of water contains poison). And it is possible to learn to want what you already have.

How? Practice three things: Compassion, Attention, and Gratitude. (Pick any two, and the third will follow almost automatically.)

That's the central thesis of an excellent book, "How to Want What You Have" by Dr Timothy Miller. It changed my life.


Replies

jmathai • yesterday at 3:50 PM

The title of that book is marvelous and packs a lot into just 6 words.

uxp100 • yesterday at 4:14 PM

Split the difference and say “designed by evolution?” I think designed captures something important and doesn’t have to imply a non-materialist view.