The Paradox of Possession

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I have nothing left.

I have nothing left,

to lose.

The desire for monetary gain, prominent most in those souls cursed with what is classically defined as a "type A" personality (a pattern of behavior characterized by competitiveness, a sense of urgency, impatience, perfectionism, and assertiveness), is in most cases the answer to an unknown question; What do I want? Ignorant dissatisfaction with life and standing, a hollow desire merely for more in the false pretense that more will ever be able to satisfy, or at least partially quench, one’s thirst for that elusive missing piece of self they simply can not identify. Often there are specific goals set, in the hopes that a few particular objects and positions will achieve contentment; a house in the suburbs, a coup deville, an armani suit– which by and large are necessary for those seeking more to have some kind of palpable goal with which to strive for. Once such basic goals are acquired, the hunger to progress does not diminish. The elevation in status is a brief and enjoyable limbo during the few innocent moments when it’s fresh and new, and as the system scales back and pans out, and the self resettles in it’s natural equilibrium, the old craving for more returns in new form; a meracdies benz, a house in the hamptons, a custom tailored suit of a quality beyond any manufacturer.

A point I frequently return to when it comes to the value of objects is that the object itself has significantly less emotional meaning than the brief act of acquiring, and losing it– very seldom is happiness permanently attached to any inorganic thing on an objective basis (a person, or a pet, or a person who is a pet…can provide renewable sources of joy and interest, I think).

The basic paradox in perception, and misperception, is this– like beauty, those without envy those who have, with little understanding of idea that if one has something, one has very little want of it. It could be said that nobody wants what they have, for there is no further need of want when they have it…the best one can do is appreciate what one has, which is a skill and distinction that few are able to make, let alone employ. The basic principal is that the less one has, the less one has to lose, and the more one has to gain…while the more one has, the less one has to gain, and the more one has to lose. Lamenting a loss could instead be a celebration for a chance to gain, while celebrating a gain could be a lamentation for a specific chance of hope and want.