I love a strong, simple definition for fuzzy, complex concepts.

I love a strong, simple definition for fuzzy, complex concepts.
For example, "satisfaction."

Dr. Arthur Brooks, author and Harvard professor, defines satisfaction as:
"Haves" divided by "Wants"

As an equation...
Satisfaction = Haves / Wants

Our instincts push us toward having more...
- More money
- More status
- More achievement

But this satisfaction equation reveals a deeper truth:
The enduring path to satisfaction isn't adding to the numerator (haves), it's shrinking the denominator (wants).

When we want less, almost everything we have becomes enough.

As we approach the three-year anniversary (Christmas Day) of my family's big move across the world, I'm reminded of how liberating it was to purge our possessions.

We reduced our belongings to eleven checked bags and four one-way tickets.

To repeat the exercise today, I suspect we'd be carrying one bag per person... but a tighter grasp on each other.

It's a natural byproduct of wanting less...
we increase the value (not quantity) of what we already have.