Minimal desire, is this progress or indifference?

Question

I am a 28-year-old man and I do not want much anymore. I enjoy food and I enjoy being with women and talking with friends. My heart no longer pines for the newest video games or clothing. I still may be attracted to a particular car but if it is too expensive I can easily let it go. I do not feel that burning desire for money. All I want is enough to live comfortably in a little house with a garden and perhaps cable TV. My car need only be functional, clean, and large, I like big cars. My clothing need only be clean and ironed. Am I depressed or am I actually making some kind of progress? All I truly want are women, food, and conversation.

Answer 1

You have the nesting instinct. In men it is called settling down.

Answer 2

Well, I guess you have no passion for anything. Yes, people, including (mabey especially) ourselves, dissapoint, expectations become dulled, time seems to work against you, so to oppertunities. When will that longed for day arrive which has been playing in your head, constantly altered, that your world explodes into a utopia, a place where all you ever dreamed you could be becomes reality? I know, waiting around tends to dilute expectations. This doesn't mean nothing is worth working towards, or there is nothing to be discovered, or uncovered in you. I have a passion for qaulity, for truth (or at least beautifull theories and explanations), for creating. I believe without some desire, or quest, best explored through some field onto which you can build, go along for a ride, life is dreary. In such a state food, sex, cable and daydreaming might seem an attainable way to fill the viod, constantly needing a refill, never ultimately satisfying. This is the same in all quests, the thirst never get quenched, although if you use this desire for fullfilment in a positive, creative way at least you can see the products mounting, can sense you are on a specific path with specific outcomes, can tick them of and start again.

So what? you may ask. Life is absurd and any point to it only a point you decided to give it. It is all an illusion, there is no truth, no destiny or test to pass since there is no judge exept other contemptable fellow beings, whose opinion matters little and carry no weight or only to the extend that you judge it, yourself unworthy to judge, to give meaning, to make it all worthwhile.

But isn't all of the above just another view, another perspective on reality? Yes, and I could have said the opposite. That is the point. Some things were decided for us, but as to what we do and why we do it is up to us. This is the reality which you can direct and shape, within the changing circumstances, with deciding to become intrigued again by something, by it all, and following a direction with known guides, with defined paths and history, within our cultural heritage, our common human story.

Answer 3

Men are lustful of body, women are lustful of success and power. Thus if you want a higher level woman, you'll need your ambition. Food is easy to come across, but eating fattening food that tastes good and only tastes good, is detrimental to your health. Watching TV never really lead to anything productive besides the fact of just sitting there feeling like your mind is entertained. People will always, and pay close attention, always get when they MUST HAVE. If that's all you need, that's all you'll get for yourself. It'll work itself out trust me. But if you need more from this life, your ambition will be in accordance and you'll feel compelled to do so. The most successful are the one's with high standards. If those are you standards, then you just saw the future. you know all that your life is going to be like. A few mediocre women here and there. Food. And Cable tv. Perhaps a bit of cleanliness. That's it. If that's all you want, so be it. The most spiritual people had standards about their practice. People like ghandi had to meditate for a certain number of hours, they had to have certain morals, they had to uphold their integrity, it was what they had to have to be ok. And so they did. People who are very affluent, had to be well off financially. People who are poor or rich or homeless; people who are labelled as hobos and seducers and those who excel at their personal talents are all what they are because they have a standard of themselves that says this is how it must be for me. Thus, if you want change, change your standards for yourself, and make them absolute, no matter what. Having air is a standard, if you did not have air, you would not live, it's a standard of life. This is how it is with all things that are to be classified as standards. Make it as though you make breathing air to yourself, and it will be in your life.

Answer 4

interesting problem!

First lets see based upon human nature if youre going to happy or not.

You seem to have a good idea in regards the passionate expression of the emotions. yes if what youre doing is satisfying your emotions only to the point that they need to be it si a good, ONLY if it is done through knowledge of why it is good or bad. Otherwise its just one emotional outlook over another, so whats the diff.

Also lets say you are wise in reagrds the passions but merely involve yourself in woman, which may i add should also be in moderation but do nothing else but live quietly. You would be ignoring the entire purpose of waininig the passions, and that is the development of your higher element, that which sepereates your existence from purley animal, that of the intellect. If you are not engaging in the pursuit of knowledge not only will you be wasting you efforts, you will not be in line with your nature, you will have displaced energies causing unhappiness. Hapiness requires a good balance of both mind and emotions.

Answer 5

Instead of generalising, look at your daily needs and how you deal with specific situations.
When you are faced with a tricky and difficult situation do you look for escape routes or do you apply yourself right away at solving the problems?
If you do not try and skirt your responsibilities towards your family and the society in daily life and at the same time have limited your desires - then man you are improving.

Answer 6

I think its really nice that you are growing out of your material possessions. The life you sketched out seems very peaceful and nice! Just what i want to do! Not depressing at all. I think if you were depressed you would be motivated toward material objects more to get out of yourself.

Since you asked me i will tell you, i think you will get more out of life if you find one woman and start a family with her. Rather than women plural. And really can you handle more than one? I personally think its beautiful to dedicate yourself to someone and build a life together. (im also younger and naiver than you).

Answer 7

You are actually making progress because while you still have standards and desires - but because they are containable , you are able to be happy with what you have - versus wanting more and more , until what you have is never enough .

Answer 8

I would say you are superior. it is difficult to be different from the masses pursuiting materialistic goals, especially in the US . Do you feel uncomfortable about your state? If not, enjoy!!!!

Answer 9

I believe we're making progress!0!

That happens just before you start wondering: What's next!?

Then you'll know what and you'll get to it.

Sapere aude!