Human life moves forward with an endless struggle against scarcity. Scarcity of wealth, respect, or power—every individual’s story is a unique blend of these deficiencies. The one who has everything still craves more; the one who has nothing desires only a little. The absence of a loved one, the lack of a trusted companion, or the void of someone to share life’s stories often leaves life feeling incomplete. As age advances, the intensity of these scarcities becomes more apparent. Once you are drawn into the battle of deprivation, there is no turning back. The greatest sorrow is that this battle of life is not fair. More often than not, life is not on your side.
People extend their suffering by comparing themselves to others. They voluntarily swim in a sea of sorrow. Someone with a ten-story building envies the neighbor with twenty stories. Someone with savings worth millions aspires to accumulate billions. The desire for more enslaves people. On the other hand, a homeless person cries for a humble shelter made of straw. Someone toils all day on another’s land just to ensure there is food for dinner after lunch. The struggle for a good life is like this. Some are consumed by greed, while others are mesmerized by dreams. It’s like an endless race with no finish line. Life offers only one break—permanent retirement, gifted through death. Until then, it’s all about running—every day, every moment.
In this race, life gathers countless experiences. You will meet people from diverse backgrounds. Some are born with extraordinary talents, while others work tirelessly like madmen but still fail to achieve success. Someone might land their dream job after a single interview, while another struggles through thirty interviews without securing even an undesirable position. Some enjoy unethical privileges, while others fight an endless battle just to survive. Some are born into wealthy families, while others grow up nameless on the streets. Life is truly strange and peculiar.
For some, wealth and prosperity come easily; some receive promotions every year, yet happiness eludes them. There is no rest in this fast-paced life. It is as though one must become the owner of the entire world. This very affliction will never free the mind from sadness. Measuring life’s achievements and shortcomings through comparisons with others will cost you a lifetime. To build a peaceful life, you must pass through time without complaints. Without contentment in little things, happiness will never visit your home.
You can spend your entire day comparing yourself to others. You may lament over what they have that you don’t, but you will never be happy. Thinking about those who surged ahead in life will only bring regret. You will never balance the equation. Fate, talent, skill, effort, destiny—life’s equation consists of so many variables that it cannot be solved. Humans can only try, but they do not know the outcome. How many promising lives have been cut short! How many powerful individuals are now spending their days in prison! Many boats of endless potential have sunk. Life’s calculations simply do not add up.
You cannot find happiness by comparing yourself to others because happiness has no final destination. You must learn to discover the formula for happiness even within limitations. If you cannot find joy in sorrow, happiness will remain out of reach. You must control greed and subdue arrogance. You must adapt to every situation as it arises. Life’s struggle is not fair, which is why the concept of divine justice exists. You need to know when to run and when to stop. If you cannot limit your sense of scarcity, happiness will drift far away.
When you dream in alignment with your reality and capabilities, fulfilling those dreams becomes easier. Even amidst countless scarcities, may life become colorful. You will get your life only once—just this one time. Ensure that not even a fraction of it is wasted on excuses. Be careful.
