The surprisingly difficult art of doing less

We gain from it the chance to engage in activities and experiences that are deeper and more meaningful. Because the mentality of fearing that we will miss out makes us always worried that something better might be waiting for us.

And moving through life, where everything becomes a means to the next thing, prevents us from understanding that certain things are inherently valuable and meaningful in and of themselves.

Many people believe that the key to happiness is to have more choices, but it is really the opposite.

To free ourselves from the result of our consumer culture, we should work on our self-control. We have to develop the strength to resist these constant temptations.

While some people can opt-out of the culture, most need to make the best of it within the system we have.

• Reading a book is very disciplining. Most people have lost the ability to sit for hours and read a book without looking for a smartphone distraction. In a way, reading a book is like mindfulness, only you focus on something different.
• Instead of always focussing on the positive things, focus on the negative things. We have to see what's wrong to have any chance of fixing it.