The Daily Stoic - The Perils of ‘Comfort Inflation’

Episode Date: November 15, 2018

It’s so easy to take progress and luxury for granted. Warren Buffet has talked about how somebody today--with the comforts of heating and air conditioning--has what a 15th century king could have only dreamed of: being cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Yet how many of us have sat in the seasonally appropriate climate of our home and felt bad that we didn’t live somewhere bigger or nicer? The coach section of most airplanes now has technology--electrical outlets, headrest televisions with hundreds of movie options--that first class didn’t have just a few years ago. The planes are faster and cheaper to buy tickets on too (and they are no longer filled with toxic Don Draper-era cigarette smoke) Still, we complain that they don’t serve meals anymore or that we didn’t get a free upgrade or that the seat in the emergency exit row doesn’t recline. This is why the Stoics spent so much effort trying to limit their attachments to various comforts. They worked at being self-contained—at not needing the newest or fanciest or most expensive new luxury—because they understood that it was not only ungrateful, it was a quest that only ever ended in disappointment. The more you are content with your surroundings, whatever they are, the more power you have. The fact that Warren Buffet still lives in a house he bought in the 1960s--because it was plenty of house for him--and that he still drives a Buick—because it was plenty of car for him—hasn’t stopped him from achieving or helping people. You can still fly first class if you like, just put it in its proper context. Which is to say, don’t complain if the satellite TV goes out when you’re over the Rockies or if they ran out of your preferred entrée option at meal service. Because if you stepped back and looked at it historically--even in your own life--you’d see just how far ahead you’ve already come.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey, prime members, you can listen to the Daily Stoke podcast early and add free on Amazon music. Download the app today. Welcome to the Daily Stoke. For each day, we read a short passage designed to help you cultivate the strength, insight, wisdom necessary for living the good life. insight, wisdom necessary for living good life. Each one of these passages is based on the 2000-year-old philosophy that has guided some of history's greatest men and women. For more, you can visit us at dailystoic.com. The Parals of Comfort Inflation It's so easy to take progress and luxury for granted. Warren Buffett has talked about how somebody today

with the comfort of heating and air conditioning has what a 15th century king could have only dreamed of, being cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Yet how many of us have sat in the seasonally appropriate climate of our home and felt bad that we didn't live somewhere bigger or nicer. The coach section of most airplanes now has technology, electrical outlets, headrests, televisions with hundreds of movie options that first class didn't have even just a few years ago. The planes are faster and cheaper to buy tickets on to, and they are no longer filled with toxic dawn draper-era cigarette smoke. Still, we complain that they don't serve meals anymore, or that we didn't get a free

upgrade, or that the seat in the emergency exit road doesn't recline. This is why the still expense so much effort trying to limit their attachments to various comforts. They worked at being self-contained, at not needing the newest and fanciest or most expensive new luxury because they understood that it was not only ungrateful, it was a quest that only ever ended in disappointment. The more you are content with your surroundings, whatever they are, the more power you have. The fact that Warren Buffett still lives in a house he bought in the 1960s, because

it was plenty of house for him, that he still drives a Buick, because it was plenty of car for him, hasn't stopped him from achieving or helping people. You can still even fly first class if you like. Just put it in its proper context, which is to say don't complain that the satellite TV goes out when you're over the Rockies, or if they ran out of your preferred Entree option at meal service. Because if you stepped back and looked at it historically, even in your own life, you'd see just how far ahead you'd already come. If you're liking this podcast, we would love for you to subscribe.

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