Skip to main content

Podcast of restraint

"There is something good about the life that explicitly identifies itself within certain limits" says Scott Stephens, co-host of The Minefield podcast.

The Minefield covers philosophy and ethical dilemmas. This series is on good virtues that seems less popular today and this episode's virtue is restraint.

So what's restraint?

We're not talking seatbelts. Restraint is simply the idea of being satisfied with what you have, even if you're able to have more.


In today's culture it might almost seems like heresy - to suggest not getting, doing or buying every single thing you want. Consumer culture says to have as much as we want of everything we want, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.

As I write this I have several leftover Easter eggs on the table - the tiny ones. I'm leaving one until I finish writing this. Even that felt a little counter-cultural. It's right there. It'll taste good. Why not eat it?

Opting out

Recorded during Ramadan, the podcast episode looked at short-term fasting like Lent and Ramadan, to focus on the spiritual, and the ongoing Jewish and Islamic traditions of not eating bacon.

"These are forms of daily restraint. And that cultivates an ethic doesn't it" says Waleed. "The ethic of not bowing to every whim - I think that is something ... that creates a better person, that creates a better life, that creates a better series of dispositions."

Cruel Optimism

Podcast guest Christopher Mayes talks of "cruel optimism". That's when we're presented with life goals that supposedly would fulfill us, but "the pursuit of those goals often ends up denigrating or eroding the life that is supposedly going to be fulfilled and flourish".

He gives the example of owning a house in Sydney. It might be nice thing to have, but (given Sydney prices) if it means two people working 50+ hours a week for 30 years, is it really worth it?

(Side note on this topic: Check out this clever house action satirical ad)

Capitalism

Restraint can be described as the opposite of desire, greed and envy. "But that's the very engine of capitalism" remarks Waleed - the idea that we are entitled to whatever we want. Capitalist economy works by inventing new problems so that new products can be sold back to us. "I don't know how to articulate that as a moral way of living."

"The environmental catastrophes that we continually unleash on the planet are a direct consequence of this mode of thinking, the absence of restraint."

So what to do?

It's not necessarily about living "like a pauper" but for some living simply and frugally is a way to benefit both others and themselves. I guess the point is to live a life that isn't merely seeking every self-serving desire that enters our head (or that advertising puts in there).

I guess it's about having purpose, and sometimes forgoing immediate pleasure or personal benefit for the benefit of others - or even for the benefit of ourselves in the future.

Perhaps I'll leave that remaining egg for later - or for my wife. :)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

My October challenge

Decluttering can be overwhelming. I've been stuck. Shelves and boxes and drawers full of stuff I should go through but not sure where to start. Aaagh - there's so much of it. The solution? So for myself (and for you if you want) I've developed a strategy. I've picked 31 categories in advance. I plan to tackle one item per day of October. If I miss a few that's OK. The point is to overcome overwhelm. To focus on one thing at a time. To move forward instead of being stuck. My favourite way to declutter is to sell online . (I even wrote a  free ebook of tips for selling online). I also like to recycle or upcycle things. Wanna join in? I've chosen categories where I think most people would have excess. If there's a category you have already dealt with, that's cool. Have a rest day - or go even further in one of the previous areas. The list Ok so here's my plan for this October. Bookmark this post or download the picture of my notes. For each category I ...

The Latte Factor

For the first time ever I'm reviewing a novel. Latte Factor is a short story  - around 120 pages - and is equal parts of inspirational story and financial education. The combination of the two is quite rare, and done quite nicely. The story is about Zoey Daniels, associate editor for a travel magazine. Although she's never been outside the USA  - "a travel editor who's never travelled". She struggles with money and is considering a higher-paying job at the company her friend Jessica works for. The job would provide more income, but would also be more stressful and demanding. She already has a nightmare about being on an increasingly-fast treadmill that she struggles to stay on. Her current boss Barbara - aware only of the money situation - suggests she talk to Henry at the coffee shop. This peculiar suggestion is where Zoey's life begins to turn a corner. Spoiler Alert Being a book of fiction, I don't want to spoil the story for you. It's a book you ca...

Simple phone

I get my fair share of teasing for still using a Nokia phone. So I feel quite vindicated that someone has now invented a new non-smartphone . It's pitched for those who want a decluttered life. Instead of features, its selling points are things like "reclaim a little quietude from the constant intrusions of technology", "no internet connection, no app store and definitely no camera for taking selfies". One quote from the article said "as smartphones get bigger and bulkier, there is a place for something small and simplified, without all the functions." That kind of statement resonates with me. Not just for phones, but for so many areas of life - including the houses we live in.