【每日斯多葛】9月29日

September 29th  

YOUR ACTUAL NEEDS ARE SMALL

“Nothing can satisfy greed, but even a small measure satisfies nature. So it is that the poverty of an exile brings no misfortune, for no place of exile is so barren as not to produce ample support for a person.”

—SENECA, ON CONSOLATION TO HELVIA, 10.11b

It can be beneficial to reflect on what you used to accept as normal. Consider your first paycheck—how big it seemed then. Or your first apartment, with its own bedroom and bathroom and the ramen you gladly scarfed down in the kitchen. Today, as you’ve become more successful, these conditions would hardly feel sufficient. In fact, you probably want even more than what you have right now. Yet just a few years ago those paltry conditions were not only enough, they felt great!

When we become successful, we forget how strong we used to be. We are so used to what we have, we half believe we’d die without it. Of course, this is just the comfort talking. In the days of the world wars, our parents and grandparents made do with rationed gas, butter, and electricity. They were fine, just as you have been fine when you had less.

Remember today that you’d be OK if things suddenly went wrong. Your actual needs are small. There is very little that could happen that would truly threaten your survival. Think about that—and adjust your worries and fears accordingly.

9月29日  

你真正的需求其实很少

“没有什么能够满足贪婪，但即使少量的东西也足以满足自然的需要。因此，流放中的贫困并不会带来不幸，因为没有任何流放之地贫瘠到无法为一个人提供充足的生存所需。”

——塞内卡，《致赫尔维娅慰问信》，10.11b

回想一下过去那些你曾经认为很正常的生活条件，可能会对你有所帮助。想想你领到的第一份工资——那时候，你觉得它是多么大的一笔钱。或者想想你的第一套公寓，有独立的卧室和浴室，还有你在厨房里津津有味、大口吃下的拉面。今天，随着你变得更加成功，这些条件恐怕已经很难让你觉得足够了。事实上，你很可能还想拥有比现在更多的东西。然而，就在几年前，那些微不足道的条件不仅已经足够，而且还让你感觉棒极了！

当我们取得成功时，我们会忘记自己过去有多么坚强。我们已经如此习惯于现在所拥有的一切，以至于几乎相信，一旦失去它们，自己就活不下去了。当然，这不过是舒适生活在说话。在世界大战时期，我们的父母和祖父母依靠配给的汽油、黄油和电力生活。他们依然过得好好的，正如你过去拥有得更少时，也一样过得好好的。

今天，请记住：即使事情突然出了差错，你也能够应付。你真正的需求其实很少。真正能够威胁到你生存的事情少之又少。想想这一点，然后相应地调整你的忧虑和恐惧。