Simple Living, High Thinking: The antidote to the biggest scam in human history?

Read time: 6 minutes

Have you ever stopped to wonder why we’ve become such a "buy now, think later" society?

After the first World War, people were okay with just having "enough." They didn't always want more and more.

Not too long ago, folks would rather fix their old shoes than throw them away and buy new ones. Your (grand)parents may still talk about times like these.

Back then, the idea of "fast fashion" or "instant gratification" was far from the norm; people were content with the essentials.

But that wasn't enough for the business moguls of the era; they saw an opportunity for more.

In 1927, Paul Mazur of Lehman Brothers made it clear, saying, "We must shift America from a needs- to a desires-culture. People must be trained to desire, to want new things, even before the old have been entirely consumed. [...] Man's desires must overshadow his needs."

While Buddha warned, "Desire is the root of all suffering," corporate America was busy encouraging us to desire even more.

Why? Because that meant more profit.

For them. Not for us.

Turning wants into 'needs'

Then comes Edward Bernays, Sigmund Freud's nephew and a maestro in public manipulation.

He used 'public relations'—which is just a polished word for propaganda—to make us desire things we didn't even know we wanted.

Take smoking for women as an example…

Before Bernays, smoking was a taboo.

After Bernays, smoking became a "torch of freedom."

The void inside us

One universal truth marketers and advertisers have recognised is the emptiness that we all feel at some point or another.

They exploit this void, promising that their product will make us complete, respected or happy.

So what's the catch?

The issue comes up when what you 'want' isn't really what you need, but just stuff fabricated to make you spend your money.

That's when we need to stop and think, "Who's really gaining from what I ‘want’?"

When your sense of identity is tied to your material possessions, you're not in control of your own narrative; you're dancing to someone else's tune.

Advertisers love self-centered consumers—it makes you easy to manipulate.

The consumer culture is very good at making us want more, more, more.

Underneath all this wanting, however, is a fundamental truth: What we really need is less.

Enter “Simple Living, High Thinking”.

Simple Living, High Thinking is actually not a new idea. It has been around for a long time but hasn't received the attention it deserves.”

In a nutshell, it describes a way of life that is optimally balanced and enables one to cultivate the highest goal of life: self-realisation. In the words of Bhaktivedanta Swami, the sage who coined this term:

"This complete arrangement affords the proper quota of wealth for everyone according to his real needs, and thus everyone may live peacefully according to the principle of plain living and high thinking."

Let’s break that down a bit further…

What is simple living exactly?

• Living simply means earning enough so that you can live a comfortable life, rather than being obsessed with living in 'abundance'.
• It's about being intentional with how you spend your money, your time, and your energy, and not wasting it on short-term, expedient sense gratification.
• It doesn’t mean donating all your possessions and leaving for the mountains to live as a nomad. It means to consider what is essential in your life, and then only consume things that are conducive to living out a higher purpose.

Then, what's high thinking?

• Instead of getting swept up by the latest fads or the push of influencers, high thinking encourages us to tap into timeless wisdom. Just because something sounds cool doesn't make it true. Our choices should be rooted in genuine truths, considering both our well-being and others.
• High thinking is to understand that you’re not your mind; you’re not your emotions, thoughts, desires etc. You don't have to accept everything in your mind as the ultimate truth. By learning to step back from your mind–especially when emotions run high–you can regain control over your choices and behaviour, leading to brilliant outcomes.
• High thinking nudges us to seek a purpose bigger than material gains, such as wealth, fame or beauty. It's about being on a mission larger than ourselves.
• At its core, high thinking is about seeking deeper fulfilment, and engaging in activities that ACTUALLY enrich our lives — where there's a balance in spiritual and material development.

So, the big takeaway? Living simply and thinking highly can be the antidote to today's overwhelm and confusion.

Your Reflection Point: "Simple Living, High Thinking"

As you go about your day, I invite you to pause and ponder this essential idea: "Simple Living, High Thinking."

Let's make this practical:

• Pin "Simple Living, High Thinking" on your wall. It'll be a daily reminder of the life philosophy you're embracing.
• Ask yourself critical questions daily. Whether it's during your morning routine or before bed, take a moment to evaluate. Consider: 'How can I bring more simplicity into my life today? What triggers lead to my misleading or harmful thoughts? How can I guide my thoughts toward good actions?'
• Re-evaluate your needs vs wants regularly. It’s a quick check to make sure you're not accumulating stuff but wisdom.

Simple Living, High Thinking isn't just an idea or a catchy phrase; it's a practical life philosophy that nudges us to live with intention and wisdom.

It's a call to declutter not just our homes, but our minds; not just what we consume in material goods, but also what we consume in information.

It invites us to rise above the daily grind and trivial worries and engage with life's bigger questions.

So, let it serve as your daily touchstone. Each time you see it, consider it a personal check-in: Are you accumulating stuff, or are you accumulating wisdom? Are you chasing fleeting desires, or are you aiming for a life of significance?

Remember, the most meaningful life is not found in the complexity of abundance, but in the simplicity of well-chosen thoughts and well-lived actions.

Here’s to making a difference,

Dr Yannick