Be careful what you wish for. You might actually get it.

Interestingly, Rajinikanth and Morgan Housel couldn’t be more different from each other — yet they seem to have arrived at the same conclusion.

One is a superstar actor from India.

The other is a writer and investor known for his observations on money and human behaviour.

I happened to listen to a Morgan Housel podcast released over the weekend and, separately, watched a Rajinikanth interview recorded back in 2009.

Different people. Different worlds.
But almost the same question.

You have achieved success, wealth and fame. Are you happy?

Rajinikanth

His answer was surprisingly simple.

He said that all he had wished for was a Lambretta scooter and a small apartment.

God had given him far more than he had asked for — and continued to give him more.

But, he said, happiness cannot be anchored in material possessions because they are all temporary.

Contentment and fulfilment have to come from within, not from outside.

He made an even more provocative observation:

If God wants to test someone, He gives them everything they wished for.

What looks like a blessing a curse.

Why?

Because the anticipation of getting something can sometimes bring more excitement and happiness than actually getting it.

Think about it.

Sometimes it is good that there is a delay in getting what you wished for.

And sometimes, it is better not to get what you wished for at all.

Morgan Housel

Fast forward to today, and Morgan Housel makes almost the same observation — but through the lens of human psychology.

When we anticipate something good — a holiday, a new house, a promotion — the anticipation can feel better than the actual experience.

Why?

Because when we imagine the future, we imagine the perfect version of it.

You picture yourself on the beach.

Sunshine.
Perfect weather.

Everything wonderful.

Then reality arrives.

You are jet-lagged.

You had to wake up early to get a beach chair.

You got sunscreen in your eyes.

The kids are shouting.

The temperature isn’t quite right.

The food isn’t that good.

There are all these mundane things that don’t exist in the fantasy.

The dream is perfect. Reality rarely is.

And Housel makes another point that I found even more interesting.

At some point, perhaps the real wealth is being able to sit back and say:

Maybe I don’t need any more than I have right now.

Instead of constantly dreaming about the life you are going to have, you start finding joy in the life you already have.

Going for a walk.

Fresh air.

Sleeping in when you can.

Spending time with people you enjoy.

That’s the ultimate wealth.

A few interesting thoughts from me

Despite the differences in age, nationality, profession, wealth and definitions of success, they arrived at remarkably similar conclusions.

Which makes me wonder:

Is human psychology really that different?

The external hardware may look completely different.

But perhaps we are all running the same operating system.

Human OS.

And perhaps that explains why the pursuit of “more” has no natural end.

“How do I become more at peace with what I already have?”

Solve for peace, not happiness.

Blogging is something I enjoy, and I share my thoughts on my blog most weekends.

Read all my “Notes to Self” at view all blogs.