Somewhere along the way, living a good life became quite a project. There’s an influx of advice about buying better products, eating more sustainably, wasting less, giving to charity and, on top of it all, being more mindful. Then there’s the advice about doing all of this without spending too much money. And that’s before we’ve even got out of bed in the morning.
But perhaps we’re overcomplicating things; after all, ancient wisdom has been tackling these questions for centuries. Long before sustainable shopping became fashionable and anyone had heard of a carbon footprint, philosophers and religious thinkers were already pondering how to live a good life without being greedy, wasteful or entirely wrapped up in ourselves. They may not have had online shopping or Instagram to contend with, but it turns out some of their advice is surprisingly relevant today.
Do We Really Need All This Stuff?
Take a look around the average home. Chances are there are clothes still hanging in the wardrobe with their tags attached, kitchen gadgets bought on a whim and cupboards full of things we barely remember buying. And yet, despite having more than enough, something else always catches our eye. Of course, we’re not entirely to blame; between clever advertising, ever-changing trends and social media feeds full of things we never knew we needed, resisting the temptation to buy more can feel like a full-time job.
Long before sustainable shopping became fashionable and anyone had heard of a carbon footprint, philosophers and religious thinkers were already pondering how to live a good life without being greedy, wasteful or entirely wrapped up in ourselves.
The Stoics, who lived in ancient Greece and Rome, had a useful point about this. They believed that a lot of frustration comes from spending too much energy on things outside our control. Other people’s opinions, for instance. Or the pressure to keep up with whatever everyone else seems to be buying.
What can actually change is how money gets spent. Whether a new purchase is necessary. Whether something can be repaired. Whether that perfectly usable item really needs replacing. But that doesn’t mean a complete lifestyle change.
There’s More to Life Than Looking After Yourself
There’s nothing wrong with being independent, looking after yourself and making your own decisions. But that doesn’t mean we should be so caught up in our own lives that we forget about the people around us. After all, we all need a helping hand from time to time.
There’s a beautiful idea behind Ubuntu, a philosophy rooted in Southern African traditions, which is often summed up in four simple words: ‘I am because we are.’ Essentially, it’s about recognising that we’re all connected and that looking out for one another makes life better for everyone. Think about a family struggling to pay for medical treatment, a child who can’t afford school supplies or a neighbour who’s suddenly lost their job. These are the moments when a little kindness and community support can make an enormous difference.
Most of us have come across a fundraising appeal that’s tugged at our heartstrings, whether it’s a hospital desperately needing equipment, a family struggling to make ends meet or a cause that feels particularly close to home. And while it’s wonderful to give spontaneously when something moves us, there’s also something to be said for making charitable donations a regular part of our finances, even if it’s only a small amount each month. Of course, it’s also worth doing a little homework before handing over our money. Is the organisation reputable? Who exactly will benefit? And can we see where our donations are going?
Throw something away and you wonder if you should have found another use for it. Even treating yourself to something nice can come with a twinge of guilt when you think about what else that money could have gone towards. Frankly, it’s exhausting!
For Muslims, financial planning may also include zakat, a religious obligation for eligible Muslims. Anyone who needs to calculate zakat can use an online calculator to help work out the amount due. It’s a practical use of technology for something rooted in a much older tradition. Rather than working through every calculation manually, people have access to a tool that can help them with the process.
Of course, working out the amount is only part of it. Understanding the applicable religious requirements and giving to eligible recipients still matter. The wider point is that generosity doesn’t have to be left until the end of the month, after every other expense has been dealt with and there’s hopefully something left over. When circumstances allow, it can be included in financial planning from the beginning.
Nobody Gets It Right All the Time
The trouble is, trying to live ethically can sometimes feel like yet another thing we’re not quite getting right. Buy yourself something new and there’s that little voice asking whether you really needed it. Throw something away and you wonder if you should have found another use for it. Even treating yourself to something nice can come with a twinge of guilt when you think about what else that money could have gone towards. Frankly, it’s exhausting!
But living more consciously shouldn’t mean feeling guilty about every decision we make. Sometimes things genuinely need replacing, sometimes the cheaper option is all we can afford, and sometimes there’s simply no money left over to give to charity. And that’s perfectly fine. Surely the aim is to make better choices where we can, rather than beat ourselves up over the times we can’t.
Lean Into Ancient Wisdom
The philosophers and thinkers of the ancient world may not have had online shopping, digital payments or Instagram feeds tempting them to keep up with everyone else, but they were wrestling with many of the same questions we still face today. How much is enough? What does it really mean to live a good life? And if we’re fortunate enough to have more than we need, do we have a responsibility to help those who don’t?
The philosophers and thinkers of the ancient world may not have had online shopping, digital payments or Instagram feeds tempting them to keep up with everyone else, but they were wrestling with many of the same questions we still face today
Of course, it’s easy to dismiss ancient philosophies as lovely ideas that don’t quite fit into our busy modern lives. After all, telling someone to embrace simplicity is all well and good until they’re juggling bills, work commitments, and a shopping list that seems to get longer by the day. But perhaps that’s precisely why some of these ideas are worth revisiting. They encourage us to think about what actually matters, rather than constantly chasing the next purchase, promotion or lifestyle upgrade.
And the beauty of ancient wisdom is that we don’t have to become philosophers ourselves to put some of it into practice. None of this requires a dramatic lifestyle overhaul or a vow to give up life’s little luxuries. It’s simply about being a little more thoughtful with what we have, how we spend it and how we treat the people around us. And in a world that’s constantly telling us we need more, perhaps learning to appreciate enough is a pretty good place to start.
