Thin Desires Are Eating Your Life
4 days ago
- #philosophy
- #personal growth
- #modern life
- The article discusses the concept of 'thin desires' versus 'thick desires', where thin desires are easily satisfied but don't lead to personal growth, while thick desires transform the individual pursuing them.
- Examples of thin desires include checking notifications or using social media for connection without real friendship, which are easy to monetize and scale but don't contribute to long-term happiness.
- Thick desires, such as mastering a craft or building genuine community, are effortful and can't be satisfied quickly, embedding individuals in meaningful obligations and relationships.
- Modern consumer technology often exploits thin desires by providing neurological rewards without the substance of thick desires, leading to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
- The article suggests practical actions to cultivate thick desires, like baking bread, writing handwritten letters, or coding a tool for a single person, as ways to resist the 'great thinning' of modern life.