Striving for bigger, better things should have its limits

Many of us get so caught up striving for bigger, better things that we sometimes fail to appreciate what we already have in front of us.

We yearn for bigger things with more bells and whistles -- the latest smartphone, a newer car, a snazzier watch -- when the stuff we currently have works well and may not even need replacing. The same goes for finding a new, better job.

We mustn't fall into a pattern of simply wanting the next best thing because we've grown bored with what we already own. If the items have seen better days -- if wear and tear is in evidence -- then it makes perfect sense to make an upgrade. Otherwise, why make the switch?

I'm all for aiming for better things and opportunities, but we needn't get carried away. I have a friend who changes jobs every two years because he gets bored that quickly. I also know several people who flip cars and houses every so often to feed their compulsion for change and newness.

At the end of the day, they're our lives and we have the right to do as we want with them. But we should guard against the impulse for newer, bigger, and better things when we may not even need them. Unfortunately, people can get so carried away that they end up knee-deep in debt, which cascades into other areas of our lives (marriage problems, trouble at work, etc.)

So the next time you find yourself wanting to replace something you own that's perfectly functional just because you're bored and wish to get out of the house, stop and ask yourself whether it's even worth it.

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