Of course, this attitude is encouraged by the advertising industry. We are inundated with messages (some subtle, some not-so) designed to make us feel like we need the newest, biggest, most complex, etc., of whatever is on the market. No matter how determined I am to enjoy the moment and be satisfied with what I have, it can be hard to resist all the alluring images of tropical vacations and shiny new electronics! And our cultural attitude that we deserve to be blissfully happy at all times makes it very hard to be patient with the flaws, real or perceived, of those around us. Not to mention how the increasing stress of being patient and polite with an ever-increasing circle of persons at work, at school, on the road, in stores, online, brings us home with less and less self-control with which to use those qualities on our nearest and dearest. Rather than realizing that the fault lies in our own thinking and behavior, we can easily begin to believe we would be happier with a different partner, parent, child, sibling, roommate, even pet! The promise of a quick fix for our dissatisfaction by jettisoning the old, with its known flaws, to make way for the intriguing new can be so enticing.
Unfortunately, once we get to know whatever new person, place or thing we thought would make us ecstatically joyful all the time, we see it also has its own set of imperfections. And we have to decide whether we need to make a switch again or find ways to be content with the circumstances we are in now.
Now, my philosophy tends to be, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" And I can make a pretty good case for the position that this is morally superior to continually needing/wanting something newer and better. But if I'm honest with myself I have to admit my attitude stems at least partly from a bit of laziness on my part. It takes work to make an informed choice when replacing a new item. It takes work to go looking for a new job. It takes work to move to a new area. And it takes a lot of work to get to know a new person in any sort of close relationship! So why not just stick with what you have and tell yourself it's because you are a "better" person than those who go job hopping around the continent or have to trade in whatever they have for the latest model each time it comes out?
Sadly (for my desire to remain in my comfort zone), I also am fairly committed to trying to be honest with myself. And sometimes a change is the best thing for ourselves and those around us. Sometimes we or the job have grown and/or changed to the point that we are no longer a good fit. Sometimes a person we meet is so worth our spending time and effort in getting to know them better. Sometimes we need to move out of our parents' basement before we're retired and sitting down there all day long! And sometimes that twenty-year-old car would be better off at the parts yard and we would be better off with a cute little Kia wagon and a small loan, establishing a credit history and spending less time waiting by the side of the road for a tow truck.
