If you like the weekly inspiration, consider becoming a patron to support the less, but better movement.
If you like this week's inspiration, share your thoughts by replying to this email.
If you'd like to work with me, you can reach out.
Less, but better: Remembering Gandhi…
Last week on October 2nd was Gandhi's birth anniversary. Few people have embodied the less, but better philosophy of life better than him.
Gandhi was the poster child for leading a simple life. He inspired us to live with enough — everything we need and nothing we don't. He knew that more is not the answer. He even said:
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.
When he passed away, he owned fewer than 10 items. We don't have to live our lives with items in single digits. But, we can all live a life of simplicity, contribution, and meaning.
Gandhi lived a life of subtraction. He inspired us through his example how true growth is about getting to the essence of what we are. It contradicts the modern notion of growth that we have to "do" things to grow in our personal and professional lives by way of acquiring knowledge, wealth, or what have you. Besides, subtraction isn’t something you "do" (once), but it's what you are. It's only when you let go of who (you think) you are, might you remain what you are.
I love what Gandhi said about success:
A person cannot do right in one department of life [work] whilst attempting to do wrong in another department [love]. Life is one indivisible whole.
Work and love, FTW. What's the point of having success at work if you can't enjoy it with those you love?! Any success or growth at work that comes at the cost of your friends/family isn't true success or growth.
Gandhi has lived a life of service and inspired others along the way. He said:
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
I couldn't agree more. For me, success is service, and service is success. We are here to give, and not to "get." The more we give, the less we need. It's for this reason, I want to live in a world where we act with intention, play to our strengths, and live modestly as a life ambition. That's the less, but better vision in a nutshell.
I can't think of a better leader than Gandhi in the truest sense of the word. True leadership has little to do with position/rank or authority. How else would you explain Gandhi’s leadership for an independent India without a political title? We don't have to wait to get promoted. We can simply lead from where we are. After all, to lead is to serve, and to serve is to lead.
Btw, here's what he said about love and power:
The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.
Although he was never conferred a formal title since his death, he is the Father of the Nation, and held in high regard without the need for any formal recognition. You'll see his picture on the Indian currency as well as in many of the government offices.
I'll leave you with a final quote from him:
We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.
Best,
Rishi Dass
Live a less, but better life. 🌎
Listen
- Subscribe to the Less, but Better podcast 🎧
- Send your thoughts, comments, or questions here
Act
Get involved in the less, but better movement. 🌎
- Become a less, but better patron
- Tell others about the less, but better philosophy (it's the best way to find more of "our people")
- Get the less, but better manifesto, and share it with others.