Possession is not Enjoyment
The CEO of a large company stepped into his luxury car on the way to an important board meeting. Stress already building, he opened his laptop and immersed himself in presentations and projections. Somehow work has always been like that.
He asked the driver to switch on some old Hindi music.
Soon, the soulful voice of Lata Mangeshkar filled the car. And then came that timeless melody — “Lag Ja Gale.”
The driver smiled. He hummed along. He enjoyed the smooth drive, the morning air, and the music.
The CEO remained absorbed in spreadsheets.
One possessed the car.
The other possessed the moment.
Who was truly enjoying?
We may possess much, yet enjoy little.
And unless we truly enjoy what we possess, what is the meaning of accumulating
more and more?
Possession and enjoyment are two very different aspects of life.
From a young age, many of us are trained in a familiar script — study well, pursue higher education, build a career, marry, settle, acquire. Growth becomes synonymous with expansion. Accumulation becomes the measure of success.
But growth in the material world, by itself, is not the ultimate goal.
When success comes at the cost of relationships, health, inner peace, and spiritual grounding, the imbalance quietly erodes joy. The problem is not ambition. The problem is ambition without awareness. Growth without balance.
Ancient wisdom gently reminds us:
If we do not know where we are going, any road will take us there.
Equally important is knowing why we are going. The “why” defines our purpose. We rarely pause to ask:
How much is enough?
What is my true net worth?
Why am I acquiring more?
Possession increases.
Enjoyment does not — unless we consciously cultivate it.
Perhaps the real luxury is not what we own, but what we are able to experience fully.
And sometimes, the one who owns less, enjoys more.