Wisdom is to recognize that the grass is always greener, even on your side.
No matter the thing or situation, someone will envy what you have.
Recognize this and enjoy what you have as if you've just obtained it, as if seeing it for the first time.
There's something out there that you want but don't have. Instead, you believe you have the lesser, prior or inferior version of it.
Play out the full scenario:
- Salivating for the thing.
- Working towards it.
- Obtaining it.
- Enjoying it.
- Getting bored of it.
- Wanting to simplify and downsize.
- Going back to the prior thing.
- Realizing the worth of what you had previously.
- Understanding that the new thing wasn't entirely worth pining for and a lot of enjoyment was left on the table.
I think recognition of this condition can ground us and help us extract more joy out of everyday life.