Why we keep up with the Joneses

April 02, 2025

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“Not wanting something is as good as having it” -Unknown

Mimetic Desire is the phenomenon that all human wants are really just learned and imitated by your environment. In layman’s terms, you don’t actually want that new car; you want that new car because Joe from work just got a new car.

It’s essentially the driving force behind “Keeping up with the Joneses”.

But this concept is descriptive, not prescriptive. We need not be beholden to our neighbors’ newest toys. “Why do I want this?” is a worthwhile reflection before becoming consumed with new desires.

The greatest possession is being okay with less possessions.

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