There’s a lot of appeal in the ideal of Zen-like contentment. True detachment, ability to be at peace in any situation, rest.
But it’s not quite right.
If followed to its end, it dissolves into nothingness. That’s weird, because the notion of following something to it’s end, or pursuing contentment is the opposite of being content. It demands recognition of what you are not yet, and an effort to reach it. It demands striving. You become what you practice. How could you, by striving your whole life, finally become one who never strives?
I think nothingness, or ever greater levels of detachment, are not the right goal. They may be useful salves to calm us along the journey, but they are not the end.
We are created to create. We are created to grow. We are created to progress. It is wired into us to build and make and love, as we are reflections of the God who built and made and loves us.
This requires discontentment. As Mises so clearly points out, to act at all requires dissatisfaction with the status quo.
But that need not be the same as anxiety, frustration, grumpiness, anger, or blind ambition.
Can we lay down our cares, surrender our stress, and overcome fear while still striving to be and do better?
The answer of course is yes, it is possible, and no, we have not reached it.