Happiness is not a commodity. However, a lot of people link their happiness to the commodities they use or own. And that’s great for society as a whole because the world couldn’t afford true happiness for everyone.
The following story outlines the devastating effect of people fully severing their link between money, possessions, and happiness. It also shows what can be achieved when a good working balance is put in place. Enjoy.
Happiness for everyone.
In the world of Aeterna, an ancient prophecy foretold of a time when the link between money, material possessions, and happiness would be severed. For centuries, the people of Aeterna had pursued wealth and possessions as the ultimate source of joy. The richest basked in their luxury, while the poor toiled in vain, believing that happiness lay just out of reach, locked behind a gate of gold.
One day, a brilliant inventor named Lyra, inspired by the ancient prophecy, developed a revolutionary device called the “Serenity Engine.” Which she nicknamed Pot. This device was designed to tap into a universal source of contentment, bypassing the need for external possessions or wealth. With the flip of a switch, the Serenity Engine could make people experience profound happiness, independent of their material circumstances.
Lyra presented her invention to the world, and its impact was immediate and profound. The need for money and possessions to achieve happiness dissolved overnight. People everywhere felt an unprecedented sense of inner peace and joy, regardless of their financial status. There was no longer a craving for luxury goods or the latest gadgets; the Serenity Engine (Pot) provided a pure, unadulterated sense of contentment.
As happiness became universally accessible, the economy of Aeterna faced an unforeseen crisis. Businesses, especially those dealing in luxury goods and services, started collapsing. The desire for material goods had evaporated, leaving merchants with products that no one wanted. Markets crashed, and industries ground to a halt. The traditional motivations for work—earning money to buy things—vanished.
In response, some businesses tried to change, offering experiences and services rather than goods. But even these attempts faltered, as people found that the joy they derived from these experiences paled in comparison to the contentment provided by the Serenity Engine(Pot). The entire economic structure, which had been built on the cycle of desire and consumption, was crumbling.
Governments were in disarray, unable to manage an economy with no demand. With no one buying, selling, or working for money, tax revenues dried up, leading to a collapse in public services. The very fabric of society seemed at risk of unravelling.
Lyra, witnessing the unintended consequences of her invention, felt a deep sense of responsibility. She realized that while the Serenity Engine had succeeded in making everyone happy, it had also disrupted the fundamental dynamics of human society. Without the motivation of improving one’s material condition, the drive for innovation, progress, and even basic work had disappeared. The societal structure, once held together by these motivations, was disintegrating.
In a bold move, Lyra decided to dismantle the Serenity Engine and replace it with a modified version (Legalised Pot). This new version offered contentment, but not in the all-encompassing way of the original. It allowed people to experience joy from within but also retained their natural desires and motivations. The engine created a balance: it ensured that everyone had a baseline level of happiness but still left room for ambition, desire, and the pursuit of material goals.
With the new Serenity Engine, Aeterna found equilibrium. People no longer felt the crushing despair of poverty nor the insatiable greed for wealth. Happiness was accessible to all, but it did not eliminate the need for purpose or drive. Businesses began to recover as people found joy in the creation, innovation, and personal growth. The economy adapted to a new reality where happiness was not tied to material wealth but still left space for human endeavours.
Lyra’s invention became a symbol of a new age in Aeterna—one where happiness and economic activity could coexist without one dominating the other. The prophecy had come true, but in a way that preserved the essence of human ambition and the value of shared experiences. And so, Aeterna thrived, not because everyone was equally rich, but because everyone could be equally happy and still strive for more.
