Let’s talk about Urgam—a raw valley dotted with small villages, tucked away in the Himalayas. Life here is simple. Villagers live off the land, taking only what they need to survive. They chop wood for fire, grow vegetables, grains, and fruits, harvest honey from the forest, and collect herbs. Their houses are built from stones, wood, mud, and yes, cow dung. It turns out cow dung is great for building reliable walls.
Life flourishes in the valley, but it’s far from easy. Winters are savage. The river water freezes when you need it most. Skin cracks open from the dry air. Medical help? Miles away. And yet, these folks are… happy. Their cheeks glow with a healthy pink, their smiles are wide and bright, and their eyes glimmer with contentment. Happiness seems etched into their faces.
Why They’re Happier Than You
I told a friend about my observation that people in remote, simple, and harsh environments often seem happier than we are. His response? “They’re happy because they don’t know any better! They’re uneducated and unaware of what the world has to offer.”
At first, I wanted to dismiss that statement outright. It felt like it devalued the villagers’ happiness—as though their joy wasn’t “real” because it stemmed from a limited worldview. But then I paused. Maybe there was a sliver of truth in it. Maybe it points to why so many of us, in the modern world, struggle to be happy.
Happiness isn’t about having more options, more stuff, or more information. It’s about having less. Less crap distracting you from what really matters. These villagers aren’t obsessing over achievements or striving to be “better” people. They’re simply living—carrying out their daily responsibilities. Maybe that’s the point.
Pitfalls of Modern Society
Take a short walk through any modern city, and the answer smacks you in the face. Everywhere you look, someone is selling you happiness in a shiny package, whispering the same insidious message: You are not enough. You could be better—slimmer, fitter, richer, more influential. Buy this product (gym membership, yoga pants, shampoo, car), and you’ll finally be a better version of yourself.
Capitalism thrives on your insecurities. Worse, it creates needs you didn’t even know you had. “Buy this, do that, and you’ll feel whole.” Spoiler alert: You won’t.
We’re not dumb. We’ve figured out that material possessions don’t bring happiness. So we dig deeper, chasing a new promise: purpose.
The Rat Race for Finding Purpose
With all our basic needs covered and a high standard of living, a new pandemic has emerged—a mental one. Let’s call it the “Purpose Pandemic.” It’s no longer enough to simply live your life and mind your own business. Now, you have to prove that your life has meaning, that you’re making the world a better place.
But not everyone knows their purpose. So, we binge YouTube videos, devour self-help books, and maybe even hire life coaches to get us “back on track.” The self-help industry is just another endless treadmill of consumption. Instead of cluttering your house with products, you clutter your mind with other people’s ideas.
Here’s the spoiler: I’ve been there. I’ve done all of it, and I found nothing. It only distracted me from the magic of simply being alive and the beauty of the people and experiences already in my life.
Lessons from Urgam
The people of Urgam aren’t smiling because life is easy. They’re smiling because they appreciate what’s right in front of them. They find joy in the mundane and meaning in the essential. Whether they do this intentionally or not doesn’t matter. Maybe it’s time you stopped chasing a “better” version of your life and started embracing the one you already have.
Your Path to a Richer Life
Happiness isn’t about maximizing pleasure. It’s about minimizing distractions.
Quit the Bullsh*t
You don’t need a five-step program or a life coach shouting affirmations at you. What you need is to stop buying into the lie that more is better. No, that gadget won’t make you happier. No, you don’t need another pair of shoes. Start with that.
You don’t need a five-step program or a life coach shouting affirmations at you. What you need is to stop buying into the lie that more is better. No, that gadget won’t make you happier. No, you don’t need another pair of shoes. Start with that.
Cultivate Gratitude
Yeah, I know—gratitude sounds cliché. But practicing gratitude can fundamentally shift your perspective. It turns what you have into enough. It anchors you to the present, helping you see the wealth in your relationships, experiences, and even struggles. As the proverb goes, “The man who is happy with what he has will always be richer than the richest man seeking more.” Gratitude is a superpower. Use it.
Yeah, I know—gratitude sounds cliché. But practicing gratitude can fundamentally shift your perspective. It turns what you have into enough. It anchors you to the present, helping you see the wealth in your relationships, experiences, and even struggles. As the proverb goes, “The man who is happy with what he has will always be richer than the richest man seeking more.” Gratitude is a superpower. Use it.
Stop Treating Life Like a Competition
You’re not special—and that’s okay. You don’t need to be the best at anything. You’re here to live, not to prove your worth to the universe. Let that sink in.
You’re not special—and that’s okay. You don’t need to be the best at anything. You’re here to live, not to prove your worth to the universe. Let that sink in.
Embrace Responsibility
Responsibility might seem like a burden, but it’s where purpose lives. The villagers of Urgam don’t see their daily tasks as chores to avoid. They see them as acts of care and connection. Life’s meaning isn’t found in escaping responsibility—it’s found in carrying it with dignity.
Responsibility might seem like a burden, but it’s where purpose lives. The villagers of Urgam don’t see their daily tasks as chores to avoid. They see them as acts of care and connection. Life’s meaning isn’t found in escaping responsibility—it’s found in carrying it with dignity.
Ultimately, these are just words on a page. You might understand them logically, but true change comes through experience. So, stop chasing. Start living. And let the simple beauty of your life be enough.
