In the first century AD, Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman statesman and philosopher. He was well-known for his essays and letters that examined many facets of philosophy, morality, and life. Making the distinction between what we need and what we want beyond necessity is one of his main points.

Think of life as a garden in which each plant stands for something you own or desire. According to Seneca, this garden contains necessary plants that give us access to food, shelter, and basic comfort—the things that are most readily available in life. However, exotic plants and ornamental flowers, which stand for extravagance and needless desires, are also growing in this garden. These ornamental flowers are the source of our perspiration and maintenance difficulties.

Seneca says it's critical to understand what nature actually needs for a happy existence—basic things like love, health, and mental tranquility. If we concentrate on them without adding needless desires to our lives, these are readily available. Excessive wealth or power are examples of "superfluous" things in life that frequently cause us to struggle and feel stressed.

Instead of pursuing the things society says we need but may not actually improve our well-being, Seneca's philosophy encourages people to find contentment by leading a simple life that is in harmony with nature's requirements. This concept contradicts contemporary ideas of success, which frequently link contentment to material wealth and prestige, by arguing that genuine fulfillment can be found in life's necessities.

To sum up, Seneca emphasizes contentment and simplicity as the keys to a meaningful life, teaching us to grow a garden of necessities rather than unnecessary wants.