Dr. Martin Hash Podcast

Collecting things, whatever they may be: physical as in coins, temporal goals, or ephemeral experiences, allows people to control their lives. This leads to a sense of satisfaction which is a major component of happiness. Collecting need not be intentional, and often isn’t, but if you want to consciously use collecting as a mechanism of control, collect something that you enjoy collecting; don't make it a job. You should be entertained by your collecting when you’re engaged in it, and proud of the accumulation the rest of the time. Life is for your entertainment; if you’re entertained by collecting and take pride in it, that's a lot better than spending money & time on drinks and trendy food. Collecting things provides focus & fixation, escaping outside stress by dominating your thoughts with esoterica. It’s also a kind of sport, and just like practice, playing & winning, the resulting dopamine relieves anxiety. Collecting doesn’t have to be anything more than that but it can even be a form of investing; most "investing" is just inflation, and collectibles can do that. Unfortunately, adding this element, though adding to the satisfaction, may subtract from the relaxation. Some people become obsessive compulsive about their collecting, and that’s a warning sign of depression or perhaps a tinge of autism. Don’t worry unless it starts to affect their lives negatively. Collecting even leads to respect & admiration from others who see your collections.