$XTALPI(02228.HK)$Interactive Brokers(IBKR.US)$BABA-W(09988.HK)$Robinhood(HOOD.US)While organizing old belongings at night, I came across my graduation year notebook, with the first page inscribed: 'Desire with moderation, act with restraint.' But when I compared it to my current life, I was startled to realize that I had unknowingly pushed the boundaries of 'want' further and further—starting with just wanting a salary to cover rent, then desiring a higher position; initially hoping for more companionship from my partner, then demanding their constant accommodation. This 'give an inch and they'll take a mile' mentality wound around my heart like vines, until one day, awakened by the words 'You never seem satisfied,' I had to confront the self hidden behind my desires.

In truth, 'give an inch, take a mile' often stems not from greed but from habitual dependence on 'having.' Like a child who, upon receiving one candy, immediately expects another; or completing a project at work and immediately coveting the next, higher goal. We always adjust our standards upward as the joy of 'having' fades, forgetting to look back: Have we already grasped what we originally wanted? I once worked overtime for three months straight to secure a promotion, ignoring calls from my parents and invitations from friends—only to realize, on the day of my promotion, in an empty room, that my pursuit of 'better' had cost me more of life.

Confronting the inner measure is not about abandoning pursuit but learning to 'hit the brakes' on desire. Like when buying clothes: Instead of accumulating unused items 'just in case,' choose only what suits you best now. When chasing goals: Instead of drowning in anxiety over 'not good enough,' pause occasionally and ask, 'Isn’t what I have now precious enough?' True maturity is not about endlessly expanding needs but setting a 'stop-loss point' for desires—knowing what to take, what to let go, and what to cherish.