Less Is More For Minimalist Living
In this day and age, many of us believe that “more is more.” Western culture has made us believe that having more material possessions is the key to pleasure, and we may even feel inferior when we contrast our possessions with those of our neighbors or celebrities on television.
What then is the solution? to continually feel like you need more “things” and that your next buy will be the one that transforms everything? Or perhaps to attempt to “let go” of that need for things and discover that doing so makes us feel more at ease?
The title of this article might have led you to infer that the latter is the correct response – less is more! However, how you go about developing this mindset is crucial. How exactly does this make you a happier person? How can you stop seeking the “next big thing” all the time? Let’s look at this…
Do You Seem to Be in a Loop?
Many of us are unaware that we’re caught in a “vicious cycle” or kind of loop that can be keeping us from ever experiencing true happiness. This is due to our obsession with material stuff, which has caused us to be willing to forgo all of the other things we require for happiness.
Consider this: if you’re like most people, you probably feel overworked, pressured, and weary right now. You might also feel as though you don’t spend enough time with your family or doing the things you truly enjoy. After working till 7 p.m., you arrive home late and have to cook, eat, get dressed, and clean the house before going to bed. It doesn’t leave much time for spending time with your family or engaging in interests and hobbies.
Which is why you feel inclined to acquire it when you see that bright new suit or dress or that gorgeous new car. You require a “win.” To feel wonderful, you need something. You proceed to make the purchase as a result, not realizing that less is more.
However, this frequently entails using a credit card to pay, which may indicate that you are currently in debt. It could also signify that you have to get a little loan. The only way to alleviate the stress that results from that is to work harder.
Why Did This Occur?
The fact that many of us link success with professional achievement doesn’t help. A successful individual is one who drives a flashy automobile, dresses sharply, owns a Rolex, holds a position of authority at work, and drives a flashy car. Whether or not they are truly pleased doesn’t matter.
Advertising supports this opinion. Because they utilize so many high-end health products, models on magazine covers appear attractive. You need to spend $50 on fragrance if you want to smell like Jennifer Lopez (and hence find love). And you need a TV that is at least 40″ large to feel like you’ve accomplished anything in life. It doesn’t matter if you have the time to watch it.
This is a status quo that tremendously benefits the government and any capitalist economy, without trying to look like a conspiracy theorist. You work harder and spend more money the more unhappy you are with your situation. This indicates that you are putting more money into the economy.
Additionally, the fact that everyone else holds the same opinion doesn’t help. You can probably tell if you glance at your neighbor that they share your belief. They presumably also drive a great car, have a big flat-screen TV, and a job that sounds significant. They probably have pricey souvenirs from their travels all over their house. It doesn’t matter if they only get to go somewhere for one week in one year!
Social Comparison Theory
According to the “social comparison theory,” we compare ourselves to others in order to more effectively assess our own worth. In other words, you judge your success by how much more money you have than your neighbor rather than how much money you have overall. And with the TV models sporting Rolexes…
According to studies, you will be happy if you compare yourself to someone who has less than you. You’ll feel unsatisfied if you judge yourself against someone who has more. The irony is that as long as you perform favorably in the comparison, it doesn’t matter how much you actually have!
According to studies, you will be happy if you compare yourself to someone who has less than you, but … is it true?
Time to Break Free: It’s All an Illusion
Think for a moment if this is actually what you wanted in the first place. You might be ecstatic that you’ve risen to a position of responsibility at work and can now buy designer attire. But was that ever your goal in the first place? Or did the demands of life push you into that circumstance?
Is running a stapler company the most exciting accomplishment there is?
It’s more likely that your first goals were to become a rock star (to make music), a game developer, an athlete (to play sports), or a traveler (to explore the globe).
Maybe Owning a Lovely Home Has Always Been Your Dream
Perhaps, if you give it some serious thought, you’ll realize that what you really want right now is to spend more time with your loved ones.
And you probably believe that you can accomplish all of that if you work incredibly hard and put in a lot of time right away.
However, what our culture does not want you to realize is that you are already capable of obtaining all the things you desire. And exerting more effort won’t bring you any closer to them; on the contrary, it will distance you.
There is one extremely simple way you may do it right now if you really want to spend more time with your family. How? Just begin to spend more time with your loved ones! Start leaving work at 5 p.m., and arrive at your destination on time.
Yes, you might not advance as swiftly in your profession as you would if you stayed later… But if you’re already receiving what you want, does it really matter?
You could even request a four-day workweek from your job. How many employers will be open to that notion may surprise you. Or how about requesting permission to work from home a few days per week? That means, at the very least, that you can skip your commute and spend your lunch break with your loved ones. Try seeking for a new job if your current one won’t let you do that. Everything changes when you remind yourself of your priorities,and realize that less is more.
Saving Money
The next thing you might be considering is how, if you work a four-day week, you might survive on 80% of your present income.
And there are a ton of solutions to that query. For instance, you could try to make some money online or rent out a room in your home.
But which approach is ideal? Just begin to lead a simpler life! Reduce the amount of goods you purchase and dispose of your ostentatious possessions… Even think about downsizing, which can easily cut your expenses by 20%. You will see then that less is more!
You will feel a great deal less anxious after doing this. All of a sudden, all of your money is yours, you owe no one anything, and you don’t have to put in ridiculous hours simply to keep the debt collectors away!
You’ll discover that having less “things” actually liberates you because you need less money to get by so less is more.
You can also stop going to pricey restaurants, stop paying for your Netflix or health spa memberships, etc. Generally, remove all of the extra that is unnecessary.
Because you can accomplish a lot without all of that money and equipment. And you’ll discover that you actually have more fun and are happier when you get rid of all of your clutter and outgoings.
The fact that many of us link success with professional achievement doesn’t help.
Less is More
You’ll spend more time with your family playing traditional games. By working out at home or going for runs, you can receive more exercise. You can go on family outings, read books, and visit museums. You may pick up a new language, watch YouTube videos to learn how to dance, start painting or stargazing, or write a book!
And you could experience the same sense of success and accomplishment from creating a book or a work of art as you did from rising to the position of CEO of an uninteresting corporate entity.
What’s better? Doing a job that pays the bills while pursuing your actual hobbies, or being the boss of an uninteresting company and being under constant stress?
And when you do spend money, it will be on the things that are most important to you. If you enjoy making music, invest in an instrument and some editing software and devote more time to doing so. Invest in some quality paints and an easel if you love art. If you enjoy traveling, you should spend your money on it, and by taking frequent short excursions, you may find that you can travel much more than you do now.
Additional Rewards of Less is More
Cutting back on your clutter and possessions has a lot more advantages as well. One benefit of having less stuff is that your home will have more room. We frequently envision very empty white rooms with plenty of straight lines, no patterns, and a very clean look when we think about minimalism. But this is more than just a fad; it’s a design that genuinely makes a house much easier to manage, that enlarges a small area and cuts down on the amount of cleaning and tidying required.
Your daily life will be easier the less clutter there is. Furthermore, having fewer possessions implies that the ones you do have will stand out more and likely mean more to you.
Another benefit of having less clutter is that it will be much simpler for you to transfer homes in the future, or even to go on vacation while storing your possessions. You might not be aware of it, but the closer you become to your current area physically, the less free you are.
But even beyond that, living with less can make you less stressed (the less you have, the less there is to lose), and it can also bring you calm. You can quit pursuing meaningless ideals once you realize that you don’t need everything you read in publications. When you stop comparing yourself to your neighbors, you’ll be able to let envy go and discover true contentment with what you already have.
The less you have, the more you cherish and appreciate each possession you do have, so … less is more!
So, try to make do with less! You’ll probably discover that as a result, life gets richer and more satisfying.
