“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” — Epicurus
“We fail when our definition of ‘success’ is ‘excess’.” — Minimalists
When we define success as owning a plethora of things, it can hurt you more than benefit. Not only will owning a lot hurt your bank account, but it’s also it’s a toxic mentality. One is not defined by their objects, possessions, or what they own. They are defined by who they are, what they value, what they love, their personality, etc.
Some possessions we own have sentimental value, those are precious but not for the actual thing (depends on the case). Usually, when an object means something to us, it’s because it reminds us of a past memory.
“Clarity is the elimination of mental clutter. Agility is the elimination of physical clutter. Tranquility is the elimination of spiritual clutter.” — James Clear
Start small. You don’t have to get rid of everything. That’s not the point. You should just start by being aware of what you own. Just being aware can help you so much.
“Awareness is your way out of all suffering.” — The Secret
It doesn’t matter how much or how little you own. You can have a lot and be unhappy. You can have almost nothing and be unhappy. You can be happy with a lot. You can be happy with a little. It’s all about the mindset and the value you place on whatever or however much you do own.
If you are looking to downsize what you own, I recommend starting small. For some guidance, you could watch Marie Kondo or the movie The Minimalists and their second movie, The Minimalists: Less is Now.
“The greatest wealth is to live content with little.” — Plato
Tip: Stay consistent with the process.
