The Simple Life

84 Comments

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.“
~ Confucius

Don’t you just love the excitement you feel after coming home with a new TV? Driving home in a new car? Opening the box on a new pair of shoes?

I sure do. But, from watching the behavior of myself and my friends I’ve found that the new quickly becomes just another item. The excitement of novelty passes quickly.

As we become wealthier, people seem to be adding more and more things to our homes. We then use our homes, and our treasures, to justify that we have won the game of life. Growing up in a family of pack-rats, I spent many years in my teens and early twenties accumulating stuff. During this time, much of my self-worth was unconsciously associated with the amount of stuff I owned; the brand names, and the latest trends. I spent a lot of money on clothes and stuff that made me feel ‘superior’. They gave me a sense of identity. If I just removed these things without awareness, my ego would have suffered. I had grown so attached to that definition of myself, that my loss would have been much deeper than just the cute sweater.

Not only did I not find myself in all this, I’ve also accumulated a lot of clutter in my living space and my inner space. Ironically, the piles of stuff actually held me back from understanding and inner peace with myself.

We are so eager to fill our homes, yet so disinterested in cleaning it out. As a result, we now require larger spaces, more storage space, and more clutter for the mind. Did you know that there are more self-storage facilities in North America than there are McDonald’s restaurants? We find it difficult to reduce the amount of stuff we own is due to our attachment to these things.

Is Less Really More?

The joy and art of having less while enjoying more of life can be summed up, as follows.

The Zen of Space - There is beauty in space, but we fail to recognize it because we can’t see through the stuff we own. When we open up physical space in our environment, a tremendous feeling of peace can dwell within us. This is the principle behind Japanese style homes. Beauty in small spaces is the appreciation of minimalism, where less truly is more. We need to understand that space is to be enjoyed, not filled.
Conserved Energy - Fewer belongings means we have fewer possessions to worry about. I once knew a wealthy young man, who had anything he dreamt of. He had so many expensive things, and he was so afraid of losing them. Much of his energy was devoted to protecting his possessions and trophies.
Free Your Space - When we are reminded of something we own but never use, we can impose self-inflicted guilt for leaving it unused. For example, my mother owns a several exercise machines which are rarely used. Each time she sees them, she forces herself to feel guilty. Her guilt eats away at her inner, mental space. Our outer world is a reflection of our inner world. By cleaning out and simplifying our outer space, our inner space will open up like a flower.
Appreciation - The less we have, the more attention we can give those things we own and truly need on a regular basis. Appreciation is the seed for abundance; abundance of the mind and the soul. It’s pretty amazing how little we actually need. When we clear our homes and our lives down to the essentials, we are able to better enjoy that which we do have.

Nothing external to us can give us permanent and true happiness. We actually have all we need to be truly happy within us.

The art of having less but enjoying our lives more, involves a few simple changes in perspective. First, we must understand where our true values lie and focus on them. Then, we must take time to enjoy the simple things, and slow down and see what’s right in front of us.

How to Have More With Less?

The following are suggestions and tips for incorporating the having less mentality into your life:

Doing One Thing At A Time - Avoid multi-tasking. When our attention is divided between multiple thoughts at the same time, we cannot excel in any of them. It’s best to place all focus on one task before moving on to another. I’ve learned the hard way that despite feeling productive, with multi-tasking, I rarely am. Whenever possible, remind yourself to focus on the Now, and fully immerse yourself in the subtle joys of this moment.

Slow down - It’s easy to speed through your day and not notice the little things. Slowing down is a vital part of simplifying your life and enjoying what you have. With focus, you can get the same tasks done without rushing. The key to being effective and productive is to work strategically, not blindly, by understanding why you are doing what you’re doing.

Be The Important - The only time we are guaranteed to have is this moment. I know this may sound a little mystical, but just think about it for a second. Life is so precious, yet we spend our most valuable resource, time, on things that are not important to us. In my life, this means that I will include time in my schedule to do what I truly want to be doing. Since the only time we have is right now, make sure you’re using your right now the way you truly want.

Clear the clutter - Clearing the clutter from your home and from your life is easier said than done. We are often emotionally attached to our posessions. This attachment goes beyond our need and we find it difficult to let go of nostalgia. When we are free of physical clutter, it frees our minds as well.

Control Your Spending - You’ve heard the saying “The best things in life are free.” Do you believe it? Spending time with family and friends, laughing, enjoying the antics of a pet, seeing a child smile, experiencing intimate and heart-felt moments with a loved one - these times are precious, and free. Money brings comfort, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying that comfort. But it’s important to spend money on the things that matter to you and let go of spending that does not add value to your life. We spend on what we need, but we forget why we are doing what we’re doing, and the spending becomes a habit.

Enjoy What You Have - If you want to have more enjoyment in your life, enjoy what you have. It is said that in order to live the life you love, you have to love the life you have. We don’t have to seek beyond ourselves in order to find happiness. No one person has everything they want; but we all have some things worth enjoying. So focus on those things and enjoy them!

Be Gracious - Following the previous point. Take time to be grateful for what you already have, however much or little you own. Be content with all the small gifts in your life, things you might take for granted like your body, your home, your good health, the chair you’re sitting on, the computer you have, the respect of those you love most.

Think Simple - There are so many simple pleasures that we don’t always take time to enjoy. Have you taken time lately to be outdoors and watch the clouds? When was the last time you curled up on the couch with a good book? If you enjoy baths, when is the last time you took a bubble bath? Take some time to really focus on something simple - focus on your breathing, focus on drinking down a cold glass of water, focus on enjoying the simple things you do every day. We can find so much happiness in the small everything things. They are there if we seek them, and when we seek, we shall find.

What are some simple things that you enjoy? Share with it with us in the comments. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this and related topics.

If you enjoyed this article, please vote for it on Digg, share it on StumbleUpon or bookmark it on del.icio.us. I appreciate your support. :)

Other Articles You May Like:

External Resources on Having Less:

Zen Habits: Slow Down…To Enjoy Life
The Simple Dollar: The One Hour Project: Enjoy What You Have
Dumb Little Man: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

84 Responses (58 Comments, 26 Trackbacks ):

Comments

Albert | UrbanMonk.Net

Jan 20 08, 9:43 pm PST

1
Tina, I know I’ve said this before, but I’m really enjoying your new writing style and more indepth material. Really makes you stand out across the blogosphere.

Cheers,
Albert | UrbanMonk.Net
Modern personal development, entwined with ancient spirituality.
Raymond Chua

Jan 20 08, 9:51 pm PST

2
This article hit me on my head. The number of my possession keep on growing while my living space is shrinking.

Though I am not a fan of branded stuffs but I keep on collecting unimportant stuffs.

Thank you for the tips to guide me to the road of solution. :)
Coop

Jan 20 08, 10:39 pm PST

3
Hi Tina,
I’ve been telling my clients for quite some time.

I could fit all of the “secrets” to being in shape on a “Post it Note”.
1. eat clean
2. train hard
3. sleep enough

Simplicity in fitness.

Best,
Coop
Kirsten

Jan 20 08, 10:48 pm PST

4
As someone who also comes from a family of pack rats, I can totally indentify with this issue and the lessons that need to be learned. One of my short-term, immediate goals is to de-clutter my closet. *sigh* Thank you for the good tips and reminders.

As for enjoyable simple things, I find nothing beats reading a good book with a good cup of coffee or tea.
gale

Jan 20 08, 11:15 pm PST

5
tina,

i used to have the thought: “if i get this item, then i will feel this way.” i never really identified what “this way” should feel like, and most of the times, i end up feeling the same after acquiring the item for a brief amount of time. so the way i’ve run my life has been a bit different from yours; instead of feeling attached to my objects, i felt empty because of the objects i had. like you said, cleaning out superfluous objects greatly unclutters both physical and mental space. and i also love japanese architecture, or any zen-like space :) thank you for another enlightening post!
Michael Howard

Jan 20 08, 11:49 pm PST

6
Thanks Tina!

This is an important issue to me, I am severely affected by my surroundings, too much stuff, unorganized messes and clutter give me tention headaches and completely stifle my creativity, I literally cannot think when my personal space is cluttered. I have recently been getting rid of tons of items I do not use and it’s truely extraordinary, my creativity and inspiration has returned, I feel free and energized and healthy. Thank your for the wonderful insights!
Luis Merino

Jan 21 08, 1:52 am PST

7
I recently found a way that fits perfect to me in order to get energy and to rid off the stress. I get laid on a long seat near to beach, put my earphones and play Sigur Rös for 15 minutes… The mix of calm, cold wind and hot sun on my face works!
ZHereford

Jan 21 08, 5:42 am PST

8
Tina, you’ve hit this one right on. We need to enjoy life more and simplifying it is the way to do it.

Great job!
peter frank

Jan 21 08, 6:15 am PST

9
great article, i actually found almost the same article on the 3rd page, of http://www.opentopix.com
Shari

Jan 21 08, 6:24 am PST

10
This is a nice article and makes some good points, but, for the love of God, please stop holding the Japanese up as examples of simplicity and space. All those clean, clear, uncluttered spaces you see in magazines and architectural books don’t exist in 99% of homes. Look at the book “Tokyo Style” and you’ll see the overwhelming number of Japanese people live in cluttered messes rivaling most western homes.
uker

Jan 21 08, 6:38 am PST

11
I have benefited from keeping things tidy, cutting downing buying and donating or throwing out crap accumulations. it is easy to be simple, or simple to be easy.
S.P. Gass

Jan 21 08, 8:31 am PST

12
Great post. I totally agree that lots of purchases today are unnecessary. I’ve been trying to simplify/reduce clutter for awhile; it’s easier said than done. I’ll keep trying one room (or drawer) at a time :-)
Paul X
Jan 21 08, 9:06 am PST

13
I found a trick that works really well to avoid buying useless stuff.

Whenever I am in a store (which is more rare these days), and I find something that I really want, what I always do is go home without buying it. And I think about it some. Very often, after a week or so I come to the conclusion I can do without it, and never go back to get it. Occasionally, I still want it after a week or so, then I will go back and buy. But the point is, most times not having it in front of you when you make the decision to buy or not, takes a lot of pressure off.

***********************

REPLY:

That’s a nice trick Paul. Thanks for sharing.

Tina
Matthew
Jan 21 08, 9:23 am PST

14
Excellent article that puts into words a lot of what I’ve been personally thinking and feeling myself lately. Thanks!
Aaron Scott
Jan 21 08, 9:51 am PST

15
Love the article. I lived in East Africa, Tanzania for almost 2 years and loved my life there. People often ask me what I loved so much about it. It’s hard to explain but one of the things that I loved so much is that I appreciated the small things. Just getting to go somewhere with running water when I would leave my village, taking a hot shower when I would travel to the capitol. Spending 1/6 of my days salary on an occasional chocolate bar. Now that I’m back in America I feel like I don’t truly appreciate anything because everything is so easily accessible.
Aaron

Jan 21 08, 9:55 am PST

16
A Zen monk may wash the floor as a practice to clean him/her self spiritually. What a wonderful change — expressing your self through your objects vs. being attached to your objects.

I think I will go dust off my alter.

Aaron
Quiet Mind Cafe
jeremy

Jan 21 08, 11:14 am PST

17
What a great read. I went through a “life simplification” about 6 years ago, and it was the best thing I ever did. I didn’t even have TV for two of those years. I own almost nothing, but I have all this great wide open space.

I think the thing that helped me slow down and pay attention to thing I would have otherwise ignored is photography. People always tell me that I take such interesting pictures of things that they would have never seen. The truth is that they would see them, if they would just take the time. Take a walk, stare at the clouds, get down on your knees and look at things from a different angle. Stop, look and appreciate.

The other interesting aspect of this is my children. My ex wife is a total pack rat and has stuff from one end of her house to the other. I walk inside and just feel uncomfortable. Like the house is closing in on me. Stacks, piles, toys from the kitchen to the living room. I see how see this affects my kids. At my house, they are calm, relaxed and they enjoy the space. At their moms house, they are crazy, out of control and have stimulus all over. It’s too much. I think they feel like they can breath when they are with me.

Thanks again for your great write up. I enjoyed it very much.
JEMi

Jan 21 08, 11:45 am PST

18
Often times we buy things that are supposed to make us feel posh or important because of an emptiness. This is an easy one to get caught up in (hence shopaholics)

I love the tip about clearing clutter. It helps you grab the reigns on your life and your surroundings .. helps you focus on whats important.

Consider this Dugg :)
Zath

Jan 21 08, 1:33 pm PST

19
I’ve been thinking about so many of these things just recently, not quite sure why, maybe it’s just a stage in life, but I’m really starting to appreciate things other than physical possessions which really used to mean a lot to me.

Now I can get rid and de-clutter my life, feel less stressed by doing it and also save money in the process of unnecessary spending in the future.

One of my favourites is just watching and listening to the rain at various times of the day.
Meridian
Jan 21 08, 2:37 pm PST

20
I love this article and totally agree. I find i cannot relax unless the house is clean and uncluttered. And i frequently turn off every possible electronic device in the house (except fridge of course) including lights, open up the windows and read a book in the midday sun that shines through the window. ‘Stuff’ suddenly becomes very unimportant. But…..

I have a library. Book shelves covering the walls. Books up to the ceiling. Shelves abound with useless items.
With all this “stuff” in the room, i actually feel more relaxed in it. It is my ‘Den’, with a collection of items on the shelves that signify my life. Not items purchased from a shopping centre. Items that i’ve collected on my travels and items signifying achievements i have made. Everything in that room is very important to me. It has value to me beyond that of any item that could be purchased at a shopping centre. It is almost a summation of my achievements in life. That room signifies ‘me’, and is not filled with items i purchased so that i could feel a certain way. It is filled with items that i purchased ‘because’ i feel a certain way.

To anyone else, the room is probably quite boring. But i would be quite lost without it.

I don’t know whether these feelings are familiar to anyone. And i know they kind of go against the grain of this article. But i feel my life would lack something if i could not sit in my library, look around, and think: ‘Yes, i have achieved things, my life has a point’.

***************

REPLY:

Hi Meridian,

You have a great point here. I could just imagine you reading by the window with the indoor lights off. I hear what you’re saying and I cannot label this as wrong. What I’m really trying to highlight with this article is that we tend to associate ourselves with the things we own… and we think this is where happiness can be drawn from. I can relate to what you are describing, I’m incredibly attached to my loft, without it, I think that I will not be well or creative. But to some extent, part of me knows that even the things I hold precious from memories I treasure are just things, they capture memories from the past… but, I can only live in the now.

The question to ask is, “Can you feel that your life has a point without all your possession? Can you still be grateful for all that you’ve experienced in your life? And all the small miracles that comes your way?” :)

Love & Gratitude,
Tina
shwin
Jan 21 08, 6:37 pm PST

21
Hey Tina,
I love how fast your blog has grown. It shows the power of intention, absolute faith and working towards the goal…. I like this post, I’ve already realized the things you’ve said but still do the opposite. I must wisen up!

thanks
Shwin

*************

REPLY

Hi Shwin,

Thanks so much. You are right, the power of intention and absolute faith works when I stopped thinking/pondering/analysing whether it will work.
Don’t worry about doing the opposite, I too do the opposite. The key is sending out your intentions for how you’d like to live your life, and taking steps towards that (which rarely happens over night). I admire you for trying. :)

Warmly,
Tina
Wyatt S.

Jan 21 08, 8:04 pm PST

22
Interesting article again and so is the previous comment/conversation by Meridian & Tina. I’ve had a room similar to what Meridian had described. Shelfful of books, collectables, souvenirs, awards, trophies and the likes, all neatly stacked next to each other. I felt I had a lot and had achieved a lot every time when I look at these items.

Attaching my sense of selfworth to these items I felt I was well educated when I see those books I owned, felt I’ve traveled when i see those collectables from different places, felt I’ve achieved when I see those awards and certifications. Until one day i saw a news report…

A traumatised mother and daughter who had survived a devastating fire that destroyed everything in their 20-year house spoke about their ordeal, they’ve lost literally ALL of their belongings but one photograph they managed to grab on the way out. The mother said that she felt so grateful and happy that she and her most loved - her daughter, had survived the fire, when the reporter asked about that 1 single photo that she saved in comparison to everything they’ve lost, she just smiled and said that after almost losing your life, all the belongings they’ve once had were no longer as important.

That was a huge wake up call for me. That very same day I looked at my room, imagined if there was a fire, I could hardly bring even a tiny portion of my items out of the room. Would I still feel I’m myself with the same level of confidence, if I had lost all of that?

I used to move a lot, 6 or 7 times within a few years time. Each time I was surprised at how much stuff I actually have accumulated in the relatively small space I’ve had. When I moved again after I saw the fire survivor’s news I got rid of as much things as possible, and for those things I did have some level of attachment to, I stacked them in storage boxes, lined the boxes up against the wall in my garage.

The shelves looked a lot more empty without those ‘items of pride’, instead my space was filled with a lot more clarity and I simply felt a lot ‘lighter’ than i once was.

Those boxes have since been in my garage for a long time now, one of my goals for the first Q this year is to tidy up my garage (one of my hidden clutters) :-)

Wyatt
Galvin
Jan 21 08, 9:04 pm PST

23
Hey this article/blog is RIGHT ON THE MONEY. It’s something the “better life” books and programs try to advertise but never get to the real point. SIMPLICITY.

I was fortunate to realize this appreciative lifestyle when I started the poor college student life and have really appreciated little things like exercise and books instead of pure entertainment and spending money.

I thank you for putting valuable information on the web and I know others do not think like us. I’m not saying we are better but that we have really got the goods in life by being simple.
gettinDiggy

Jan 21 08, 10:18 pm PST

24
The core of the issue, IMO, isn’t about stuff you have or don’t have. I don’t think people spend enough time properly figuring out what they want from life. Then, use that as a razor to cut through all of the advertising and attempts to sell you stuff that don’t fit into line with what is ultimately really important to you.

If you love to canoe, then buy an awesome canoe. You will love and appreciate it the whole time you have it. It advances what is truly important to you.

Not a car fanatic? Don’t have a big family? Then don’t spend a lot on a vehicle - identify the one that will suffice a minimum set of requirements, and suck the least amount of money out of your pocket. This will allow you have more money for what you want to accomplish.

Advertising is all about making you think you want stuff. Don’t let other people make that decision for you. And be ruthless about what you think you want.

It’s been proven that consumerism will never make someone happy. Check out the “The Happiness Hypothesis” by Jonathan Haidt, and “The Paradox of Choice”.
Matthew Bartleson
Jan 21 08, 10:22 pm PST

25
Great article. I grew up with nearly nothing and always associated having more shit with wealth until my early 20’s. I didn’t realize how much unnecessary junk I really had until last year… it was appalling . Through a series of fortunate events, I had the opportunity to study in Europe for a year, so I gave away and sold everything I could not take with me.

Honestly, it is the most liberating feeling being able to carry anything I value in my backpack. All the time I had spend acquiring and maintaining my possessions can now be spent developing myself and relationships with others, which I have found much more valuable.
Olga

Jan 22 08, 1:37 am PST

26
I enjoyed this article. It comprises some important points about how to improve one’s life. Sometimes it can be enough to take time and go out for a peaceful walk with somebody we love through a beautiful park or garden to realize how little we need in order to be happy.
Koochy
Jan 22 08, 3:09 am PST

27
Tina, I couldn’t agree more with your article. Like other readers I also catch myself wanting something to buy, but if I consider the issue again later on, I know that I can do without it. The cause is that peaople are being influenced: The producers (and the government!) want us to buy, buy, buy! That’s the way to keep the world spinning. Out of money? Get another loan to spend and spend more; no matter how, just spend, otherwise the whole monetery system will slowly stop. Too bad the world is just so dependent on money… All the readers over here (already) know that spending won’t make one happy, but the majority is simply affected by the new and shiny iPod bill-posters. I don’t think this will ever change…
Clyde

Jan 22 08, 10:51 am PST

28
to Luis, getting laid, definitely helps me rid of stress, too.

On a serious note, if everybody felt this way, our society would be a much better place.
ALEjandro Guerra
Jan 22 08, 11:53 am PST

29
Me gusta sacar una tortilla de la nevera, calentarla y ponerle encima una delgada rebanada de queso y comérmela despacito.
Bruce

Jan 22 08, 4:30 pm PST

30
This is a fantastic article of simple life style that we need follow, especially our planet is threatened by global warming..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/jan/21/environmental.debt1

http://godsdirectcontact.com/topics/SOSGlobalWarming.html

For the simple things I love to do:

I enjoy carrying my pocket digital camera with me all the time so I can find some simple beauty around my daily life when I take a walk around my home or office everyday and share them on the internet without Photoshop enhancement.
The Dividend Guy

Jan 22 08, 7:43 pm PST

31
I enjoyed reading this article - quick and to the point. Easier said than done however…

The Dividend Guy
Ray

Jan 22 08, 8:09 pm PST

32
I thoroughly like this article.

The underlying principles you are revealing in this is similar to Buddha’s teachings to how our way of life should be.
Cederik

Jan 23 08, 2:00 am PST

33
I came across “think simple now” today and couldn’t quit jumping from article to article. This helped me a lot. Shifting my recurrent negative emotions and escaping from the nightmare. Taking a deep breath of fresh and renewed mental air.

Many thanks!
Life Life Life

Jan 23 08, 8:37 am PST

34
I’m new here, but I can see this is a nice article to read. I believe leading a simple life is happier and more content than a materially rich one.

thanks.
ALEjandro Guerra
Jan 23 08, 10:01 am PST

35
Me gusta también agradecer a Dios por todo lo que tengo. Igualmente por lo que no tengo. Comienzo por la noche poco antes de dormir por inventar una lista e ir agradeciendo cada uno de los elementos de la lista.
Liara Covert

Jan 25 08, 7:15 pm PST

36
I can relate to this post. When I moved a great distance from where I grew up, it was a challenge to take only a few suitcases. I had accumulated dishes, book and other things I thought I would need in my life. Funny, with all my moving around, I didn’t accumulate furniture? The bottom line is that life experience has helped me realize “less is more.” We don’t actually ‘need’ what we have been conditioned to think we need. Some of us think about our parents and grandparents and wonder how they could’ve accumulated what they have? Its an opportunity to realize we all carry our own baggage and we all work through it at our own pace.
Celeste
Jan 26 08, 1:36 pm PST

37
Confucius never dealt with modern biology…
joy
Jan 26 08, 4:15 pm PST

38
I enjoy:

Ice cubes in summer
sunshine
hot baths
Charles Wilson

Jan 26 08, 5:48 pm PST

39
Sometimes less noise is better. Too many physical things around with many more things in the head just do not cut it.
A good article. Less is more as many will put it!
Grant
Jan 27 08, 1:00 am PST

40
All makes a lot of sense.

While reading it an Advert on the side of the page was try to get me to buy (another!) Ipod! Made me chuckle. It’s no wonder we struggle to find inner peace when we are bombarded with messages every day of our lives telling us exactly the opposite of what this article is saying.

Oh, but the Ipod touch looks sooooo sweet ;-)
Qma
Jan 27 08, 1:23 pm PST

41
Wonderful simple life it is, but it isn’t something simple to do. However, the more we practice it, the better and easier it gets! Young Lady, you keep up your good work.
Kaushik Hatti
Jan 27 08, 8:53 pm PST

42
Its such an educative article! I totally agree with the writer. Just 2 years back I was totally different person, accumulating things that I hardly required and spending precious time protecting and cherishing them rather than really utilizing them.
But, an incident changed my life completely. Now, I look life in a positive sprit. I am more concerned on how I spend every moment rather than what I have amassed or what people think about me. I am interested in how much I can give back to the society (even the most insignificant thing) rather than how much exploit it. Now I know the height of happiness that you get from sharing your things or utilizing your time in the right way.
CatherineL

Jan 29 08, 11:03 am PST

43
Great post Tina. So many people waste time shopping to buy a heap of stuff they’ll never use again. Then they clutter their homes with it; felling too guilty to throw it out because they’ve spent money on it. It’s complete madness.
vineet nair

Jan 29 08, 5:35 pm PST

44
I agree with your comment about minimalism,

I like to follow it in my choice of apparals. Have less but have good. Elegance has nothing todo with quantity.

Nice post and nice idea to start a blog on..

All the best
Vineet
Alex

Jan 30 08, 11:08 pm PST

45
Hi Tina, thanks for sharing such a good article on “The Simple Life”. I am glad I have visited your blog. I find it enlightening. Very good for personal development and I will definitely revisit again. Thanks.

Best Regards
Alex
www.alexteo.com
Jason Simon

Feb 03 08, 4:40 pm PST

46
Great post! I am pleased to have discovered your blog. I like your “Think Simple” approach. It is refreshing.

– Jason Simon
www.opentodifference.com
SavingDiva

Feb 04 08, 1:42 pm PST

47
I really enjoy my DVD collection. I only have about 15 DVDs, but I love each one. I’ve watched each DVD at least 10 times. My friends always tell me that I need to expand my collection…but I don’t want to dilute it with crappy movies!
Galina

Feb 05 08, 6:50 pm PST

48
I am totally in love with this article. Thank you so much for your inspiration. Gala
jd

Feb 08 08, 12:48 am PST

49
Tina - I agree.

It’s never the *things* — it’s the *why* behind them.

For example, do you want the Ferrari, or do you want the feeling it represents?
The sense of freedom and adventure, the feeling of accomplishment, the confidence … etc.
If you know the why, then you have more options.

Related, but another angle … I think it was Wooden (among others) articulated that real happiness is the things that can’t be taken away from you (being your best you, living your values, … etc.)
matt

Feb 12 08, 11:21 pm PST

50
You write so eloquently! It seems that everything you posted is common sense to me, by now. The difference in being in a clean, clutter-free, open and calm environment and one that is loud, cluttered and/or dusty and dirty is amazing. A simple, clean space (as our house often is) just has the best energy.

I’m sure you’ve read her, but check out Karen Kingston if you haven’t. She wrote “Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui” which really is the guide to what you mention.

Keep up the fantastic writing!

http://www.simpleandgreen.net
Brett
Feb 13 08, 11:03 am PST

51
I once saw a house get washed into a swollen river, sad. But all the crap that came out of the house - furniture,paper etc etc , the people were safe, all the possessions gone - did it all really mean anything? Not sure what Im trying to say.
Alejandro

Feb 16 08, 8:32 pm PST

52
As a Feng Shui connoisseur & practitioner I must agree with most statements written in this blog. I have basically lived the greater part of my life under these basic rules for a better living… And it does bring peace of mind!
Jonathan Mead

Feb 20 08, 11:40 am PST

53
Reminds me of doing webdesign for people and they’d make a comment like “what about that empty spot, what can we put there” or “it looks so empty, we’ve gotta fill that up”.

Busy-ness does not equal success.
Evelyn

Mar 16 08, 5:51 pm PDT

54
I always feel better after clearing out stuff. Problem is that I not only have to do it for myself, but for my kids, husband and home. Although I make it a conscious effort to live simply, clearly clutter is an activity that seems never ending….sigh…..
fiona

Apr 13 08, 5:05 am PDT

55
Thanks for the info. Simple really is better.
Trix
May 21 08, 2:19 am PDT

56
Hi Tina,

Good stuff!

But just for a momment, imagine you stopped writing this blog..

stopped doing stuff you really love to…

and yet found peace…

Graduation?

; )
Yuu

May 25 08, 10:47 pm PDT

57
I really agree with your points.
Multitasking was a trend word of late 90’s and especially in corporate world some people still think it’s something of a good thing.
I respect doing one thing at the time.
I also notice I’m more productive that way. We humans are not designed for multitasking but rather a serial processing.
Stefan
Jun 14 08, 6:34 am PDT

58
Excellent Article.

A lot of the social ills we have today are the consequence of exactly the problems most people have mentioned in the article. I have always believed in a simple life. As an educator, I try to instill these ideas in the minds of my students. I always tell them it is better to distinguish yourself by your thoughts, dreams, personal relationships and personal achievements than by the accumulation of material possessions. That being said, I don’t believe that one should live a life devoid of possessions but, just as the article says, learn to appreciate what you have and maximize their utility. On a side note, I always prefer it if people to give me handmade or more unique gifts because I treasure them more. There is nothing like recieving a birthday card or a gift that a child has made of their own volition.

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Is Less Really More?

How to Have More With Less?

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