Do You Really Need That?

What object could you not live without? Certainly, there are many things that make our lives better. Emphasis on the word things. For a lot of us, we have a strong connection to material items. It’s how we end up with closets, cars, garages, and homes full of STUFF.

Did you know the average person consumes twice as many material goods today than they did 50 years ago? That is SO. MUCH. STUFF. However, research from San Francisco State University in 2016 found that people who spent money on experiences rather than material items were happier and felt the money was better spent.

Oftentimes we think material things will buy us status or happiness, but it doesn’t. Having too much stuff can actually make us feel weighed down, stressed out, and less energetic. There’s a popular book called “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo that has revolutionized the idea of getting rid of “things,” and in return, feeling more joy.

If you feel like you have too much stuff, things that you CAN live without, don’t be afraid to get rid of them. Ask yourself with each item, “does this bring me joy?” If it doesn’t, consider getting rid of it. Last year, one of my friends went traveling for a few months and put everything she owned into storage. After months of traveling she realized how little she missed her stuff in storage. So, when she came back, she got rid of almost all of it without hesitation. The stuff she needed could be paired down to a few boxes. It’s amazing how little we need when we really think about it.

We are always in pursuit of happiness, yet we often forget that money and material things have no correlation to it. You can’t buy spirit. So, try focusing on the experiences, and not the “stuff.”

Up and up!