Lighten Your Load: Letting Go Of Materialism For A Fuller Life
Can having material things really make your life happier or more enriched? Do all your “things” give your life more meaning? No, not really. When you embrace the concept of letting go of materialism you open the door to a new world of possibilities.
Materialism may reassure you by allowing you to think about your good job and salary, wonderful home, and the other things that make you feel “successful.” You’re not able to change, and everything seems to be done by habit. The only skills you develop will be to reinforce the way things are, the life that makes you feel safe.
In August of 1992 I lost just about all of my material possessions during Huricane Andrew. This only took about eight hours and when the hurricane’s destructive winds and ocean surge finally subsided my life was forever changed.
Change requires you to muster courage and trust that you don’t need all those “things” that everyone seems to want. You can be comfortable without some of those things and get the feeling that your life is more on track.
How to Teach Yourself that Less is More
- Spend less money.
Look over your budget and make cuts where you can. If it’s something you may like but don’t need, let it go. Spending responsibly will also mean less clutter.
- Less materialism means more time for what matters to you.
When you have fewer belongings, you’ll focus naturally on experiences, rather than “stuff.” Enjoy activities that have real meaning for you.
- After you let go of extra things, reorganize your home and your life.
Purging drawers and closets means you have a chance to reorganize your space. This is great for your mental health, too. Start one room at a time so you don’t become overwhelmed with the reorganization.
- Live free from consumerism’s “buy me” attitudes.
You won’t have to worry about keeping up with all the latest trends anymore, after you let go of materialism. This allows you to prioritize what really has value to you, and you won’t ever want to go back to the way you spent money before.
How can lightening your load make your life easier?
- You will find more time for what matters.
Letting go of things you don’t need or have feelings for will give you more free time. Enjoy those things that mean the most to you, like:
- Spending time with family and friends
- Going to the gym
- Paddle-boarding
- Running on the beach or local paths
- You’ll reduce your debt.
Even if you have a comfortable salary, you could still have been plagued by debt before you lightened your load. When you’re not concentrating on buying the newest things that everyone is spending money on, you’ll be less tempted by those things. You can be satisfied with what you have and forget about keeping up with the Joneses.
- You’ll learn more things about yourself and your family.
Letting go of materialism strips away things that are not necessary. You can then focus on learning more, both about your family and yourself. Without clutter in your home, and having too many unneeded possessions, you will discover feelings, thoughts, talents, and skills that you never knew you had. You’ll have a stronger sense of meaning and purpose to life that was missing before.
- You’ll get more restful sleep.
You’ve probably spent nights lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, and trying not to look at your cluttered closet. When you let go of unneeded material items, you’ll be at lower risk for sleeping problems like sleep disturbances and troubles falling asleep, since your bedroom will be less cluttered.
- You’ll reduce your stress level.
Living a life with a lightened load reduces the stress you feel in life. Your possessions won’t get in the way, like they may have in the past. You won’t be worried about having the car, house or belongings that were needed, in your mind, to impress people. You’ll no longer stress about wanting more things and instead feel gratitude for the things you have, because they mean more to you.
Joshua Becker of “Becoming Minimalist” shared this story…
When I was in middle school, I flew with my brother and sister to visit extended family. I placed a backpack full of my stuff in an overhead bin and buckled up. My favorite cassettes at the time were inside, my favorite Minnesota Gopher t-shirt, my favorite sweatshirt, and a book.
After arriving and walking through most of the airport, I noticed a lightness on my back. I had walked off the plane without my bag. Despite spinning around and running back to the gate, the plane and stuff were nowhere to be found.
I was a bit too forgetful as a child (heck, I’m a bit too forgetful as an adult). I forgot my fair share of packed lunches, homework assignments, and textbooks back at the house.
But this moment felt a little bit different.
Those possessions in that backpack felt like everything to me at the time. I was devastated, and everyone around me—especially my brother and sister—could feel the disappointment.
My guess is that feeling is relatable to almost everyone. At some point in our lives, we all misplace or forget something important.
How we react to that loss is another thing. Despite being inevitable, most of us are surprised when it happens—humbled by an emptiness for something… missing.
When I first discovered minimalism and began clearing out my garage many years ago, fear gripped me. And I’ve heard the same from others. Each item I removed felt like a little, voluntary loss. Sometimes I gripped an item for a while, pondering, “What if I need this in the future?”
The “what if” mindset slowed me down. As if the George Foreman grill would one day come back to haunt me and say, “Told you so!”
Despite the discomfort, I learned to let go of my unneeded material possessions—repeatedly. Sure, some things were harder than others, and some things took longer than others. But slowly, by persisting and not giving up, I began to see how loss ultimately leads to gain.
What’s Next for You?
Letting go of materialism doesn’t mean you have to scrimp and get by with as few things as possible. Rather, it means deciding what is needed to make your life more joyful and fulfilling. By lightening your load, you can have more time, less stress, and be free from being chained to consumerism.
Free! My insightful Short Report on “The Surprising Freedom of… Self-Discipline” may be exactly what you need right now.
I’m bestselling USA Today and Wall Street Journal author Connie Ragen Green. My goal is to help at least a thousand people to reach six-figures and beyond with an online business for time freedom and passive income and to simplify your life. Come along with me, if you will and let us discover how we may further connect to achieve all of your dreams and goals. This is also why I want you to think about letting go of materialism to enhance your life experience. Perhaps my “Monthly Mentoring Program” is right for you.
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