Letting go to Hold on: Minimalism as a Treatment for Consumerism
Consumerism as an Addiction
What I often fail to be aware of is that I am influenced by the world around me. Advertisements, music, television, even the books and articles I read are secretly screaming the same thing: “you need more things to make you happy.”
These things promise to fulfill a need in us, oftentimes creating a need.
“The new iMac is 20% faster!”
“Lexus now comes standard with Wi-Fi!”
“Big Macs are only 2 for 1$!”
This is not to say that buying a new computer, a new car, or eating fast food is bad. The problem is the lust that we foster towards these things.
Leo Barbatua, creator of ZenHabits.com puts it this way:
If what you already have is good enough, why upgrade? Why give in to the lust? Recognize that you’re already happy, that advertising has created this desire in you, and that you can be content without it. — Leo Barbatua
We have been taught by our society to be addicted to products. To beat the addiction, we need to let them go.
This is way simpler than it sounds. Let me say, first of all, that this doesn’t mean selling everything you have and living in a yurt (although that would pretty effectively cut you off from EVERYTHING). This all starts with awareness.
This idea of paring down and living with only what you really need is called Minimalism.
“[Minimalism is] simply getting rid of things you do not use or need, leaving an uncluttered, simple environment and an uncluttered, simple life. It’s living without an obsession with material things or an obsession with doing everything and doing too much. It’s using simple tools, having a simple wardrobe, carrying little and living lightly.” — Leo Barbatua
Some questions to ask yourself when considering your possessions:
1. Is it useful?
The most important thing to consider is function. If something doesn’t have a use, then you probably don’t need it.
2. Do I use it?
Have you ever used that set of weights in the last three years? If you can be honest with yourself and can admit that you don’t use something very often, if at all, then it probably isn’t necessary.
3. Do I need so many?
Socks and dishes are both very useful, and you definitely use them, but do you need 20 pairs of socks and dishes to serve 30 people? (If so, no worries.) This is different for every person, but for each item, there is a point where having backups or extras becomes clutter and excess.
4. Is it meaningful?
Pictures of your grandparents’ wedding are not practical or useful, but they have meaning. However, it seems to me that I am always able to find an alternative for meaningful items. You could easily archive the photos and make digital copies. This way, they take up less space and will last longer.
What I am not saying:
You should just throw out everything you own and things will get better.
What I am saying:
Not being so preoccupied with buying, keeping, or using things you don’t really want or need can help fight the tendency to want more.
Think about it!
Let me know what you think by commenting or emailing me.
