Comments on: Less “Stuff” Doesn’t Equal Happiness Either http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/less-stuff-doesnt-equal-happiness-either/ About finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:29:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jenni http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/less-stuff-doesnt-equal-happiness-either/#comment-65836 jenni http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=656#comment-65836 When we critically 'simplified/downsized' the second time and I was espousing what a wonderful feeling to wake up and just see my Favorite things I had kept. My Mother asked me would I feel the same about having little if I had never had much? I thought that was profound and haven't forgotten it. She always kept me tuned up:) When we critically ‘simplified/downsized’ the second time and I was espousing what a wonderful feeling to wake up and just see my Favorite things I had kept.
My Mother asked me would I feel the same about having little if I had never had much? I thought that was profound and haven’t forgotten it. She always kept me tuned up:)

]]> By: afd http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/less-stuff-doesnt-equal-happiness-either/#comment-45470 afd http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=656#comment-45470 Compulsive purging does make you think obsessively about stuff! I went through a "minimalist" phase when all I wanted to do was get rid of my things--some things that I liked and will never get back! I tried to coax my husband into purging his stuff, but just ended up with tension--obviously. Finally, I came to my senses and stopped thinking about how little or how much stuff I had and just enjoyed them! Thank you for a balanced view of simple living, I'll be returning to read more of your posts! Compulsive purging does make you think obsessively about stuff! I went through a “minimalist” phase when all I wanted to do was get rid of my things–some things that I liked and will never get back! I tried to coax my husband into purging his stuff, but just ended up with tension–obviously. Finally, I came to my senses and stopped thinking about how little or how much stuff I had and just enjoyed them! Thank you for a balanced view of simple living, I’ll be returning to read more of your posts!

]]> By: rochelle http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/less-stuff-doesnt-equal-happiness-either/#comment-39987 rochelle http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=656#comment-39987 when my husband and i married 20 plus years ago, we lived in a 380 sf efficiency one room apartment. through the years, we upgraded and raised a family in a 4000 sf home in mckinney. after the last birdy flew the coop, we moved into a 700 sf apartment and i've gone back to school to finish my degree. we're loving it. it gave us the opportunity to pare down, figure out exactly what we use and what was superfluous and we're living with just enough. the one in, one out philosophy works great and we've become regulars at the Container Store. it's great to know where it is and where it belongs and everything has a home!! i've asked my friends not to give us stuff, but rather gift to charity or take me out for lunch-- it's a welcomed treat now days. we have one closet and we elfa shelved it to accommodate scrapbooking, cake/cookie decorating, sewing, cross stitch and crochet. i've gotten my clothes down to 5 linear feet of closet rods and 5 pairs of shoes. it's an awesome feeling. when my husband and i married 20 plus years ago, we lived in a 380 sf efficiency one room apartment. through the years, we upgraded and raised a family in a 4000 sf home in mckinney. after the last birdy flew the coop, we moved into a 700 sf apartment and i’ve gone back to school to finish my degree. we’re loving it. it gave us the opportunity to pare down, figure out exactly what we use and what was superfluous and we’re living with just enough. the one in, one out philosophy works great and we’ve become regulars at the Container Store. it’s great to know where it is and where it belongs and everything has a home!! i’ve asked my friends not to give us stuff, but rather gift to charity or take me out for lunch– it’s a welcomed treat now days. we have one closet and we elfa shelved it to accommodate scrapbooking, cake/cookie decorating, sewing, cross stitch and crochet. i’ve gotten my clothes down to 5 linear feet of closet rods and 5 pairs of shoes. it’s an awesome feeling.

]]> By: Willow http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/less-stuff-doesnt-equal-happiness-either/#comment-28262 Willow http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=656#comment-28262 Exactly! Either extreme for its own sake simply allows for too much emphasis being put on 'things'. It's like money--money is amoral, neither bad nor good. It's how people use money that determines its moral value. Things are amoral--stuff (none or too much) shouldn't be the focus of our lives. Exactly! Either extreme for its own sake simply allows for too much emphasis being put on ‘things’. It’s like money–money is amoral, neither bad nor good. It’s how people use money that determines its moral value. Things are amoral–stuff (none or too much) shouldn’t be the focus of our lives.

]]> By: Jacqueline Johns - Your Happy Life Mentor http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/less-stuff-doesnt-equal-happiness-either/#comment-28244 Jacqueline Johns - Your Happy Life Mentor http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=656#comment-28244 Yes! Yes! Yes! Stuff is irrelevant! What is relevant is inside us. Our relationship with ourselves, our people, and our God(s). Everything else is details. Live Life Happy! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Stuff is irrelevant!

What is relevant is inside us.

Our relationship with ourselves, our people, and our God(s).

Everything else is details.

Live Life Happy!

]]> By: finallygettingtoeven.com http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/less-stuff-doesnt-equal-happiness-either/#comment-28236 finallygettingtoeven.com http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=656#comment-28236 When I first started reading this post I was going to say "Of course I am happier now because I got rid of all my junk" but the further I got into the post I realized that what you were saying was so true, for me anyway. The obsessive purge I had, just like everything else I do in life, guilty on the 'high' that I got from getting rid of all the stuff. However, I will admit after I came down from the 'high' I still am in a place where I feel so much better than having all the stuff to begin with. When I first started reading this post I was going to say “Of course I am happier now because I got rid of all my junk” but the further I got into the post I realized that what you were saying was so true, for me anyway. The obsessive purge I had, just like everything else I do in life, guilty on the ‘high’ that I got from getting rid of all the stuff. However, I will admit after I came down from the ‘high’ I still am in a place where I feel so much better than having all the stuff to begin with.

]]> By: Annie http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/less-stuff-doesnt-equal-happiness-either/#comment-24455 Annie http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=656#comment-24455 My daughter and I live in a 720 sq. ft. paid-for mobile home. While there will always be a need for some things, purging and minimalism have given us a therapeutic way to control clutter. Honestly, when my daughter is visiting her father, I could happily live in a much smaller place than this. Most of the living room is taken up by daughter's beloved pets while I spend most of my time writing in the kitchen. I could cut this space in half and be more than content, provided I could keep my washer and dryer lol! I used to be quite stressed because of all of the stuff in my life. This same stuff may give another comfort and pleasure but I found it uncomfortable. We each have to walk our own path. My daughter and I live in a 720 sq. ft. paid-for mobile home. While there will always be a need for some things, purging and minimalism have given us a therapeutic way to control clutter.

Honestly, when my daughter is visiting her father, I could happily live in a much smaller place than this. Most of the living room is taken up by daughter’s beloved pets while I spend most of my time writing in the kitchen. I could cut this space in half and be more than content, provided I could keep my washer and dryer lol!

I used to be quite stressed because of all of the stuff in my life. This same stuff may give another comfort and pleasure but I found it uncomfortable. We each have to walk our own path.

]]> By: Anna http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/less-stuff-doesnt-equal-happiness-either/#comment-22060 Anna http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=656#comment-22060 I like this. It's balanced, and it helps with questions I've been asking myself. Husband and I built a 2001 sq ft house (I'm still trying to find that one extra square foot) and even though we'd gotten rid of a lot of stuff, it's still fuller, particularly in the closets, then I'd like. But we both work a lot from home and so there's more trappings to that. We had simplified a lot because even though our house is bigger, we have no garage, just a garden shed, and so the amount of stuff we cut back on from a very cluttered two car garage and 1470 square foot house is amazing! But your posts is a great way to walk in between as it were. And I get permission to not feel guilty because I don't live in a a one room cabin "off-the-grid" :-) I like this. It’s balanced, and it helps with questions I’ve been asking myself. Husband and I built a 2001 sq ft house (I’m still trying to find that one extra square foot) and even though we’d gotten rid of a lot of stuff, it’s still fuller, particularly in the closets, then I’d like. But we both work a lot from home and so there’s more trappings to that. We had simplified a lot because even though our house is bigger, we have no garage, just a garden shed, and so the amount of stuff we cut back on from a very cluttered two car garage and 1470 square foot house is amazing!

But your posts is a great way to walk in between as it were. And I get permission to not feel guilty because I don’t live in a a one room cabin “off-the-grid” :-)

]]> By: Kelly http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/less-stuff-doesnt-equal-happiness-either/#comment-22058 Kelly http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=656#comment-22058 I've never been a packrat, but after 8 eight years in the same place, things accumulate. When I realized things needed to be reorganized too often or looked for in too many places, it was time to purge and reorganize. I started with the paper - paid bills, previous year's policies, etc. It's now down to one file box. I've been through every closet, drawer and cabinet once so far and purged (donated or trashed) those items I no longer used or didn't even remember having. That was round one. I wasn't terribly hard on myself, but the house is more organized, I don't waste time looking for things, and the house is easier to clean and almost look forward to doing it. There is no longer the panic when out-of-towners come to visit either. I don't have the desire to just buy stuff because I can. It has to pass the needs test first and usually has to pass the one-in-one-out test too just to make sense to me. I save money, time, and the angst of where something will finally go. It's been great and I don't miss any of the stuff that's gone. Now I look around and realize I still have stuff that I thought I loved or used that I don't. Now I'm on to round two. There is no deadline or pressure, just an ongoing review of what I surround myself with. Life is easier and lighter in a way. Just another perspective, if it helps anyone. I’ve never been a packrat, but after 8 eight years in the same place, things accumulate. When I realized things needed to be reorganized too often or looked for in too many places, it was time to purge and reorganize. I started with the paper – paid bills, previous year’s policies, etc. It’s now down to one file box. I’ve been through every closet, drawer and cabinet once so far and purged (donated or trashed) those items I no longer used or didn’t even remember having. That was round one. I wasn’t terribly hard on myself, but the house is more organized, I don’t waste time looking for things, and the house is easier to clean and almost look forward to doing it. There is no longer the panic when out-of-towners come to visit either. I don’t have the desire to just buy stuff because I can. It has to pass the needs test first and usually has to pass the one-in-one-out test too just to make sense to me. I save money, time, and the angst of where something will finally go. It’s been great and I don’t miss any of the stuff that’s gone. Now I look around and realize I still have stuff that I thought I loved or used that I don’t. Now I’m on to round two. There is no deadline or pressure, just an ongoing review of what I surround myself with. Life is easier and lighter in a way. Just another perspective, if it helps anyone.

]]> By: Jackie http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/less-stuff-doesnt-equal-happiness-either/#comment-22013 Jackie http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=656#comment-22013 Oh--thank you so much for such a sweet, balanced view! Oh–thank you so much for such a sweet, balanced view!

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