Minimalism as a Reaction to Materialism?

More and more people are starting to realize the benefits of actually having less clutter and fewer items and this is resulting in a situation where they are happier with just a few beautiful objects rather than feeling the need to go out and buy everything they see advertised on TV.

And what does that lead to as a result?

Greater satisfaction and happiness with fewer items! This makes a massive difference because it means that you’re now going to be happier and spend less time thinking about the things that you don’t have.

And you’ll have more money to spend on those select few items and on the things that really make you happy.

This is the perfect antidote to our modern, materialistic culture and it is also the very same ethos that has been preached by numerous philosophies and spiritual practices for centuries. Happiness doesn’t come from what you own, it comes from what you do with what you own.

You can be the richest person in the world but be incredibly stressed and unhappy. Why?

Because you have created a lifestyle that still pushes the limits of your budget. You’ve been accustomed to a certain quality of life that costs a lot of money and involves a lot of hard work. Maintaining this lifestyle takes a lot of effort and yet you are still always thinking about the things that you don’t have and the things you want. You don’t stop to take a moment and just enjoy the things you have and objects of incredible value and beauty end up being lost in all the noise and losing their value to you.

Minimalism is about getting the very most out of what you have and this applies to your personal life. Taking a gratitude attitude means waking up and feeling so lucky that you’re with your partner. It means being overjoyed with your children and with your health and with your freedom. It means not looking next door and wishing that you had the neighbour’s widescreen TV.

It means not wasting money on junk and it means being present.

And of course, minimalism means that your happiness isn’t tied up in physical possessions. It means that you can get enjoyment out your own mind and your own body, rather than letting that small scratch on your car ruin your day.

Life is there to be enjoyed and there is so much out there to be enjoyed right now. If all you can think about is how much you want the latest toy or gadget though, then you’re not going to have time to stop and enjoy those things. You have to work harder, stay in the office later and take out loans.

But what you don’t realize is that you already have everything you need. It’s time to relax and enjoy it!

Many thinkers agree that this is the secret to happiness. To be able to truly appreciate things and let go of unnecessary stress, distracting desires and that gnawing sense of dissatisfaction.

Of course, in a capitalist world, where every company under the sun is constantly showing off its wares, this can be incredibly difficult. Fortunately, you have this book to hand which is going to help you get everything you want by discovering that you already have it.