For a long time I clung unto my possessions, and they truly possessed me, rather than the other way around. I’m going to tell you the story of how I learned to let go more and more (I’m not perfect!) and become more at peace with letting go of things. Let’s start with some general advice.
Good and great
I should start out by saying that the goal isn’t to get rid of ALL your stuff. You obviously need some things, some physical possessions, whether because they’re practical and you need them (like a toilet), or because you have an attachment to them (a copy of an old book that reminds you of a certain period in your life). So what then, is the determining factor in whether you should keep / let go of your stuff? I think the answer is this: do you love it? Do you use it? If yes to either, then keep it. If not, get rid of it for sure. This is the easiest filter, and you’ll be surprised at how much stuff you have that you don’t love, and don’t use. We can raise the bar later, but for not, just start with this.
Giving stuff away
Consider giving away your stuff. Sometimes people are hesitant to do this, because they’re worried they might need it later, but the truth is that you probably won’t. Give it to the Salvation Army (if you’re religious / charitable), to a thrift store, or just give it to a random person. The only things I’d get rid of this way are things that I’m pretty sure someone will get some value out of, and that I won’t regret giving away. It’s hard at first. More on that later.
Sell it
Apps like carousell are really taking off, because you can easily sell your stuff for a small amount of money, and fast. It’s pretty quick and easy but make sure you’re not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Don’t sell something really expensive there! For larger items, like a beat up old (second) car that you don’t really need, would be better sold on eBay, because it’s a larger ticket item.
Trash
Some things, nobody wants. Not even you. I know it can be hard, but if it’s not worth any money, and it’s not even worth donating, then you really have to ask yourself, is it really worth hanging onto? Why should you keep it, if you wouldn’t donate it to someone else? If the answer is that your old teddy gives you a feeling of emotional attachment, then by all means, keep him! Keep him close, don’t even think about throwing him out! But for some old shoes that have holes: it’s time to go.
How this all started
The beginning of my journey to minimalism actually started in a quite non-traditional place. Often you hear stories of a couple being overweight, struggling to pay rent, buying all kinds of luxury items like huge TVs, and struggling under a mountain of debt. They then rise up and turn their lives around. Not me! I was just a marketer and designer, aspiring to become a bit more capable with the underlying websites. Despite making lots of money, I was having a really hard day, stressed about a number of unrelated things like my old car taking up space in the yard and my housemates wanting to park there instead. I was looking forward to my learning task for the afternoon. At the time, I was focusing on becoming more technically capable, and was trying to decide what hot new tech that I should invest time in learning. This was a year ago, but for example, today, you might be asking yourself "Which is better for marketers to learn wordpress or drupal". In any case, at the time, I decided that I can learn one thing, or another, or even all of them, if I wanted to, and that it would be fine. I’d survive. In fact, I’d thrive. For some reason, at that moment, I just let go of the decision, and felt relaxed about it. Whichever way it went, whatever tech I learned, I was going to enjoy it and be happy with it. And then the realization hit me: I can do the same thing with the car. Just let it go. It’s okay if i keep it, or if I sell it, or if I park it there or if I park it on the street, and even if it gets stolen, I’m still at peace with it. This is my personal story of how I began to let go of things, and make the process of making decisions easier on myself. So really, it’s about being okay with any outcome in a given situation. That’s what it means to let go, whether it’s a physical item you have that is weighing you down, or whether it’s a mental decision that you’re weighing up.
Letting go
If you’re like me, at first it can be hard to let go of things, and it will feel like you’re losing something, or even that you’re weak or a bad person. I’ve been there. But the truth is, you’re not. You’re just letting go of things that are weighing you down. You’re not letting go of yourself. It’s not the same thing at all. In fact, it’s the opposite. So don’t be afraid to let go. It’ll make your life easier, and it’s a wonderful feeling when you realize you’re not weighed down by a bunch of crap that you don’t need. I’ve become so much more at peace with letting go of things, and although I’m not perfect, I’m getting better at it. What I’ve learned is that you’ll start to notice more and more that you’ll be at peace with your decisions in general. It’s a great feeling, and I would love to hear from you if you have experienced a similar realization!
