Where True Happiness Comes From: How We Gain by Having Less

A little big new. That is to say, life expectancy and short life have become a growing movement in America and are beginning to take hold here in the UK.

With the global economic crisis and changes in social attitudes, people are beginning to realize that the more we have, the more miserable and trapped we become. After all, things lead to debt, stress, and increased your carbon footprint.

Also, living in large, spacious cities requires more than just the right amount of things, a lot of money, and a lot of anxiety. Then, when the space runs out, we go to a larger area - or rent a storage area.

That's enough.

Things do not make us happy. We can have that first glow of excitement when we buy new things, but they do not last.

Real purpose and happiness come from experience. From family and friends. From hobbies like photography. It comes from the things we do, rather than from the things we have.

Like most people, I followed the American Dream. I wanted a big house and a garden. A beautiful car. Expensive clothes. I also wanted to develop a spirit of success in order to “move forward” in business.

As a person who runs his own business, there is a perception that if you don't go a certain way, you are not considered successful. That if you do not come to the meeting in a dignified car or wear expensive clothes, you will not be taken seriously. That you do not deserve the money you are charging.

I think this idea of ​​wealth expands our confidence and self-confidence. We feel very strong when we go to a meeting wearing the right clothes and carrying the right bag, for example.

However, this false feeling extends to our private lives, too. We want our peers to think that we are successful. We are embarrassed, for example, when we drive an old car or wear the fashion of last season. We feel like we're going backwards rather than forwards if we don't 'get along.'

Of course, it is easy to fall into this trap - thinking that we really have to drive expensive cars, wear designer clothes, and buy things we don't really need.

That’s how brands and big companies want us to feel. They want us to spend money, eat regularly, and put all our self-esteem, confidence, and happiness into “things”.

They want us to be part of an endless stream of joys and sorrows. I am just happy to have worked on this now and found the truth.

In my relentless pursuit of happiness and success, I became frustrated and constantly running the race for life to keep my life going. To put it another way, it would probably not have seemed so to others. Most people will see this normal way of life as normal.

At one point, it became very common with us and we had "Eureka!" a moment. We realized that we didn't need all that space, let alone all that. So we sold our big house, got rid of our expensive car, and started thinking about small life.

What could we get out of it? What did we really need?

Yes, we recently bought a 600-square-foot [600 sq m] apartment in the city. It has one bedroom, one bathroom, an open seating area, and a small balcony.

We set aside our belongings and now we have only what we need. Sure, there is a little luxury but for the most part we are much brighter than before.

How do we feel? We have no debt, we have little stress, and we do not have to work hard to maintain our lifestyle. Because we live in such a small area, housework is relatively easy. And outside the garden, we do not spend hours caring for grass or boundaries.

This means we have more time. And that time has been given to us. For leisure, experience, with family and friends. And we have a lot of money to spend on things like tours, concerts, or courses in France.

Because of our new lifestyle, we have never been happier or more relaxed. Our lives are rich with meaningful experiences and relationships. And many others who follow this simple lifestyle experience similar benefits.

Personally I think the food years can be over. It's really starting to go downhill. People see that there is a big difference between “need” and “need”.

And with population growth and rising global prices, the future may look bleak compared with what we are living now. It is possible that minimalism becomes a necessity rather than a lifestyle choice.

Do you feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities? Do you find yourself constantly glancing over your head at something expensive? Are you sleeping at night depressed and anxious about debt?

Why not try a little minimalism? You don't have to go to the extreme places I've been. You can just lower the small bits and bobs. Shop for smaller items. Or swapping your car for a cheap travel mode?

And instead of spending money on things, why not invest in experience? In a relationship? In hot times your soul made you jump for joy? Why not build on those precious memories that you hurried from ear to ear every time you remember them?

Because you know what they're saying: You can't go with it. But you can be truly content to live a healthy life.