Simple Reasons to Let Go of Stuff in Your Life. Letting go of things isn’t always easy for us. We live in a consumerist culture where we are overly tied to material items, which should not be the case. Material items just bring transitory delight and pleasure, so nothing good comes from them. They normally don’t have any meaning other than to provide a transient feeling, and after that feeling fades, previous feelings reemerge.
We live in a world that encourages us to acquire as much as we can and to fill our lives with stuff. According to this theory, the more stuff we have, the bigger and shinier it is, the more valuable we are and the better our lives will be.
Is this, however, the case? When you learn to let go of things, you will live a more tranquil and fulfilled life. In this essay, we’ll go through 11 basic reasons to let go of things.
What Does It Mean to Let Go of Things?
There’s a reason why minimalism has become a popular trend throughout the years, and it’s because the principle of “less is more” is true. This runs counter to our consumerist culture, in which we splurge on items we don’t even need yet find appealing to buy. When you learn to let go of possessions, your definition of wants and needs shifts dramatically, and you no longer prioritize purchasing items for status or fleeting pleasure.
Learning to prioritize your needs over your wants provides you with more breathing room in your home, and you won’t notice any signs of spending money on things you don’t even use. It indicates that to let go of items you want or believe you need, you must first determine the considerable value they give. If it only has surface-level relevance, you should let it go.
Why is it so difficult to let go of things?
Because thanks to a few well-worn excuses it’s insanely easy to justify why you might need to keep something. But here’s the good news: The first step to letting go of clutter is learning to understand the fear you have about parting with a particular item. Here are the six main reasons letting go of possessions is hard, plus tips for how to move past the fear and make more space in your home and your life for the things that matter.
1. Our possessions have sentimental significance
The most prevalent reason we keep things is because we are sentimental beings. The small vial of white sand you brought back from your trip to Oahu. The ottoman from your grandmother. Your first date’s concert T-shirt. Many of our possessions remind us of a loved one, a great trip, or a pleasant time in our lives, making them tough to let go of.
Amy Trager, a Certified Professional Organizer based in Chicago, suggests asking yourself if you’ll remember the occasion or person in question if the item isn’t tied to it. “If you can say yes, you may donate that thing.” “It’ll be loved by someone else,” adds Trager. If you’re inclined to preserve the object for sentimental reasons, snap a photo of it and jot down a few phrases regarding its significance.
2. We are concerned that we will need that thing again
This is one of the most damaging justifications available. It’s why we keep anything from broken coloured pencils and instruction manuals to unspoiled snowboards (here’s how to store surfboards) and outdated chemistry textbooks. But, as Chicago-based Chaos to Order owner Monica Friel points out, “there’s a difference between needing something and perhaps requiring something.”
Storing things we don’t use or like simply in case we need them again later isn’t productive or healthy. Trager suggests being honest with yourself and asking when you last used the item in issue. You can let it go if it’s been a year or more. “Now and again, you’ll get rid of something you might want again.” That’s OK. If necessary, you can borrow it, rent it, or repurchase it,” adds Trager.
3. We feel guilty about disposing of things belonging to someone we care about
Guilt might play a significant influence on our aversion to decluttering. “We typically feel guilty if we’re getting rid of something from someone we care about,” Trager explains. “It’s difficult to remember that a person will still love us and use them even if we no longer have this object they gave us.” So, rather than stuffing the framed cat artwork your friend bought you into a closet to accumulate dust, let it go. “Make plans to get it into the hands of someone who will appreciate it,” Friel advises. “It’s the best way to remember a loved one.”
4. We feel bad about how much money we spent
When we are hesitant to let go of something because we have spent a substantial amount of money on it, we experience decluttering guilt 2.0. Perhaps it’s the pricey and bulky blender you realize you’ll never use (here’s a small and powerful alternative), the non-refundable winter coat that makes you itch, or the expensive bookcase you splurged on only to discover it clashes with your decor.
Whatever the thing, it’s tempting to maintain it just for its perceived monetary value. However, as Trager points out, “just because we spent money on something once doesn’t mean it still has that cash value.” Consider whether the monetary value is worth the space it takes up in your home. “How much is that peace worth to you?”
5. We cling to our stuff to fulfil our aspirations and hopes
When we say goodbye to an item, we may also be saying goodbye to the hope that thing represents for us. “We preserve craft stuff in boxes thinking one day we’ll build that dollhouse and sew those quilts.” “We have piles of magazines because we’re going to start gourmet cooking any day now,” Trager adds.
Allowing yourself to let go of these things may feel like a failure or an embarrassment. It may feel like you’re giving up on a dream. But, as difficult as it is to let go, it is far more difficult to cling on to something that does not provide you tangible delight. Be honest with yourself and let go of the item to make room for something that better fits your routines and lifestyle. Furthermore, getting rid of clutter may benefit your health.
6. We don’t make time
Time is valuable, and most of us would rather not spend time cleaning or decluttering. That’s why our belongings pile up so rapidly – we rarely take the time to analyze what we own and the value (or lack thereof) they bring to our lives. “Clutter equates to postponed decisions,” according to Friel, whether it’s the decision to postpone your major closet purge or to leave the stack of mail on your desk for tomorrow.
Simple Reasons to Let Go of Stuff
1. It merely delivers short-term happiness
No matter how hard you strive, it will only supply you with temporary enjoyment and pleasure, as previously said. This is the main reason why individuals buy goods they don’t need and end up not using them for a long time.
2. It adds no value to your self-worth
If you buy clothes and shoes because you believe it would boost your self-esteem, you are mistaken. No matter how well you dress, confidence comes from within, and it is something that cannot be remedied by purchasing additional items.
3. It keeps you from focusing on your true priorities
When you continually buy stuff to divert you from figuring out what’s genuinely essential in life, it’s easy to blur the lines between what is and isn’t. Material items aren’t evil in and of themselves, but they can deceive you into believing that your wants are something you can’t live without when that isn’t the case.
4. It enslaves you
When you buy material object after material object and wind up scattering them all over your place when you’re done being entertained by them, it’s a high-maintenance lifestyle. Even if you wanted to, it’s a never-ending loop in which you buy things and then doesn’t bother using them. You’re a victim of the consumerist cycle and can’t seem to break free.
5. It increases your fear
Material possessions frequently provide you with a false sense of identity and confidence, and you are frightened that by letting go of your possessions, you would lose your identity. However, you should be aware that the confidence and status symbol that worldly possessions provide you with is a façade you’re trying to display everyone else to prove who you are and who you are not.
6. It prevents you from escaping the past
There are material goods in your possession that don’t necessarily confer status, but they evoke memories from your history. These are things you cling to cling to the past, and you’re terrified that letting go of them will cause you to forget about the past entirely. It’s just a sentimental value associated with a location, person, or memory. You can’t, however, cling to the past because it’s already gone.
7. It prevents you from progressing
If your area is cluttered with unnecessary items, you simply do not have the space to add new items to your life that are considered necessities. Refusing to let go means choosing to cling to things that no longer have a purpose in your life. It teaches you how to live. It is not possible to live your life with incorrect priorities and continually cling to a false idea of status and happiness – it does not work that way. When you let rid of material possessions, you shift your concept of what life is about, and it isn’t any of the things described by material possessions.
8. It helps you feel less lonely
This is a one-of-a-kind cause, but people can feel less lonely even while surrounded by superficial things, which is why they can’t let go. Loneliness, on the other hand, is a state of mind that may be changed. It improves the organization of your space. When you let go of items you no longer require, you make more room to breathe, move, and accomplish anything you choose. When there isn’t too much clutter around you, your space becomes more adaptable.
9 It makes you happy
You will never be satisfied if you continue to buy pointless items, therefore only by letting go will you be able to live a happy and content life.
10. Accept the error
As we begin to eliminate all of the ‘good stuff,’ we will frequently discover numerous errors. Recognize that you made a mistake so that you can move forward. Keeping something that adds no value to your life keeps you trapped in the error.
11 Change your point of view
As my journey into minimalism progressed, I realized that there is far more satisfaction in giving things away than there is in owning more.
12. Pick a location
I used to stroll through my house and notice things I wanted to donate, but they stayed put until I set up a place to start placing it all. Set up a box, closet, or room in which to store your donation things. Remove them from your home regularly.
13. The community
Give your surplus to your community. Make a book donation to a school or library. Donate clothing and other household items to local foster care groups, shelters, and food pantries.
14. Try new things
Experimenting by removal has aided me in shedding the layers of wonderful material more quickly. I reduced the number of products in my beauty and bath routine by deleting 60-80 per cent of them. Surprisingly, many of the items I kept had little real use in my day.
15. Stay focused on your why
In times of adversity, choose to focus on why you are giving perfectly fine things away. Remember, you’re sacrificing the good for the sake of the best.
16. Ask yourself more probing inquiries
– Does it serve its purpose—that is, does it serve my purpose?
When we hold things, we don’t always think about our motivations, yet everything has a cost. How much of your passion and purpose are you willing to give up for material possessions? Some of our possessions serve a purpose. The significant things in our lives give them significance and joy. The ineffective ones simply waste our time.
– Is this beneficial to anyone else?
When we preserve good things we don’t need, we prevent them from being useful to others. I used to think it was wasteful to give away goods that were scarcely or never used, especially if they weren’t cheap. But then I thought, why not just own up to my mistake in purchasing this item by giving it away?
– Would I delegate responsibility for this to someone else?
I was expected to plan while my partner was overseas in harm’s way. I filled out the spouse deployment form, which included pages of detailed questions and answers in case my husband was killed. These kinds of experiences taught me to be more cautious. What will happen to my belongings when I’m no longer here? Do I enjoy it enough to leave it to someone else to look after, knowing that it will be my family who will look after it someday?
-What kind of life do you wish to live?
If you own too much, you will live a life controlled by your possessions. If you say yes when you should say no, you will live a life that has been planned for you. If you keep more than you need, you will give less to others in need.
Why Your Stuff Could Be Weighing You Down
Purchasing material goods tends to weigh you down since you will never be content with anything you purchase. Whatever you want, whether it’s the latest phone, fashion, or anything else, it won’t replace the gap in your life. Money cannot buy inner serenity and pleasure. Many individuals try, but it’s an uphill battle. Material goods will only serve to distract you from your true feelings, but your emotions will always emerge in some form.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article covered everything there is to know about letting go. Clutter removal is the finest thing you can do for your mental health as well as your living space. After that, you’ll notice how much lighter and rejuvenated you feel when you only keep what you truly need.
