Everyone wants to be happy and satisfied, but most people keep looking for it in the wrong place. As some people concentrate more on wealth building rather than family, they begin losing focus on what really matters – such as a happy family life.
Happiness is a personal thing with different shades of meaning. We spend our entire lives chasing happiness, yet some people have nothing but regrets in the end.
Some people link happiness with a new car, a new home, or a vacation in Paris; but once the charm of a new possession or experience fades, people tend to go back to feeling miserable and start their quest for happiness all over again.
As the famous actor Jim Carrey said, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”
We are not here to explore the meaning of happiness or undermine the significance of wealth, but to help you find some peace and satisfaction in your life – regardless of what you are doing or how much money you are making.
Avoiding the Rat Trap
As we grow up and start making money, we try to fit into society’s preconceived notions. Society tells us that having a nice car and a duplex is the hallmark of success, so what do we do? We start working hard to make more money to be able to afford more and more luxuries. Those who don’t make enough money end up taking a loan to buy a car and a home that is too expensive. Things they own end up owning them, and they spend the rest of their lives trying to crawl out of the debt trap.
And then they wonder why they are not happy.
Minimalism – The Way of Life
Minimalism is a lifestyle that advocates the idea of ‘less is more’. You don’t need a wardrobe full of expensive clothes and shoes to be happy. A luxurious German sedan won’t make you happy if you are driving it to a job that you hate. A big home won’t make you happy if you don’t have enough friends and family members around to spend time with.
Now some people might argue that it’s better to cry in the back seat of a BMW than in a beat-up Hyundai. That’s a valid argument, but why do we have to cry in the first place? Is it necessary to have any kind of stress in life? Is it necessary to trade your peace of mind for material things you don’t need? Just food for thought.
The idea of minimalism is to live within your means and avoid buying things you don’t need. And here are a few tips to do that.
Get rid of the stuff you don’t need
The thumb rule states that if you haven’t used something in 6 months, you are highly unlikely to use it in the future. Be it clothes, furniture, a gadget or an appliance, it’s better to donate, sell or trash than cling onto it for no reason.
Downsize
When you remove items you don’t need, you will be left with a lot of extra room that you will not use. Move into a smaller home, put off your next car purchase, buy smaller appliances, compare AGL electricity rates to find the cheapest energy provider, and use retractable furniture to keep your home neat and clutter-free.
P.S. a smaller home is easier to clean and maintain and using less energy also helps you save money – it’s a win-win.
Find a job that makes you happy
If you have to drag yourself out of bed every morning to go to work, you might want to quit that job and find something that makes you happy, pays your bills and allows you to save enough for a rainy day. Money isn’t going to help if you are always stressed out and in poor health because of a job you hate.
Takeaway
With fewer possessions and liabilities, you will have fewer things to worry about and less money you need to maintain a consistent lifestyle. As it follows, you can focus more on traveling, spending quality time with family, and doing what you love.