This is what happiness looks like!<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Happiness was being able to have all these nice things. The mansions, boats, and fancy cars. I thought to myself\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cAll I have to do is work really hard and make a lot of money. Then I can buy all the things so I can be happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Or would it?<\/em><\/p>\n After working really hard and making lots of money, I bought those luxurious possessions.<\/p>\n But much to my confusion, they didn\u2019t make me happy.<\/p>\n Why?<\/p>\n Because\u00a0those possessions didn\u2019t align with my values<\/strong>. I thought happiness was attained through external means. But after attaining more money than I knew what to do with and a shopping addiction that followed, I realized happiness comes from the inside.<\/p>\n And the research is starting to back this up. It consistently shows that money, power, prestige, stuff, and status don\u2019t lead to lasting happiness.<\/p>\n Happiness comes from releasing all the things you think you are supposed to do. The things that were programmed into you by your parents, teachers, and society. And uncovering what\u00a0you<\/em>\u00a0want, what intrinsically motivates\u00a0you<\/em>. (Aka what gets you excited on the inside)<\/p>\n For me, that was realizing that I didn\u2019t want the mansion filled with an abundance of things. I wanted a 200-square-foot tiny home surrounded by an abundance of nature.<\/p>\n In America, we live in a society where consumerism is #1. Everywhere you turn, there is an ad trying to sell you something. Saying, \u201chey, buy this and you\u2019ll be happy.\u201d Or even worse, \u201cif you don’t buy this, you’ll be judged and miserable.\u201d<\/p>\n Many experts believe that in a single day, we encounter more information than an individual from the 15th century would have experienced in their entire life. A significant portion of this is advertising, often designed to evoke emotions in us \u2013 from self-righteousness and outrage to joy, sorrow, or a sense of validation.<\/p>\n Advertisers’ and marketers\u2019 jobs are to sell and get you to buy things. They are very good at it, especially inducing the feeling of \u201cI need that or else I’ll be left behind\u201d They use the same techniques that casinos use to get people to pull the slot wheel over and over again. One that Michael Easter coins in his book Scarcity Brain as a scarcity loop.<\/p>\n That is a lot of storage for stuff we don\u2019t even use!<\/p>\n I fell into this trap for a while and had waaaaay too many things.<\/p>\n Sure, I would donate old items to charity but then I would notice how much I was donating that was still in their original boxes with the tags. \u00a0It got me thinking\u2026<\/p>\n Do I really need these things? What else could I be using that money for?<\/p>\n Now, minimalism is not about NOT having things or buying things. It\u2019s about having things that YOU cherish and hold sacred.<\/p>\n And with a 200-square-foot home, you better believe every item in that house is something we love and appreciate!<\/p>\n Picture this. You walk into your house after a long day at work and see stuff everywhere. Do you think that will make you feel calm or stressed? For most of us, that sure is going to cause some stress! In fact,\u00a0a research article<\/a> in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin revealed that people who characterized their homes as more organized and less cluttered reported reduced depressive feelings throughout the day. This suggests that maintaining a clutter-free and orderly home environment could play a role in fostering a better emotional well-being for yourself. I think about how cluttered my closet used to be. I used to have many different shirts, and when I went out, I would waste so much energy debating what to wear. Through minimalism, I have reduced my \u201cdecision fatigue\u201d by only keeping clothes I love wearing. That way, when I reach for something in my closet, I know it will be something that works.<\/li>\n Costs for many things are increasing in America. You might have already made some shifts to accommodate the changes in our economy. Adopting a minimalist mindset makes things a lot easier. It encourages you to be more mindful and conscious of your spending and consumption habits. Halting impulsive purchases leads to more financial savings. It fosters a shift towards more deliberate financial decisions, focusing on investments that align with your values. As a minimalist, you don\u2019t need to buy as many things and you also find more creative ways to get the stuff you need like the Buy Nothing New Movement. These are communities of people who support each other by giving away and receiving free things they don\u2019t need anymore.<\/p>\n We have gotten so many things there that we would have bought new. From pots, pans, and dehumidifiers, to mason jars, all for free by simply asking if anyone had some to offload. With a core value of unity with nature – this hits home in a deeper way.<\/li>\n \u201cThe more things you own, the more they own you.\u201d – Chuck Palahniuk. Minimalism helps you break free from this feeling. One study<\/a> showed that individuals who previously felt “burdened,” “trapped,” or “tied down” by their belongings experienced a sense of “freedom” and escape from the unsatisfactory cycle of consumerism after embracing a minimalist way of life. I used to get overwhelmed thinking about everything I needed to \u201cfit in.\u201d \u2018If I am going to be accepted by this group, then I need this.\u2019 Minimalism has helped me realize that the only thing I need to \u201cfit in\u201d is whatever I need that aligns with my values and NOT what I think I need to impress others.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n If you are intrigued and looking for a place to start. Check out the\u00a0Minimalist Documentary or book<\/a>. Or maybe you want to start going through your closets and donating items you don\u2019t need anymore. Maybe next time you need something, join a Buy Nothing group and see if you can get it for free.<\/p>\n What motivates you will be different than what motivates me.<\/p>\n Living in a 200-square-foot home in the mountains might seem crazy to many people. And you may want to live in a mansion with many nice things.<\/p>\n That is what is so remarkable about knowing and living your values.<\/p>\n Your values are your intrinsic motivators and are as unique as your fingertips.<\/p>\n When you know your values and what motivates you, you\u2019ll learn to make decisions easily and gracefully.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll know what brings you energy and what drains your energy.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll have a compass to help you navigate life and the key to your happiness.<\/p>\n When you are ready, here are three ways we can help you.<\/strong><\/p>\n Alignment Coaching<\/a>:\u00a0Want to start the new year as your most authentic self?\u00a0 Work with me 1×1 to align with your core values and ignite more well-being without compromising your impact.\u00a0Fill out this inquiry form to see if we’re a good fit for one another.<\/a><\/p>\n Knowing and Living Your Values<\/a>:\u00a0During my 10-day course, you\u2019ll identify your unique values, see where you\u2019re currently activating them, and make small tweaks where you\u2019re not so that every day is filled with purpose.\u00a0Join 7,000+ Students Here.<\/a><\/p>\n Hire MaryBeth as a Speaker<\/a>:\u00a0Have an all-staff event, annual meeting or conference coming up? I will\u00a0inspire your audience to give themselves and others, permission to be human, unleashing higher productivity, profit, and purpose through shared values.\u00a0Learn more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Discover True Happiness: How Minimalism Transformed My Life and Boosted My Well-Being When I was younger in my career, I remember going to different people\u2019s parties in mansions and thinking\u2026 This is\u00a0it! This is what happiness looks like! Happiness was being able to have all these nice things. The mansions, boats, and fancy cars. I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":23036,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38,18,23,10,13,35,21,22],"tags":[43,37,17,24,4,25,27,44],"class_list":["post-23034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-consciousness","category-emotional-intelligence","category-empowerment","category-experience","category-leadership","category-mindfulness","category-reflection","category-values","tag-abundance","tag-consciousness","tag-emotional-intelligence","tag-empowerment","tag-leadership","tag-reflection","tag-values","tag-wisdom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTrue happiness comes from knowing and living your values.<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nWhen I got down to it, I realized I wanted less. \u00a0Being a minimalist activated my core values.<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nThe Wall Street Journal reports that Americans annually expend $1.2 trillion on unnecessary items. Remarkably, the number of self-storage facilities in the United States surpasses the total number of McDonald’s, Burger Kings, Starbucks, and Walmarts combined.<\/h4>\n
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We had to get organized. So, with it being National Organization Month, I wanted to share three realizations I have had since becoming a minimalist.<\/h4>\n
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Minimalism reduces your stress:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Minimalism saves you money:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Minimalism increases your freedom:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Now I realize that minimalism is not for everyone and that is okay.<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nWant a jumpstart? Check out our\u00a0core values quiz<\/a>\u00a0for your unique profile.<\/h4>\n