Prioritize loving people and using objects, rather than loving objects and using people, as this reflects a fundamental shift in values.
Before seeking solutions, focus on understanding the underlying problem, because only by understanding the ‘why’ can you identify the true solution and allow the ‘how’ to take care of itself.
Begin your journey of simplification by asking yourself, ‘How might my life be better with less?’ This reflection helps uncover your personal ‘why’ for change.
Cultivate the capacity to be non-judgmentally and warmly aware of whatever is happening in your mind, including thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations, as this is the essence of mindfulness.
Instead of being consumed by the ‘movie’ of your thoughts and desires (like acquiring stuff), drop back into the freedom of being the ‘stage’ of your mind, which is the awareness itself.
Adopt the principle that everything you own should either serve a purpose, increase your tranquility, augment your experience, or enhance your life in some meaningful way.
Regularly question the things you currently hold onto and any new items you consider bringing into your life to ensure they align with your values and truly add value.
Assess your true priorities not by what you say they are, but by how you actually spend your 24 hours each day, including your time and resources.
Become aware of the ‘craving’ for more (e.g., more cash, clout, cars), as this constant need indicates that you will never have enough, leading to yearning and misery.
Strive to uncover peace from within, rather than trying to find it through external achievements, material success, or results, which are often fleeting.
Stop equating busyness with a positive state; recognize that constantly saying ‘I’m busy’ often indicates that your life is out of control and needs simplification.
Set clear boundaries in your life, such as with work or social obligations, to protect your personal time and well-being, even if it feels unconventional.
Use the process of examining your relationship to material possessions as a catalyst to re-evaluate and simplify other significant aspects of your life, such as your career and relationships.
Understand that creating a ‘blank slate’ through minimalism can be scary, as it may force you to confront underlying issues and create new paths you haven’t faced before.
Practice intimacy in relationships by ‘holding people with your palm open’ rather than with a ‘fist closed,’ meaning you love and want the best for them without clinging or imposing conditions.
Practice letting go of the impulse to give advice or convince others that your way is right; instead, speak your truth and allow it to help those who resonate with it, without attachment to their acceptance.
Engage in the ‘30-day less is now challenge’ by finding a partner and getting rid of one item on day one, two items on day two, and so on for a month, to build momentum in decluttering.
For a more extreme approach, pack all your belongings as if you’re moving, then only unpack items as you need them over the next three weeks to reveal how much you truly use (can be adapted for a single room).