Minimalism: Why we Can’t Let Something Go

“the life-changing magic of tidying up” summary from part of chapter 5, which I felt needed it’s own post separate from the rest of the chapter.

There are two reasons why we can’t let something go:
1) an attachment to the past
2) a fear for the future

If you come across an item that clearly does not spark joy, but you can’t bring yourself to get rid of it ask yourself: Is it because of an attachment to the past? Or a fear for the future? The answer could be one or the other or a blend of both.

The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life. Example, a woman choosing a partner, who is very anxious about the future, is less likely to select solely because she likes him. She may choose him because it is advantageous to her, because if she doesn’t choose him, she may not find another. Same thing for career choices. On the flip side a woman who is attached to the past can’t move on and find someone new because she is still not over her ex-boyfriend.

The process of selecting our possessions forces us to confront our imperfections and choices we made in the past which can be very difficult. It is dangerous to ignore our items as if we are in denial of the choices we made. We can choose to face them now, some other time or avoid it until the day we die. Obviously it is encouraged to face them now as this process helps identify what is really important to us including our values and reduces doubt and confusion in our life decisions.

The author could tell by the clients expression on their face and body language when they hold something whether it sparks joy. Pay attention to your own body language if you are uncertain. People tend to tilt their head to the side and frown with a tightness in the brow and lips when uncertain of something, which is a sign it does not spark joy. When an item sparks joy, people tend to handle the item differently, caress it gently, with a gleam in their eye and the decision is quick. Also pay close attention to the item as it can be discernable whether they bring joy or not. As an example, a woman in love has a different look about her than when she is not. She is vibrant and exudes a certain energy, the same goes for the items that spark joy for us. Items radiate that.

The best way to find out what we really need is to get rid of what we don’t.