By getting rid of the material things we don’t need, we can practice minimalism and free up space in our homes, our minds, and our hearts.
I have a vice: shopping. Whether buying gifts for others or buying gifts for myself, I just can’t seem to stop. I wouldn’t call myself a shopping addict, but I do occasionally turn to online shopping for that temporary adrenaline rush of clicking “add to cart” and “purchase.”
Having less stuff can help preserve our planet and improve our mental state, and the idea is becoming a trend in popular culture. For example, Marie Kondo, a famous organizing consultant, has helped share the message that we don’t really need that much stuff. Some people have even minimized their wardrobes to just a few items. One of these individuals is Samuel Happonen, who describes his experience in the Liahona article “My One Pair of Pants: A Gospel Perspective on Living Simply.” Happonen states that “while I can’t say I’m a full-on minimalist, I’ve definitely shifted my lifestyle in that direction.”
Photo by Ann Nekr
The minimalist lifestyle supports the old adage “less is more.” This idea is also supported in the scriptures. For example, Doctrine and Covenants 59:20 states, “And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.” So, God has given us the things we need, but we shouldn’t go overboard by always buying excess stuff. When we buy irresponsibly, we create clutter in our lives and in the environment.
Happonen finds “joy in having less,” and he believes we can all find joy and peace by having less. While we might not be able to give up shopping completely, we can all try to consume ethically and mindfully.
To learn more about how minimalism can help you grow, read Samuel Happonen’s article, “My One Pair of Pants: A Gospel Perspective on Living Simply.”
Source: Liahona
—Erin Johnston, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY PIXABAY
Find more insights
To learn about the gospel power of simplicity, listen to Elder L. Tom Perry’s talk “Let Him Do It with Simplicity.”
Check out Elder Marcus B. Nash‘s address, “Righteous Dominion and Compassion for the Earth,” to learn about our divine role in taking care of the earth.
I love this idea–I think that it is so easy to overcomplicate our lives in every sphere.