The idea is free yourself from some of the objects in your life. Why bother? I'll share some advice aimed at campers. Those campers carrying their gear with them while they hike around:- On return from a hiking/camping trip make 3 piles from the stuff you took.<ol><li>Items you used every single day</li><li>Items you used at least once, but not every day</li><li>Items you never used</li></ol>On your next trip, only take Pile 1. You'll have a much easier time carrying fewer items. This is a metaphor for life in general.

Reduce the Stuff in your life

The objects in your life all have a certain 'weight' to them. This weight takes many forms. It could be the weight of obligation, such as owning a musical instrument that you keep meaning to learn but never quite get round to. It could be a wardrobe filled with clothes that no longer fit, but which might eventually fit after a weight loss regime. It can be emotional weight, built in to keepsakes and such things. These items build up slowly, so the gradual increase in 'weight' isn't noticed.

The Weight of 'Stuff'

It's not unusual to find yourself reluctant to do this, even with Pile 3 items. A trick to help you is place the selected items together in a literal pile, or in a cardboard box and put them out of sight. Leave them for a week or two. Have you missed them? Probably not, so go ahead and get rid of them. Feel anything? That's the weight reduction. This process gets easier the more you do it. In time you can lose Pile 3 altogether and make inroads into Pile 2.

Overcoming Reluctance

One way to test this idea is start small, and get rid of a few items from the Pile 3 in your life. These could be sold, given to friends or to charity. In all cases you'll reduce the 'weight' in your life and potentially add to someone else's Pile 1. Pile 3 items often include unwanted gifts, unread books and duplicated items.

Start Small

The benefits of travelling lighter will only be felt if you actively pursue this reduction process. Many Eastern philosophies have travelling light as a central tenet, and these traditions have been around for many centuries. It goes without saying that this process benefits our planet, by reducing the production of un-needed items and benefits the individual by de-cluttering the living space, and with it, the mind. Give it a go.

Feel the benefits

cybersecurity

Cybersecurity

Slack

Unhappiness results from giving negative thoughts our attention. Thoughts produce emotions. Negative thoughts generate negative emotions. To interrupt this process, simply Stop thinking Sounds too simple?It works. The book revolves around this simple idea. It is full of real life examples. You only need to relate to one of these and you'll 'get it'. From that point on you will be able to control your thoughts and stop unhappiness in its tracks.

We‘re born happy

Revolutionary in its simplicity and accessible to all, this bestselling book offers commonsense methods that allow you to let go of depression and tap into natural joy.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

books

Books

Revolutionary in its simplicity and accessible to all, this bestselling book offers commonsense methods that allow you to let go of depression and tap into natural joy. In this indispensable handbook, Richard Carlson demonstrates how we can change everything in our lives – earn more money, meet new friends, get a new job – yet still feel dissatisfied. Happiness, he says, is not 'out there' but within, a state of mind that is independent of circumstance: 'If you begin to see that your thoughts are not the real thing – they're just thoughts and as thoughts they can't hurt you – your entire life will begin to change today.' Carlson's step-by-step guide explains: • How your thoughts determine how you feel. • Why thinking about problems only makes them worse. • That thoughts come and go – you are free to choose at any moment which to hold on to and which to let go. • Straightforward methods for conquering depression. • How to dismiss negative thoughts and discover inner contentment. • How to overcome lifelong pessimism and start really living.

Richard Carlson, Ph.D, was born and raised in the Bay Area. He grew up in Piedmont and received his bachelor's degree from Pepperdine University and his doctorate in psychology from Sierra University before opening a private psychotherapy practice.During his life, he was considered one of the foremost experts in happiness and stress reduction in the United States and around the world and was a frequent featured guest on such shows as Oprah, The Today Show, The View, NNC, CNN, Fox, PBS, and more than 200 other shows. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff continued to be a publishing phenomenon with more than 20 titles in the brand franchise, two of which were co-authored and authored with his beloved wife, Kris.

Slack

Stop Thinking, Start Living: Discover Lifelong Happiness

Paul