Originally Published February 17, 2003 -- Your
Wellness Guide
'Less Is More' Becomes New Way to Happiness
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Visiting Mexico, I
see the smiling faces of children who have only one or two toys –
not a whole room full. I wish my children could grow up so easily
satisfied.
Yet from
youth to adult, our culture drives us to accumulate more and more
stuff.
We all know that
money and material things don’t bring long-term happiness. Yet, we
certainly want to be comfortable. |
As a
whole, our society could benefit from a little less and come away with
more.
Because when accumulation of stuff is our primary pursuit, then it’s time
to step back.
A
new report by Robbie Blinkoff, Ph.D., a cultural anthropologist at the
Context-Based Research Group (www.contextresearch.com) in
Baltimore,
Maryland,
recently concluded that people are reacting differently to daily life
after 9/11, creating a new normal – a less-is-more, return-to-values
lifestyle.
“The
report ‘The New Normal’ is the concept that things will never be the
same,” says Dr. Blinkoff.
“Things look the same when you look out the window, but the first thing
you think of when a plane crashes is terrorists.”
The
study results indicate that people are looking for “refuge in family,
searching for meaning in their life, finding solace in the ‘small things,’
making their lives simpler, looking for spiritual answers, and embracing
the sanctity of life.”
When Dr. Blinkoff
hears the phrase ‘Less is More’ he says he thinks of a term used around
his office: “simpler-fy.”
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“When people have
less they can focus more on what they have and be happier. Having
less or making due with less is a process that takes a lot of
discipline to maintain,” says Dr. Blinkoff.
He gave ‘Less is
More’ examples of making a special meal to spend time with friends
versus buying a gifts. Or, personally visiting loved ones instead
of just sending flowers.
As a result, says
Dr. Blinkoff, the time spent with people creates powerful social
relationships.
One of the main
changes identified in The New Normal is that people are taking the
time to identify their core values. |
Photo Courtesy: Knox College
Knox College Professor
Tim Kasser downshifted to a rural residence to spend more time
outdoors and with his family.
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Tim
Kasser, associate professor of psychology at Knox College in Illinois,
says, “The research shows what brings happiness is a focus on personal
growth, a connection with other people, a broader connection to the world
around us. People who focus on these things are more likely to report
more happiness.”
Author of the book
The High Price of Materialism, Kasser says that
“Less is More” means less stuff. And he feels that less focus on
arbitrary possessions means more happiness and more fullness of
life.
Kasser left the city with his family a few years ago and now lives at a
rural residence, driving his moped to the college each day for work.
“My
family and I are more focused now on doing organic gardening and canning.
I have two small children. We only let our children watch 1 hour of TV a
day. We go on hikes together,” says Kasser.
To
emphasize his focus on non-materialistic endeavors, he recently took up
drawing in the last six months “which I haven’t done since being a kid,”
says Kasser.
“Less is More” not only applies to acquiring things but also to swamping
our time with activities that just make us busy – not happier.
The
Center for a New American Dream (www.newdream.org)
has a number of ideas on how you and your family can downshift and find a
reasonable sense of consumerism.
After all,
we want to make the most of our time, resources, and life everyday.
Perhaps taking a look at what we can safely lose is not such a bad idea.
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