We are bombarded with messages daily that we must buy this or that in order to feel better about ourselves. I’d like to say this is a Western civilization cultural dilemma but that is not entirely true.

The phenomenon of consumerism has spread around the world far and wide over the recent years, and it’s an ideology that most have bought into without second thought.

Personally it feels that I’m at the door of my home fighting consumerism with a stick, and sometimes I win and sometimes I don’t. It seems like a constant struggle, especially with a little one in our home and all the things that he “needs” and wants on a regular basis.

It’s so easy to get enfolded in the “I need this” mindset, especially after watching an infomercial (stay away from those btw), and separate your needs from wants, or fantasy from reality.

But there will come a point that you find yourself feeling uneasy in your own home. You don’t know exactly why, it’s mostly clean afterall and the laundry is done, so what is the matter?

It’s then that you will realize that your walls are caving in on you, not literally of course, but from all the things you have around. Too many toys all over the place, closets bursting with items you haven’t used in years, garages with random boxes you have no idea what’s inside, drawers that won’t close, and the list goes on.

As I mentioned, even when you pay attention to what comes into your home, things can easily sneak in and find a home without you giving it permission to stay.

It’s much easier to assess this situation if you are dealing with random items that don’t mean much to you or you can’t even remember how you got them. But it’s a much bigger issue if you are purposefully hanging on to these items because of how they make you feel.

How do you know if you are attaching your self-worth to your possessions?

Answer the questions below:

• Do you hold on to things because you spent a lot of money on them, even though you rarely use them?

• Do you have an expensive car or house that you are struggling to pay, but that makes you “look good”?

• Are you living above your means?

• Do you believe in quantity over quality?

• Do you purchase things because they are trendy or popular, not because you love them or have a use for them?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, there’s a part of you that is trying to impress others more than yourself. It’s as if you are living an outer experience and you need to find a way to return to yourself. This return is what I refer to as authentic living.

So how can you make the shift of living more authentically and only purchasing things because they serve you, not because they make you feel good about yourself (for a limited time, let’s be honest)?

The number one thing you can do is only purchase something new when you need it, not because you saw it, you might use it one day, or it looks awesome.

Also, don’t go shopping as a fun activity. I personally don’t like to go shopping for anything ever, but I hear it from so many people that they go shopping for fun. I can’t wrap my head around it but this is another way where you can bring things you don’t need into your home.

What to Do?

Next time something breaks, or an item of clothing is worn out or ripped, decide:

1. Do I need to replace this item right away (or do I have other items that can be used instead?) – for example, if you got rid of a pair of jeans, do you need to purchase another pair or do you have enough in your closet at this time?

2. If you need to replace it, what is the highest quality for this item that I can afford? Always think quality over quantity.

3. When you find a replacement, do you LOVE it? Or are you considering it because it’s “in style”, or because others will approve? Making this choice for yourself, and yourself alone, is the beginning of living authentically.

Sometimes we do need a little help sorting through things once we find ourselves attached to everything in our home. Even when we know it’s not an ideal living situation, it can be hard to let go.

Don’t be afraid to look for professional help in this area! When working with a professional there’s no judgement, only possibilities for a life free of unnecessary possessions that are holding you back.

Much love,

Angélica Renée