How Much Stuff is Enough Stuff?
The number one complaint I hear from clients, no matter the size of their homes, is that they don’t have enough storage space. Truly! I have stood in enormous beautiful homes and listened to clients complain about small garages, tiny kitchens, and inadequate coat closets.
It has also been my experience that, not only do clients feel like they don’t have enough storage, but that any storage that is available in a home will quickly fill. There’s something about human beings that makes us want to use every inch of available space, no matter how much of it we have. And once we fill the space, you guessed it: we want more space, because what we have is now not enough!
I’ve observed that this cycle keeps us stressed and unhappy. It makes us feel inadequate and behind in the game of life. It makes us jealous of our neighbors and resentful of our friends. The feeling of “not enough” quickly devolves into serious scarcity mindset, where instead of focusing on all the opportunities we have, we focus on the things we lack. And that way, my friends, lies misery.
All of that makes me wonder: how much stuff is enough stuff?
I have a sneaking suspicion the level is different for everyone, but I do know that it exists. The thing is, I’m pretty sure most people haven’t stopped to ask themselves these questions. How many clothes are enough? How many pots and pans are enough? How much art is enough? How many toys are enough? How much camping gear is enough?
There’s power in enough. It allows you to stop wasting mental energy on toxic comparison and scarcity mindset. It frees you up to use your time and energy on the relationships that matter most to you… instead of on acquiring and organizing more stuff.
And do you know what’s so cool about enough? You don’t have to have all the same stuff forever. You can cycle in and out as items break or wear out, your tastes change, or you switch activities. You just keep the general level of stuff the same instead of accumulating everything and never selling or donating items you no longer use.
Imagine a home filled to the brim with enough. Wouldn’t that be a relief?
LMW
