Every day we are being pitched to. We are told doing and having more will bring purpose and meaning to our lives — more followers on social media, more income and more traveling. We are told to buy, subscribe, use and attend. All these things add to our lives.
But in reality, it’s through taking things out of our lives where true value is found.
There is one thing, however, advertisers never market: less.
It’s through subtraction that we really notice value. If you had $3,000 in your checking account and you go buy a coffee for $3 it probably wouldn’t be a big deal. But if you had $50 in your checking account and you were faced with the same decision to buy a coffee you might reconsider when you realize you could buy a dozen eggs and a loaf of bread for $3, which would prove to be much more valuable and sustainable than a single serving of coffee. The value of a single dollar isn’t fully realized unless some dollar amount has been subtracted.
In the same way, the value of time, things, experiences and relationships aren’t fully realized until they’re subtracted — taken away. Eliminate the unnecessary to make room for the important.
Andrew Brand | Argonaut
What is most important to you in your life? One way to figure this out is to take a look at where you spend your time.
The thing is, we often spend time on things that don’t line up with what we value most, but we still prioritize them nonetheless. Social media and Netflix are excellent examples. We indulge in them because they offer a form of value, but it’s not what we’re really looking for, it just tides us over and makes us content.
Maybe we value friendship. Social media offers the feeling of friendship without the risk and effort it takes to foster a genuine relationship. In this case, social media should be reduced or removed in order to make room for real-life friendships to grow.
Many of the things we do prevent us from spending time on what is important. It feels good to have a full schedule and to be doing a lot of things. It also feels good to get new stuff, but it might be time for a break from buying things.
Take a step back and evaluate what matters to you. Start with subtraction, then when you find the things you value, add them in.
By choosing to simplify we allow ourselves to become fully engaged in the things most meaningful to us.
In design, less is always more. It’s the negative space that makes positive space significant. Think about iconic logos like Nike, Apple and Twitter — they all breathe. Through their simplicity they make a bold statement.
By choosing to simplify our lives we give ourselves the chance to discover who we really are and what really matters to us.
You can begin today by subtracting one thing that’s unnecessary from your life — in turn, you will make room for something or someone more important.
Andrew Brand can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @theandrewbrand