The Excessive Acquisition of More

“Buy less, choose well, make it last.” – Vivienne Westwood

I often feel as though I am living in a world that is constantly encouraging me to buy more, acquire more, consume more. Can you relate? All I need to do is pick up my phone, open the Instagram app, and an ad will pop-up encouraging me to consider that me, or my life, must somehow be lacking and this one product will fix it. If I buy just one more thing, THEN I’ll have the answer that I have been seeking. This could come in the form of clothing, a book, a class, a supplement … the point being that there always seems to be something more. And, to be honest, I find it a bit nauseating.

Overconsumption. In the end, that is what this constant buying of more is. This takes several forms in my life. It is in the fast fashion that I occasionally support, buying multiple items of the same, low quality, unsustainable product. It is in the beauty products that I continue to purchase but fail to use, thus collecting dust in the cupboard beneath my bathroom sink. It is in the 30 plus unread books that sit in a neat stack beside my bed.  So much consumption; so much waste. 

There are numerous issues with the excessive acquisition of more – environmental, physical, mental and emotional. I create high volumes of trash that can’t always be recycled or reused, contributing to the landfills that sit as an eyesore, a tribute to man’s greed. I create mental distress for myself as I look at all the stuff I have, stuff that sits unused, and wondering just exactly what to do with it all. I create physical discomfort as I take in more than I am putting out…packing myself of things and letting my own creative hands lie idle. 

I set an intention in 2023 to limit some of this consumption. As I reflected on what it would require for me to really “glow”, to build this home within from where I could truly thrive, the need to lighten my own load became apparent. Not only does this benefit me, but also those around me, and the portion of earth that I am inhabiting. To support this intention, I have committed to a 6 month spending freeze on a few choice items – clothing, accessories and books. I am hoping that through this limiting of what I consume, I can become more aware and appreciate all that I already have, decrease some of the overwhelm that I feel, and develop a more mindful approach to what I choose to acquire going forward. 

Awareness & Appreciation 

I have an abundance of clothing filling the hangers of my walk-in closet, and still, somehow, I have nothing to wear. At one point in time I felt the need to buy each item that is in this closet, I felt that it would somehow be important and of benefit to my existence. But now, that dress that I just HAD to HAVE has become just another dress that fails to ignite inspiration from me. 

I am not in the habit of expressing gratitude for the beautiful pieces of clothing that I own. I want to change this. I want to cherish all that I own, to celebrate what I have invested in. And if I am unable to, then I want to be able to graciously let those items go, finding them a home where they’ll once again be loved. I don’t need to fill the space they left behind, at least not right away. Instead, through giving myself this time to press pause, to freeze on bringing more in, I am allowing room for something new and beautiful to bloom in that space. 

Decrease the Overwhelm 

I have read that our physical environment often reflects our emotional or mental environment. I know this is certainly true for me. When my physical space is full of stuff, with excess, my mind feels stuffed and overstimulated. I am unable to filter through and retrieve that which feels important. I can’t think straight as I take in all the clutter, all that needs to be sifted through, around me. I hate that feeling of being weighed down by that which I have brought in. 

Through limiting what I am bringing into my life and beginning the process of organizing and using what I already have, I hope to reach a place of increased lightness within. A lightness that allows me to focus on what is really important. I have a shelf full of books to read, dozens of shirts to either wear or re-home, and enough beauty products to supply multiple in-house spa nights. Instead of adding more, I want to use what is there. 

Mindfully Acquiring: 

Oftentimes, I’ll think of something I need in a given moment and then open up my Amazon app and put in an order for it. I’ll hear a book recommendation from someone who’s word I value, and immediately download the book to my Kindle. I’ll walk into a clothing store with zero intention to buy anything, but then see the “skirt of my dreams” and just have to purchase it. 

There is a lot of impulsivity to these transactions, and not much mindful deliberation on the true necessity of the choice. The result is that I end up with a lot of things I don’t really need, don’t really love, or don’t really have time to use. By pressing freeze on some of the more excessive purchases, I am giving myself some time and space to consider what it is that I truly like, what it is that I really want to put money towards, and what will add the most value to my life. 

I have simply gotten into the habit of seeing something I  like, and then buying it. I am stepping out of this cycle through my 6 month pause. I am giving myself the opportunity to look around and ask, what belongs here? What no longer fits? What are my true desires? These answers can only be found in space, not through filling the void. 

~ ❤ ~

I have chosen to take a 6 month spending pause on a few choice items. For some, such a decision may seem drastic. For me, it feels crucial to my own development and growth. Honestly? It feels a bit spiritual in its essence. After all, many areas of my life could benefit from less consumption and more creation. What might I learn from this experience? That question intrigues me. At the very least, I hope to gain more gratitude for what I already possess, to lessen my feelings of overwhelm, and to develop a heightened sense of awareness around what I am choosing to bring in. 

“Get rid of clutter and you may just find that it was blocking the door you’ve been looking for.” – Katrina Mayer

Questions for your own consideration…

→ How much thought goes into your purchases?

→ How much of what you own do you actually use? 

→ How often do you express gratitude for what you own? 

→ How might you begin to bring more awareness to what you choose to consume and bring in?

→ How might this benefit you?