Subtraction Is The Thing You Need You Add To Your Life
Happiness is more likely to come from less than it is to come from more, and this is science!
The following idea has been coming up in conversations and books and articles I’ve been consuming lately: happiness comes more from subtraction than it does from addition. In other words, actively cutting things out of your life is more likely to improve your overall mood than adding new things into your life. As a perpetual adder, this has given me pause.
I identify as a maximalist. I like collections and bric-a-brac. Huge sets of stamps that are rarely used but are lovely to look at and weighty to hold; plastic animals that fill plastic tubs that fill plastic shelves. About once a day I think of something that would make my life a lot better if I could have it. My daughter loves the big, stretchy fidget ball that they had at the doctor’s office; so we should have a big, stretchy fidget ball. My tights seem to have clouds of dust coming off them somehow? But lo! Wirecutter has recommended the best pair of tights, and they’re expensive, but they won’t accumulate dust. I need these tights. I will wear them every day.
Erin has a pair of sneakers you can step right into without bending over. RealSimple is recommending a litter box that is pricey but…
