Why Less is More

Less is more

I learned again that less is more the day after I dropped my beloved crockpot on the floor. We stopped at Walmart to buy another crockpot. There were so many choices that I could not decide which one to get. I still don’t have a crock pot because I don’t want to have to make that choice! Too many choices of ice cream, menus, or any other items leave us stymied, trying to choose between so many choices. The more choices, the more time we take. This is true for children as well as adults.

Less is a more limited amount. It can be a reduced size and limited quantity. The opposite, more, signifies greater, additional, or further amounts.

Though “less” and “more” are opposites of each other and one could assume that “more” is better, more advanced, superior, and new and improved, the fact remains that less is more. We can have too much of a good thing.

Whether we’re dealing with gadgets, games, toys, decor, or our schedules, less is more. The more we have, the more distracted our focus. When we have more than enough, or more than necessary, we are  kept busy making certain our “more” stays with us, in line, and in place.

Does a child really, really need 64 different colors of crayola crayons? Can  8 or 16 crayon choices be enough? Do I really need so many options in a crockpot?! How is it that the simplest one does not seem to be “enough”?

Do women really, really need 25 pocketbooks? Can they be settled with 5 or 6? Does a man really, really need 25 hats, shoes, or belts? Do our churches or schools really, really need the latest equipment and furnishings, or can we worship and learn in a facility that has less instead of more?

What is it about our lives and our hearts that constantly cry and crave for more instead of less? What are we teaching our children when we constantly give them so many choices that we push them into overload?

Choosing less

In today’s world, choosing less does not happen unless we make a conscious decision. It’s a choice we have, and a choice we must make.

Here are some ways to get started, and ones on which I still have much to improve:

• declutter. Get rid of things that are filling your house and make upkeep more difficult. If you haven’t used it in a year, then find another home for it (not yours!)  I am still working on this one.
• downsize. Just because there is room in your cupboard does not mean it must be filled. This is a step beyond decluttering, and it can be so rewarding. I’m making progress but I’ve got more to go.
• add = remove. If you purchase something, get rid of something in its place. You can sell it, give it away, or donate it to a cause. If you had x-amount of clothing in your closet, don’t keep adding to the rack unless you remove something first. I just practiced this week and I’m making progress although sometimes it seems it’s slow.
• sort & dispose. Help your kids go through their toys. Declutter their rooms and toy chests. Too many toys stifle creative. Too many toys means more mess to clean up. Plus, too many choices cause frustration for your kids. If you stop and think about it, you’ll know this is true. As a mom of six, I surely know what this is about; and I got better at it through the years.
• reduce choices. Whether you are traveling or taking your kids to church, reduce their choices of playthings. Your child does not need a bag full of toys to keep him quiet in church. One box car will do! Again, a 64-box of crayons is not necessary. They will be just as happy with one or two games as with ten. You can put some toys away and bring them out later as you keep rotating toys. TOO MANY CHOICES stymie your kids. I learned this one the hard way, so just take it from me. I really do know what I’m talking about.

The bottom line

Each of us has our own type of nostalgia. We have our own way of hoarding, and what works for one person might not work for another.

Ask yourself what your purpose is in hanging onto an item, or in giving your kids so many choices. Get to the bottom of your issues and you will be able to find the answers you need to live a less-is-more mentality. 

Clutter equals confusion. Hoarding causes haziness. Always wanting more creates selfishness. Living with less provides more leisure and less stress. Then we can experience what it is to be able to say, “Less is more.” 

Note: I finally purchased a crock-pot. I decided the features I really wanted, the size, and the price range. Then I hopped into a store and made a decision in less than ten minutes. I narrowed my choices and found that it was do-able!

Photo credit: Benjamin Abara via pixabay.com