After my last post, I received an email from a former subscriber to my newsletter. He expressed his regret but felt that I was fundamentally wrong in my approach to simplicity. According to him, the key to life is focusing on “the one true essential.” He suggested that instead of pursuing simplicity, I should be asking, “What matters most in life?”
It made me pause and reflect. Is there really only one way to live life correctly, to be truly happy?
Just to be clear, I’m not preaching a singular path to happiness. What I share are just possibilities—ideas that have worked for me or others. I’ve experimented with different approaches to happiness, and what I offer here is a blend of what I’ve learned along the way. Some of the struggles I’ve encountered are similar to those shared by others, and in exploring their ideas, I’ve shaped my own path. What I can say right now is that I’ve never felt more at peace with myself, though I know there’s still a long journey ahead.
It’s funny—I first came across these concepts in my teens, during a time when I was searching for life’s meaning. But back then, I didn’t want to hear them. I believed there was more to life, that real freedom would come only when I could do everything I dreamed of. I thought that having more—whether experiences or material things—would bring peace. So, I chased after it all.
But as I accumulated more in life, I began to realize something crucial: More stuff didn’t mean more happiness.
Eventually, I hit a point of frustration. I tried to focus on the essentials, but found myself overwhelmed by too many choices. My life felt like a never-ending cycle of procrastination.
Now, I understand that finding meaning doesn’t conflict with living simply or decluttering. In fact, the more I let go, the more I discovered the things that truly matter—positive emotions, passion, responsibility, curiosity, understanding, love.
We are human beings, not machines. Yes, we can create, manage, and achieve, but we also have souls and emotions. When we focus too much on doing and producing, we lose touch with our inner selves and our connections with others—and that leads to suffering.
For example, after shedding many of my possessions and traveling more, I’ve gained a deep sense of how interconnected everything on Earth is. It dawned on me that I don’t want to live on more resources than can be replenished in my lifetime. What I consume today is borrowed from future generations and shared with those living now. This realization has shifted my focus: I now prioritize spirit over stuff.
In the end, it’s not about finding the right way to live a happy life. It’s about decluttering your life to the point where you can discover your essential truth—whatever that may be.