Goodbye Things

LESSON 1 While material possessions can bring temporary pleasure, they don't necessarily lead to long-term happiness.

In today's world, it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that material possessions will lead to happiness. We often see advertisements that promise us that buying certain products will make us feel better or improve our lives in some way. However, the truth is that while material possessions can bring temporary pleasure, they don't necessarily lead to long-term happiness.

Fumio Sasaki's book "Goodbye Things" provides a powerful example of this. Sasaki is a minimalist who decided to radically simplify his life by getting rid of most of his possessions. He found that letting go of material possessions actually made him happier, even though he initially thought that buying things would make him happy.

One reason why material possessions don't necessarily lead to long-term happiness is that they are often associated with status and social comparison. We live in a society where we are constantly bombarded with images of people who have more than us, whether it's celebrities with their expensive cars and luxurious homes or our friends and colleagues who seem to always be buying the latest gadgets and fashion items. This can create a sense of inadequacy and make us feel like we need to keep up with others in order to be happy. However, research has shown that social comparison can actually have a negative impact on our well-being. When we constantly compare ourselves to others, we are more likely to feel dissatisfied with our lives and less happy overall. This is because there will always be someone who has more than us, and if we base our happiness on material possessions, we will never be truly satisfied.

Another reason why material possessions don't necessarily lead to long-term happiness is that they can become a burden. The more things we own, the more we have to take care of them. We have to clean them, organize them, and find space to store them. This can be time-consuming and stressful, especially if we have a lot of things and limited space. In addition, material possessions can also be a source of stress and anxiety. We may worry about losing them or having them stolen, or we may feel anxious about keeping up with the latest trends and fashions. This can create a sense of unease and prevent us from fully enjoying our lives. 

On the other hand, simplifying our lives by getting rid of unnecessary possessions can have a positive impact on our well-being. When we have fewer things, we have more space and time to focus on the things