“A snug dwelling is a good supply of happiness. It ranks instantly after well being and an excellent conscience.” —Sydney Smith, 1843
It’s troublesome to overstate the significance we people place on “dwelling.”
I as soon as heard a commentator talking in regards to the film The Wizard of Oz. His opinion on why it has grow to be such an iconic movie was “as a result of Dorothy’s journey is in the end one the place her total purpose is solely to return dwelling. And that longing is true for every of us. All of us want a house the place we’re cherished, accepted, and might return to when we have to.”
How attention-grabbing then, for me, once I stumbled throughout this virtually 200-year outdated quote from Sydney Smith that speaks of just about the identical fact: A snug dwelling is a good supply of happiness. On par (virtually) with well being and a pure conscience.
We all know this to be true. Our houses are extra than simply buildings. They could be a nice supply of happiness. They’re locations of refuge away from the world and are the launching pad from which we enter the world to hopefully dwell out one of the best variations of ourselves.
They’re locations to share our goals and fears. They shield our households and each maintain our recollections and permit us to create new ones. Our house is a spot to seek out hope, develop safely, and expertise peace in a unkind world.
And at this level, I need to point out that I’m talking of an idealized model of dwelling. Not everybody has fond recollections of dwelling or lives as we speak in a house the place security may be discovered. Some expertise simply the alternative and I’m not discounting that actuality.
It’s true, in some ways, that none of us dwell in an ideal dwelling as a result of our houses are at all times occupied by imperfect people. However I imagine our want for dwelling to be protected, accepting, calm, and comfy is a part of the human spirit. And when you should not have one, you probably perceive this longing greater than most.
A snug house is certainly a fantastic supply of happiness.
If that’s true, we’d be sensible to care deeply in regards to the issues we convey into it, maintain in it, and the way our belongings have an effect on that stage of consolation.
Generally we try this nicely. Different occasions, our houses are stuffed with issues we don’t actually need. Objects we purchased considering they might make life higher generally find yourself making it extra difficult, extra traumatic, much less useful, and fewer comforting.
Even worse, after we fill our houses with extra possessions, we negatively have an effect on the opposite two variables talked about within the quote: each well being and conscience.
Well being
Research present that litter is dangerous for our well being—each bodily and mentally.
For instance, researchers at UCLA have found a hyperlink between excessive ranges of stress hormones and a excessive density of family objects. In different phrases, litter will increase stress ranges—virtually undoubtedly.
Princeton scientists found {that a} cluttered atmosphere limits our capability to focus. Their research stories {that a} visually disorganized atmosphere has neurological results much like what we expertise when barraged and overwhelmed by a lot of totally different noises directly.
And litter may even trigger overeating, bronchial asthma, impaired studying, and lack of sleep high quality.
After we personal greater than we want, we negatively have an effect on two variables of happiness: dwelling and well being.
However that’s not all. Proudly owning an excessive amount of additionally negatively impacts our conscience as nicely.
Good Conscience
Overconsumption is in the end a results of misplaced intentions and assets. No one’s biggest worth in life is to only personal as a lot stuff as potential.
We dream greater goals for our life. We need to be devoted, loving, and type. We need to be obtainable to the folks in our life. And we need to make a distinction. These are the values and pursuits that align with coronary heart, soul, and conscience.
However dwelling with good conscience means making decisions that match our values. That is the place minimalism is so useful. Minimalism helps us purchase much less, purchase deliberately, and match each our spending and power with our values.
Making considerate decisions about what we convey into our houses means we spend cash and assets on issues that really matter to us. After we align our money and time and power deliberately with our biggest values, we dwell with a clearer conscience.
Why Much less Is Extra
Sydney Smith was an English author within the early 1800’s and will definitely by no means have predicted the quantity of issues we accumulate within the trendy world or the scale of our houses.
However his sensible phrases proceed to ring true.
Right here is his rating of the highest three components for happiness: well being, good conscience, comfy dwelling.
Embracing minimalism ends in all three. It will probably enhance our well being by lowering stress. It will probably clear our conscience by serving to us make intentional decisions aligned with our values. And it may make our houses extra comfy by eliminating litter and distraction.
Much less litter, extra happiness.
