Some Thoughts I Came Up With 3 Days Ago

One of the keys to happiness is the following: to look for the TRUE USE of the items that surround you. Just WHY DO you have that thousand-dollar cat? That computer? 30 guitars, when you can only play one at a time? 

A big part of happiness, for me, is decluttering and minimalism. If I have a bunch of bullshit around me that I can't use, then I can't be happy. 

I've got to get rid of it.

Basically, you look beyond the material things and into the spiritual, practical, utilitarian value behind EACH THING. 

A large part of happiness is SAVING MONEY. Why waste money on something that you don't really need? 

If you want art on your wall, why pay $1000 for some special painting, when you can just paint one yourself that might be closer to what you really want?!

You're trying to look at the REAL VALUE of a thing, its REAL USE. Look beyond the material thing itself.

What is its USE? What use do you get OUT of it?

Do you really NEED that thing? And if not, why do you still have it?

People pay hundreds of dollars to go to the Bahamas, but then they basically spend their entire vacation in one spot on the beach, or in their hotel rooms. What's the point of that? I heard that the number one thing that you should be spending your money on should be EXPERIENCES. EXPERIENCES are what life is made of. EXPERIENCES are about as SPIRITUAL as something gets. It is like pure energy, as opposed to mass, which is something that you have BURN OFF. Anything excessive is unwelcome. In Taoism, it's called unnecessary food and unwanted growth.  

Maybe a good example is you want a Russian doll, so you go to the store and buy a Russian doll for $10. However, you could have gone online to study how to make a Russian doll, and saved the $10, or whatever was left over. Cut corners, take shortcuts. Take the shortest path to happiness, save energy. Be proud.

Or, as another example, let's say you wanted some cannabis edibles. If you know how to cook 'em at home, you can save the 100's of dollars they're gonna charge you @ the dispensary, and come out with something that you're probably gonna be even happier with, cause you made them yourself. 

Or, when you could go out to eat, stay at home and eat what's there, instead. Cut corners. Save money, save time, save energy. You'll feel better about yourself.