The society in which we live has generated false needs that force us to strive to achieve certain goals to achieve the security and well-being they give us, needs that lead us to a desire to add that becomes synonymous with happiness, when in fact, this desired well-being lies in learning subtraction, simplicity.
We do not realize that this desire to add up makes life complex, difficult and sometimes unbearable, that is when we are stressed and time seems not to be enough, when in reality it is not. we are busy with things that, instead of filling up, make us feel more empty.
- We believe that adding more things or more people will make us happier.
- But what does that bring us?Do we really need it?.
In a world where addiction is so well seen, where the accumulation of useless things is a symptom of wealth and where the more friends you have, the better the image you project, learning to subtract becomes an act of rebellion. because we will go against the opinion of a large majority, which is a great challenge.
When we contradict all these behaviors, those that most society repeats without being aware of them, there are criticisms, value judgments and multiple observations about how we act that force us to return to the starting point. It’s important.
We returned to the origin of many of our fears and insecurities, in which we began to add layers and layers with the intention of adding, however, perhaps under the happiness of having a partner, there was only a great fear of being abandoned, under the gratitude of having so many friends perhaps only a great fear of being alone.
Learning to subtract is nothing more than getting rid of hundreds of useless layers that we have placed on ourselves through fears and insecurities.
How often do we seek the approval of others?How often do we fail to prioritize because we focus on the people around us?The image we project, therefore, is that of a mature and responsible person with many people around us. At the same time, it comes at a price: the inability, to learn how to subtract and take off.
Learning to subtract is very important to stop adding useless things to our life, many of which only make us suffer, subtract friends who only look for us out of interest, leave partners who don’t really like us and stop buying items that we only occupy ourselves with. physical space, increasing our emotional emptiness.
When we can see that the happiness of always adding to our lives is a mirage, we are ready to change the perspective we have had so far on the world, we will do what we do not need, what is left, what is on the way. Can we say goodbye? And embrace simplicity.
On many occasions we see how people with a lot of money feel empty or unhappy, we also note that those who have the most friends in difficult times are alone and what about those who presume to have a partner, but who are always looking for someone who really makes them feel?
In the end, taking refuge in the false security that addiction brings to addiction leads us to pretend to be comfortable with a situation that only increases our discomfort, an discomfort that forces us to let go, to abandon complexity and to embrace simplicity. can be much simpler. However, many times we look for the crowd, the complex, which in the end hurts us.
Learning to subtract is not only getting rid of everything that takes up unnecessary space, but also finding the balance that should reign in our lives. A balance that makes us feel good and happy. Although this is only possible if we stop joining the complex and start embracing the simple.
“We lose contact with reality, the simplicity of life. -Paulo Coelho-
Images courtesy of Oleg Oprisco.