How to learn to appreciate the things we have

Why do we want a new all time

People need to constantly get something new. It is well known marketers. Limited collections of clothing and improved models of gadgets are not so very different from the previous ones. But they, you know, new.

The roots of such a love for the unknown are in our brain. Every novelty stimulates release of dopamine - a neurotransmitter, which is an important part of the reward system.

Getting something new, be it an object or exciting information, we experience a pleasant hormonal surge.

But everything eventually becomes boring. We are entering into the possession of the thing, get used to the new status or situation. Their subjective value is reduced, and there is a need for new experiences.

Ancient people probably deal with it more effectively, because their life was poorer for bread and circuses. But today there are so many temptations, opportunities and proposals, it is easy to fall into the "dopamine loop." This is a situation where the production of the neurotransmitter is not on the result but on the process itself

Dissociation of reward anticipation and outcome with event-related fMRI fun search, for example, during a mindless Internet surfing or impulsive purchases.

With a man there is about the same as with the rats who clicked on the button during the classical experimentPositive reinforcement produced by electrical stimulation of septal area and other regions of the rat brain James Olds and Peter Milner. Button has involved a system of rewards through the electrode in the brain of an animal, and after a while the rats die from exhaustion, but in a fit of contentment.

To keep the awareness, nerves and money, it is important to distinguish between pleasure and novelty of the phenomenon or thing. Around inevitably will be that we have not yet consumed. However, if the chase was pleased by the novelty, it will never come.

How to transfer the amount of money

Joshua Fields Milbern and Ryan Nicodemus, creators of the site "more meaningful life with less stuff" The minimalists, Say that even high-paying job, the machine and fixed purchase did not bring him satisfaction. Then the friends decided to take back control of life, giving up all the excess. Now, given away and sold almost all things, both finally feel quite harmoniously and happily.

Even if this story about boring luxury you think "first world problems" or you are not ready to live with two or three changes of clothes, how come the most radical minimalists, A healthy relationship with the objects of possession still not be superfluous. This contributes to a number translation quality.

Japanese expert on cleaning Mari Kondo in the book "Sparks of joy. Simple happy life surrounded by favorite things"I advise to keep the house only what is joy, and from the rest to get rid of. The remaining items and will be the ones that you truly value, and which is more expensive.

Similar opinion is shared by the author of the book "The art of living simply"Dominic Loro:

We should understand the boundaries of their own needs and know what we want from his life: to understand what book I would like to check out what movie to see what the place is really encouraging. Abandon surplus property - means to more fully appreciate what gives the spiritual, emotional and intellectual joy.

Dominic Loro, screenwriter, author

Moderation in desires and the ability to appreciate the fact that there are useful not only for your personal mental health. This amounts to philosophy conscious consumptionWhich helps to maintain a good ecological environment, reducing overproduction.

In the last few years people have becomeNo wonder we are not buying clothes - we do not need anything new spend less on clothes and fewer trips to the big shopping malls. Today, more and more consumers around the world prefer to use a small amount of high-quality things, instead of cluttering up your space an abundance of poor quality. Some people prefer local producers who produce clothes made of natural fabrics instead of polyester sew things in factories in India. And someone just embedded in the experience and entertainment.

How to re-fall in love with their property

Focus on small

Select the most important things for you, temporarily removing all unnecessary. It is easier to understand, you need it really or not. Council applies to household items, and clothing, and to the intangible. Maybe music subscription online services are not so need? It is an opportunity to get off the shelf vinyl records or thoughtfully listen to music stored on your computer.

To play in the move or traveling

You may have noticed that the journey is much easier to cope with things. After you take only what you really need and like, and pick up the clothes so that all the items were combined with each other. Why not use the same method all the time?

Imagine that come to his city in business tripAnd for a time, use only the things of the "suitcase". A more global approach - all the things to pack as if you are moving, and unpacking them as needed. In both cases, what you will use as a result, and will be most needed.

Tell stories

For items that we really expensive, and activities that cause persistent positive emotions usually are certain events or value. For example, this scarf you gave a close person, and service evokes a feeling of comfort, so you like to drink tea out of it. When this narrative is erased and loses significance, emotional attachment weakens. Things are simply pieces of material and hobbies seem meaningless.

To avoid this, periodically tell ourselves and others about the values ​​that stand for things and practices. You can do this in a conversation with your friends, in the captions to the photos or just in my head.

Stop comparing yourself to others

This will help to separate the personal needs of the externally imposed. The actions of others is not a reason to do the same. The surrounding are in thrall to the same dopamine traps. Even if the familiar spread in social networks some great photos, you can not know whether they are experiencing now happiness. Answer to these questions can only be yourself.

However, to capture your home, belongings and daily activities, and then put in a network - a great way to collect the compliments and to increase at the expense of the existing value. Although, of course, the most useful in this practice - to look at your life from a new perspective and understand that you, in general, well spend time.

Total

Completely abandon all new - not the best way, because it stops the development. To avoid stagnation, from time to time something needs to be changed. However, obsessive pursuit of new positive emotions reduce their severity.