Testing a Hundred Things: How to Wean Yourself From Overconsumption

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Not the easiest, but effective way to stop being a slave of modern society.

"We work in shit to buy shit that we don't need." Through the mouth of Tyler Durden, he speaks the truth, but we, having realized the whole pointlessness of excessive consumption, still continue to buy, buy, buy. It would seem that the topic is already so hackneyed that there is absolutely no point in talking about it. However, there is still no clear solution to the problem.

Today we will tell you about the technique that thousands of people have tested on themselves. Many of them have confirmed its effectiveness, while noting the amazing changes.

Meet: a man who refutes all the ideals of the mass consumption society. The companies tell us we’ll be happy buying their products, but the acquisitions didn’t make Dave happy. Happiness is not about that. It's not things that should rule us and our lives - we did it well ourselves, until advertising and marketing raised a couple of generations of people.

Dave is notable for the fact that he does not offer some abstract theses, but a very specific method, dressed in a simple and understandable form.

A person cannot get rid of the power of consumerism until he changes his attitude towards things.

Bruno started with himself. He developed the concept of 100 Things Challenge - a rule that he lived with no more than a hundred personal belongings for a whole year. Other "very important" property must be sold or otherwise permanently excommunicated from the owner. Only in this way - 100 things, no more. Naturally, when choosing items that you will have to live with for 365 days, some reservations are necessary:

• The list includes only personal items, that is, those that are used exclusively by you. Refrigerators, TVs and other household items for the whole family are not counted.
• A collection of valuable items (library of rare books, stamps, etc.) counts as one thing.
• Socks and underwear count as one item. T-shirts, shirts, jeans and more - each item in a separate item.
• Before updating an item from the list, you need to get rid of the existing one.
• Throughout the year, the one-time number of things should not exceed 100 pieces. If you already have 100 things and for one reason or another you suddenly became the owner of another one (for example, you got it as a present), then you have exactly seven days to get rid of it or some other thing from your list.

That, it would seem, is all. In the event of any disputable situation, the main rule applies: no more than 100 things in any case.

The benefits of this technique are felt almost immediately. In a short time frame, you suddenly find how much space there is in your apartment, and in the long run, costs will be significantly reduced.

After the global crisis of 2008, Dave's idea was taken up by thousands of Americans, who realized the fragility of the existing system and the meaninglessness of modern ideals.

Dave successfully passed the test assigned to himself. When the term ended, he no longer wanted to return to his former slavery. He felt absolute power and control over his life. Things no longer governed him, did not determine his success, actions, status and opportunities.

For those who understand English, we offer a video of Dave's TEDx talk.

Do you already feel how an insatiable consumer grown inside of you demands to write something in the comments in the style of "Complete nonsense, you can't live like that!"