Why Ownership May Be Less Important Than Resourcefulness

Why Ownership May Be Less Important Than Resourcefulness

The following is adapted from One People One Planet.

A new science of generosity—focused on our attachment to material possessions—has developed in recent years. All of us acquire lots of things during our lives: clothes, jewelry, cars, computers, tools, toys, equipment, furniture, homes, money, stocks, and so forth. Studies on generosity examine how important these things are to us, our willingness to share what we have, and the outcomes of being generous.

Possessions play a significant role in our lives, especially in our formative years. During adolescence, we want the “right” brands of shirts, pants, hats, and shoes. Owning the right car, if we can afford one, is also important. These possessions become a major part of our self-identity and signal to ourselves and others who we are, where we fit in, and what we aspire to become.?

As we mature into adulthood, we may become more or less attached to our possessions based on our personality, upbringing, role models, education, values, and culture. The more generous among us give things of value to other people freely and often. Unfortunately, many more of us place great value on our possessions and are less generous with other people.

The most expansive study on generosity was conducted at the University of Notre Dame as part of the Science of Generosity Initiative. In this long-term study, the researchers conducted in-depth interviews across the country and collected survey data from 2,000 people.?

The findings from the project are clear: when we freely share what we have with other people, we are happier, healthier, suffer fewer illnesses, live with greater purpose, and experience less depression. When we cling to what we have, our possessions actually lose their value over time, we become more anxious, and we experience more depression and illnesses.

The Phenomenon of Anxious Attachment

Hundreds of additional studies support the findings from the Science of Generosity Initiative. One fascinating body of research looks at the strength of our attachment to material possessions. “Anxious attachment” is the phrase used to describe an extreme connection to the things we own.?

These studies show that people with anxious attachment tend to be selfish, experience more depression, and have fewer and less satisfying relationships with people. Extreme attachment can also lead to what researchers call anthropomorphism, which is the tendency to attach human traits and emotions to our nonhuman possessions. These items often serve as substitutes for human relationships and lead to isolation, intolerance, and anxiety.

The main problem with strong attachment to our possessions is they become extensions of our fabricated ego and strengthen its dominance in our lives. The stronger this egoic self becomes, the less likely we are to develop our true selves and realize our full potential. Less attachment to our possessions leads to greater introspection, purpose, growth, and happiness in our lives.?

Happiness and Generosity are Linked

Another interesting line of research has examined the causal relationship between generosity and happiness. In other words, does generosity actually increase our happiness, or are happy people simply more generous? The answer to both of these questions is yes.?

Happy people tend to be more generous, but generosity can also increase our happiness—even at a very early age. One study shows that toddlers exhibit greater joy when they give a treat to someone than when they get one themselves.?

Other studies show that happiness increases when people spend money on others, even if it’s a small amount. This result occurs regardless of household income, age, gender, marital status, education, and food inadequacy. So if we become more generous, we will become happier, and as we become happier, we will become more generous.

The “Radical New Sharing Economy”

Sharing what we have has become much easier in recent years with the emergence of the new “sharing economy.” This movement gives us access to many more resources without having to own them. We have online formats for sharing our cars, homes, offices, books, video games, and toys. This process is especially helpful for items we use only occasionally like tools, equipment, and recreational vehicles.?

We can also find people in our neighborhoods to tend our children, walk our dogs, board our pets, mow our lawns, and tutor our students. In the business world, we can find freelancers to do just about anything we need done. We can even share key employees with other companies that are not direct competitors of ours—accountants, media experts, project managers, and so on.

Jeremy Rifkin is an economic theorist, government advisor, and author of more than 20 books on technology and the economy. He argues convincingly that a third industrial revolution will usher in “a radical new sharing economy.”?

As new technology and “smart devices” continue to automate our world, we will need more expertise in analytics, algorithms, apps, and big data management. However, there may be fewer jobs for everyone else. Consequently, Rifkin sees a future with fewer resources but far more sharing of what we have. He predicts the emergence of more social organizations, business cooperatives, and community groups that share goods, skills, knowledge, energy, and education.

Shift to a People-Oriented Society

This new economy will require a whole new mindset. We need to shift from a possession-oriented society to a people-oriented society. We need to think more about access to resources than ownership. We need to circulate our possessions for maximum use and keep more items out of our landfills.?

Ultimately, we need to nurture our basic human nature of caring and compassion for other people. This is the true revolution required in our new economy. Learning to be more generous now will prepare us for this new and better future.

For more advice on how to be happier and more generous, you can find One People One Planet on Amazon.

Michael Glauser is an entrepreneur, business consultant, and university professor. He has built successful companies in the retail, wholesale, and educational industries and has worked with hundreds of businesses—from startups to multinational enterprises—in leadership development, communication, team building, and organizational strategy.

Today, Mike serves as Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. He’s also the Director of the SEED self-sufficiency program, helping people around the world to improve their standard of living and benefit their communities through entrepreneurship.