Are you hungry for simplicity?

"My partner asks me, 'Are you hungry? Do you want to eat?' To which I reply, 'What does hunger have to do with wanting to eat?'

This playful exchange (that we often have) isn't just about food; it's a metaphor for many other desires in our lives. Just like feeling the urge to eat doesn't always stem from actual hunger, our impulse to amass things isn't always about a real need.

This realization really hit home when my partner and I found ourselves owners of a condo and a gorgeous townhouse with way more space than we actually needed. Of course, both of us being fitness fanatics, we ‘had to’ build a gym in the basement. And, of course, we had to fill each room with just the right décor, which I always found so meaningless, going to Home Goods to buy something that serves no purpose but to fill a void on a wall or in a room.

Then, what really bugged me the most was that we were using 10% of our large townhouse 90% of the time. I was like, this is madness. What is the point of all this? I had always desired and valued a simple life, yet I felt my life spiraling in the opposite direction.?

I love this quote by Morgan Housel, "Wealth is what you don't see." In our journey to amass all this ‘stuff,’ it might have seemed like we were thriving because we often equate success and wealth with what we can physically see, thanks in part to social media. However, there is so much truth to what Housel says. True wealth is what you don’t see. Like the investments you can’t see, the savings that slowly grow each year, and the financial freedom that quietly builds in the background. Quite simply, when we spend less on the visible symbols of wealth, we have more to invest in our future.

Let me be clear. I am not saying pursuing more is bad. Or amassing things is bad. There are times when more can enhance our lives. However, if the pursuit of more compromises our current or future financial security or at the expense of our emotional or mental well-being, it might be time to reevaluate our priorities.

Take a moment to consider the life of a Buddhist monk, removed from the relentless pursuit of material accumulation, finding profound fulfillment and joy in simplicity. They live aligned with their values, focusing on spiritual growth and inner peace rather than external validations. Imagine applying just a fraction of this mindset to our own lives. If we embraced the idea that we already have enough, how much more content might we immediately be? How many years closer could we actually be to achieving financial freedom? How much less might we need to save? And how much more time might that bring for us to spend with loved ones?

When I talk about simplicity, I am not saying to live so frugally that you feel deprived. Simplifying isn't about stripping away joy or fun from our lives; rather, it's about redefining what brings us joy. It's not about rejecting enjoyment but finding fulfillment that isn't solely dependent on external factors—be it possessions or even experiences.

Embracing a life of needing less has profound benefits. Financially, it means fewer expenses and more savings; emotionally, it leads to less stress and more contentment; spiritually, it encourages a deeper connection with what truly matters.

The less we feel we need, the freer we become—free from the chains of consumerism, free from the relentless pursuit of more, and free to cultivate a life of genuine contentment. (It also makes my job as a financial advisor, admittedly, much easier! And your job of saving easier, too!)

This month, I challenge you to take a step back and evaluate what simplicity means to you. What can you let go of that might lead to more peace and less stress? How can your financial goals align more closely with a simplified, contented lifestyle? And, feel free to DM me to explore how less can truly be more!