The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

March 21Material Freedom

To be in direct and personal contact with the sources of your material life; to want no extras, no shields; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by an evening walk or a morning saunter; … to be elated over a bird's nest or over a wild flower in the spring—these are some of the rewards of the simple life.

John Burroughs—Leaf and Tendril (1908)

The notion of living with less is quite popular in some circles.

But that, well, oversimplifies this idea. How much is enough is completely subjective.

The relationship we develop with the “sources of our material life” is a much fuller idea.

You should have material possessions that support you to live your true nature. Having too little, like having too much, draws energy and attention away from living your values. (Having said that, most of us have too much stuff.)

So how do make this determination and work toward the right balance? Start with love.

In Simple Abundance, author Sarah Ban Breathnach states it like this: “The key to loving how you live is in knowing what it is you truly love.”

Today, think about the possessions that support your highest values—the ones you guard and protect the most.

Challenge Question

1. What material possession most enhances your life? Is this harder than you thought to answer?