Modern life is demanding. Legend has it that we make more decisions in a day than our ancestors did in a lifetime. We are bombarded with emails, texts, WhatsApp, and Telegram messages that demand our immediate attention. Modern privileges also request action: Do we order in, if so, what? What car do we buy and what condo development are we able to finance?
Pen and Paper Time: Kindly take out a pen and paper; please answer the question before reading on: “Do you feel overwhelmed by the many responsibilities and choices awaiting you each day?”
We define freedom as having more options. Freedom equals owning more stuff. We trust a larger menu—this pertains to all areas of life—to give more satisfaction. Yet, the agony of choice has us either overinvesting time and resources or paralyzed in our decision-making process.
Why are we more stressed than our ancestors who experienced scarcity and built a country from ground zero? The answer is simple: Whatever we own, owns us. Whatever and whoever we commit to commands our attention and time, which is a finite commodity. We clearly pay a premium for what we call freedom: Self-inflicted emotional, financial, and mental turmoil.
Pen and Paper Time again: “How do you define freedom?”
Let’s examine the following situation: When a client shares they have four glasses of wine each night because they can [exercise their freedom], I – the storyteller— counter that the ancient sage might suggest, “My child, be honest, you don’t have the wine rather the wine has you.” What we define as freedom has become a liability; it’s an unsustainable lifestyle that leads to unhealthy habits and attachments.
As shop owners, employees, and consultants we sell our time and services; hence we are all for purchase or lease. Many however, end up being owned. Merchants and banks own us when we are borrowing funds to espouse material possessions. People in relationships with us own our time and take up mental and emotional space. Sadly, most of us are unaware of the consequences and commit quickly to acquire more only to regret having too full a plate later.
Pen and Paper Time again: “How do you define freedom?”
Mallon (1942, as cited in Martin (2025) remarked candidly, “Until man acquires the power of creation, someone would always have to pay for a free lunch.” Hence there is no free lunch. Let’s accept it and redefine freedom: Freedom is the conscious choice to own and accumulate less; to mindfully forge less but more rewarding alliances; to agree to take on fewer obligations that we can then fulfill joyfully. In closing, freedom is a personal, not communal choice. Just because the herd thinks more is better, we do not have to follow.
Five Tips to Practicing The Art of Less: KURANG (A Malay language term meaning less)
K
Knowledge is power; it helps us to shift our perspective: Copy the following abovementioned redefinition of freedom or amend it according to your own vision: Freedom is the conscious choice to own and accumulate less; to mindfully forge less but more rewarding alliances: to agree to take on fewer obligations that we can then fulfill joyfully. Print it out; keep it in a visible place at home and on your phone. Know it by heart. Before any purchase or any time commitment, recite it to yourself. Keep the promise!
U
Use your time and space wisely: Scott Peck (1978) remarked, “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” Recall that freedom means less is more; observe your living space. Gather all items that utilize space and collect dusk. Pack them up (if the attachment is too strong go about it two to three items at a time) and give them away or take them to a concession store. Then, get out your calendar. Look at your commitments. Make a conscious choice about whom you meet and communicate clearly how much time you will allocate. Finally, add a daily meeting called U-Check in with yourself to your calendar. Regulate your emotions. As you adjust to your new lifestyle, strong emotions will surge. Feelings are temporary; observe them like the waves of the ocean. They rise and fall—however they do not carry you away; they do not direct your path. Whenever you embark on a new journey your thoughts and emotions also must change. Before we adopt and learn something new, we slowly must let go of the old. Repeat after me: From this moment forward, I am creating and living a sustainable and balanced life.
R
Regulate your emotions. As you adjust to your new lifestyle, strong emotions will surge. Feelings are temporary; observe them like the waves of the ocean. They rise and fall—however they do not carry you away; they do not direct your path. Whenever you embark on a new journey your thoughts and emotions also must change. Before we adopt and learn something new, we slowly must let go of the old. Repeat after me: From this moment forward, I am creating and living a sustainable and balanced life.
A
Adopt new habits through attention and massive action! Old habits can be replaced with new ones. This is a three-step process:
- I) Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings—they generally precede an action.
- II) If the feeling is slightly low and it’s generally followed by purchasing something to make you feel better—stop. Acknowledge how you feel: “I feel a bit low; I accept the feeling; I feel down now and shortly I will be better again. “
III) Then shift towards massive action; if you would generally end up at Paragon augmenting your wardrobe, consciously pick a couple of items you seldom wear from your cupboard instead; drop them off with the Salvation Army or somebody who will enjoy them. …And here you are on your journey to a sustainable lifestyle by developing one new habit at a time.
N
Navigate your new path patiently. Helen Schucman (1976) states in “The Course in Miracles,” Infinite patience produces immediate results.” As quick accumulation and overloading ourselves did not result in the desired outcome, let’s patiently explore the less is more lifestyle. Trusting that the results we wish for will arrive [as we have put in the groundwork], we breathe deeply and allow nature to take its course. Nature is in perfect balance—so can we be. Choosing nurturing thoughts will help along the way.
G
Give! And give away. Create space in your mind and surroundings. Be generous: Contribute to good causes; give to a person in need, commit to a street-seller. Volunteer at a retirement home or animal shelter. Dedicate your time and make donations that fit your billfold. The blessing of giving is that we are edging out the ego (that which identifies us solemnly with what we do, own, and have) and actively choose the soul-path (that inner place of balance and quiet). Giving helps to develop compassion; it teaches us that suffering and the human condition transcend our own lives. We are all one. We are all here with a one-way ticket out.
Thank you for joining the journey towards sustainable living.
References
Miller, G.(n.d.) There is no such thing as a free lunch. Retrieved October 25, 2025 from https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/tanstaafl.html
Peck, M. S. (1978). The road less traveled: a new psychology of love, traditional values, and spiritual growth. Simon and Schuster.
Schucman, H. (1976). A course in miracles. Foundation for Inner Peace.
