“The less you need to own, the freer you are.” – Robin Sharma

I used to think that buying things would bring me happiness or at least some sense of control. But instead, it left me feeling overwhelmed. Each purchase, no matter how small, seemed to pile on more mental clutter. I started to notice how too many options and too many possessions slowed down my decision-making. Choosing an outfit became a chore. Shopping felt exhausting, not exciting. So I made a decision: I would only buy what I truly need. That simple shift immediately lifted a weight off my shoulders.

Essentials Only Equals Peace of Mind

By limiting my purchases to essentials, I began to see my finances more clearly. There were fewer surprise expenses, fewer impulse buys, and more room to save. I realized that spending money on things I didn’t need was costing me more than just cash—it was costing me peace of mind. I used to wonder why, despite earning more over the years, my savings didn’t grow. The answer was simple: my expenses grew with my income. What’s the point of earning more if it disappears just as quickly? Cooking and eating at home became a regular habit. It’s not only healthier and more budget-friendly, but it made me more intentional about how I spend.

Time For Creativity

The biggest gain, though, was time. Without the cycle of shopping, browsing, and managing more things, I had more energy to create. I began using that time to write, learn, and make things that mattered to me. Consumption used to fill the space where creativity belonged. Now, I pour that time into what truly fulfills me. Choosing to live with less gave me the freedom to do more—not in the material sense, but in the meaningful sense.

My focus gradually shifted from wants to needs. Wants are fleeting and often driven by emotion or pressure. Needs are grounded and clear. When I began asking myself, “Do I need this, or just want it?” it became easier to walk away from unnecessary spending. Growing up in a simple household with four siblings, I remember sharing one packet of Lucky Me beef noodles among us. That memory doesn’t just remind me of how little we had—it reminds me of how much we made out of it. That upbringing taught me resilience, gratitude, and the ability to stretch resources, not just money but time, too.

Robin Sharma wrote in The Little Black Book of Stunning Success, “The less you need to own, the freer you are.” That quote resonates deeply with me now. I don’t crave more things; I crave more space to think, more freedom to create, and more clarity in how I live. I stopped buying not to deprive myself, but to rediscover what really matters. And in doing so, I found I already have more than enough.

Appreciation

Thank you for reading this article. Writing my thoughts has been a good outlet of my creativity and a good way to express my feelings. In return for reading my article, I publish FREE PDF Templates that you can use for your kids, your family, your business and for yourself.

You can check the learning guides, short stories, novels, and journals here. The editable templates are also available in my page at raket.ph page at lily.libottayo.

Thank you for sharing your time with me.