Not enough is better than too much because…
- You know your problem. When you don’t have enough, you know it. You’re like, “I don’t have enough. I’ve got to get more.” And then you go try to get more. On the other hand, you don’t always know when you have too much. It’s harder to spot bloat.
- It’s easier to get more than less. For instance, is it easier to buy yourself a house or give yours away? Theoretically, it’s easier to give yours away, but in practice, that just ain’t so. This wasn’t always true, but if you’re able to read this post, I’m pretty sure it is for you.
- Down regulating is better than up regulating. Even if you can’t change your situation and you’re stuck with either too much or too little, which is better to get used to?
- Less is faster: You have less to move, so you can move quicker.
- Less is simpler: You have less to consider, so you can get really good with what you have.
- Less is abundant: You have less to guard and less to take from others, so you can enjoy it more… and so can everyone else.
It reminds me of something Chris Tomlinson wrote after visiting a local village in Burkina Faso: “Kids with no shoes smile more than kids with shoes.” Neither of us have any stats to prove it, but I think it’s probably a pretty accurate statement.
