Over the past few years though, there is a growing awareness about celebrating sustainably and living consciously, especially with respect to the environment. What’s more, balancing the festive spirit with conscious consumption is not only good for the Earth but also for your wellbeing. It doubles your joy while subtracting the guilt that comes with acting irresponsibly. The financial savings are an added bonus.

Do you wish to celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali? In other words, do you want to celebrate mindfully, minimalistically and sustainably like I do? Here are five tips that will help you get started right away:

Ideas for celebrating an eco-friendly Diwali

1. Say no to shopping for new clothes

Diwali had always meant new clothes for me. Well, the same went for Christmas, Easter, birthdays and other special days in between. But over the years I began to notice that the clothes I bought for festivals were the ones I wore the least throughout the year. It seemed like such a waste of money and resources. Now, I don’t feel the need to buy anything new, just because it is Diwali.

We all have clothes lying in our wardrobes that we’ve worn only a few times, especially those festive clothes that can only be worn on occasions. Now when a festival arrives, I simply mix and match my outfits to create a new one and I am sorted.

Sometimes, I simply repeat something I have worn earlier. That’s because I no longer feel pressured about what people will think or how I will be judged or the fact that I will be seen wearing the same dresses in my photos. The thing is, most people don’t bother what others are wearing. So why should I bother about them? Besides, the happy moments and memories won’t change simply because I repeated an outfit.

2. Say no to non-recyclable decorations

It’s easy to get lured when you see something attractive and novel, especially if it is cheap. The markets are flooded with such decorative items that are not very long-lasting. Before I make a purchase, I check for the durability and the value it will add. The problem with buying cheap decorative stuff is that not only does it come apart pretty soon, often it can’t even be recycled that easily. Once discarded, such things just lie in a landfill, or worse, end up in the ocean.

Before making your purchase, just pause and ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I really need it?
• Is it durable enough to be reused in subsequent years (I am thinking for at least 6-7 years)?
• Is it made from eco-friendly, bio-degradable material?
• Would it be possible to recycle/ upcycle it in case it breaks?

A word about observing rituals for an eco-friendly Diwali: I prefer earthen diyas, fresh flowers and Rangoli for decorating my home. I always reuse the decorative rice lights from the previous years, even though sometimes they need a little fixing.

3. Say no to firecrackers

This one may seem so obvious but it’s actually not. Probably because our celebrations, especially Diwali, have become so synonymous with firecrackers that we cannot imagine enjoying without at least some firecrackers. But I now make it a point to celebrate without firecrackers—and I encourage everyone around me to do the same, including children. The air- and sound-pollution apart, the risk that these firecrackers pose is simply not worth taking. It may have started innocently but this tradition has now become quite destructive, especially considering the climate conditions—that is why we must not pass it on to the next generation.

4. Say yes to responsible gifting

Firstly, I don’t feel obligated to give gifts anymore just because it is a festive occasion; I give them only when I genuinely feel like giving. And when I do, I make it a point to choose eco-friendly gifting options. Here are a few thoughtful and sustainable gift ideas:

1. Indoor plants or saplings in a ceramic planter
2. Dry fruits in a crystal bowl that can be reused
3. Handmade soaps that come without any plastic packaging
4. Homemade sweets packed in a steel or glass container
5. And of course, the best gift that everyone appreciates the most—cash!

Also, I try to use newspapers to wrap my gifts. Sometimes I recycle the wrapping papers from gifts that I have received (yes, I preserve them). Often, I just skip the wrapping altogether and simply use an attractive paper or cloth bag—no plastic!

5. Say yes to decluttering and downsizing

Diwali deep cleaning is a non-negotiable tradition in Indian homes. As a matter of fact, deep cleaning is an activity that is undertaken across the world during festive times. But along with deep cleaning, I also do some decluttering and that gives me great joy and satisfaction. In the past Diwali cleaning meant going through all cabinets and storage spaces to clean and rearrange gifts and other things that we had collected over the years. Some of these things were lying unused for a decade and yet we kept them. Having recognised the immense value of minimalism and sustainability to our wellbeing, I declutter more often and am firmer with myself about not hoarding stuff. Here’s what you can do to begin decluttering your home and office.

1. If there is stuff in your home or office that you are no longer using [even if it is new], get rid of it. You may want to donate it, gift or recycle it
2. If you have more than three repeats of the same items e.g.: pressure cookers, casseroles, dinner sets, tea sets give away at least one of them
3. Don’t forget to declutter and deep clean your pantry and refrigerator too

These tips should help you to celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali, or any festival for that matter.

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If you had told me years ago I’d be writing full-time about clutter-free living, I would have said you were crazy. And if I didn’t have the chance to say it, my wife would have done it for me. We had been together for too many years, she knew me too well, and organising was not in my blood. It was painfully obvious.

I’ve lived most of my life as a terribly disorganised person. And to make it worse, I’m a bit of a pack rat by nature and way too forgetful for my own good. Every morning, if I wasn’t searching for my car keys, I was looking for my shoes, my belt, or my watch. Chances were, they were never in the place they belonged and even if they were, I would have never thought to check there first.

Here’s what turned by life around

Five years ago, everything changed. A light-bulb clicked. And I owe it all to a five-year-old.

Now, I write about simplicity and organisation full-time on my blog, Becoming Minimalist. I’ve promoted living with less on television, radio, newspaper, and various venues all around the world. I stand as living proof that anybody can become an organised person, live clutter-free, and find a better, more-freeing life because of it.

But for me, it started with an incredibly important lesson I learned one morning while trying to clean out my garage with my son.

I remember it quite well. It was a spring weekend in Vermont. I woke up early that Saturday with one goal in mind: clean the garage. After the long, cold winter, I knew it was going to be an all-day project. So I set my alarm early to get a good start.

My wife and I had decided to spend our spring weekend cleaning the house from top to bottom. After all, that’s what disorganised [and organised] families do in the springtime, right? It’s the same thing that Indian families do just before a big festival like Diwali. And we were, by definition, just your standard, run-of-the-mill, middle-class family of four living in the suburbs.

The project started harmlessly enough as we set out to begin cleaning the garage. I invited my son to help me not because I thought he’d be super-helpful, but because I wanted to spend some time with him after working all week. For some reason, I thought he’d enjoy pulling out everything from the garage, hosing it down, and moving everything back in. Boy, was I mistaken!

If I recall correctly, he lasted about four minutes [and that may be on the generous side]. To be fair, he did pull out one blue bin full of summer toys. But while reaching for the next plastic bin, he noticed his baseball bat and whiffle ball. And he decided to quit. He grabbed his bat and ball, looked me in the eye, and said, “Can I go to the backyard and play?”

Reluctantly, I agreed as I headed back into the garage to grab more stuff. I lamented the fact that the quality time I had hoped to spend with him lasted only four minutes.

I stand as living proof that anybody can become an organised person, live clutter-free, and find a better, more-freeing life because of it.

Three hours later

Nearly three hours later, I was still working on the same garage—my son still in the backyard, now swinging on the swing set. My neighbour, who happened to be outside working on her home at the same time, noticed my growing frustration. She turned to me and said sarcastically, “Oh, the joys of home ownership.”

I responded by saying, “Well, you know what they say, ‘The more stuff you own, the more your stuff owns you’.” Her next sentence struck a chord with my mind, heart, and soul. It eventually changed the course of my life forever.

She responded, “Yeah, that’s why my daughter is a minimalist. She keeps telling me I don’t need all this stuff!”

I had never heard the word minimalist before. But after working all morning in my garage, it sounded surprisingly attractive. And in that moment, everything changed.

My son… my garage… my growing frustration… it all started to make sense and pointed to one incredibly valuable, life-changing lesson: Living life is more enjoyable than managing and organising stuff!

It was the lesson my five-year-old son knew far better than me and had tried to teach me when he ran into the backyard. But I didn’t see it. At least, not until my neighbour identified the roadblocks keeping me from that type of freedom.

Life would be better lived if there was less stuff to manage and organise and clean, I realised. Not only were my possessions not bringing me joy, they were actually distracting me from the very things that did.

Nearly three hours later, I was still working on the same garage—my son still in the backyard, now swinging on the swing set

And a minimalist was born

Along with my wife and two kids, we immediately began going through each room, closet, and drawer in our home; removing as many unneeded items as possible. The goal was to live with only the possessions we needed or loved. And from that day forward, rather than seeking to live with more and more stuff in our home, we have tried to live with less and less.

As a result, we have found cleaning to be easier, organising to be less painful, and managing our life less stressful. We have discovered more time to be together and more opportunity to live life in the backyard, rather than cleaning out the garage.

Suddenly, living clutter-free didn’t seem so difficult. Drawers had plenty of room. Closets had space to breathe. Toy rooms were less crowded. Clean-up was a snap. And the house almost always looked cleaned.

I became an organised person with a passion to inspire others to live more life by owning less stuff. And my five-year-old son had held the secret all along: living life is indeed far more enjoyable than managing and organising stuff!

There is more joy to be found in owning less than can ever be found in organising more.

This is a foundational understanding that is rare in our culture. Our society has trained us to think just the opposite. But it is important to take a step back and rethink our passion for possessions.

The post The birth of a minimalist appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Here’s some friendly advice: heed the old saying, “Less is more.” You’ll save an enormous amount of time, money and stress by thinning out your huge wardrobe.

1. Get the proper supplies

Buy a starter set of 30 hangers, or 60 if the closet is shared by two people. Go for the sturdy ones. They can be obtained at a houseware store or online. Buy all in one colour for uniformity [or if you’re sharing closet space with someone, get a different colour for yourself]. While you’re at the store, pick up a few sturdy skirt and pants hangers as well. Vertical skirt hangers with clips that hold 5 – 6 skirts on one hanger are a great choice. In addition, pick up an expandable shoe rack and a tie rack if you wear ties.

2. Start with a clean slate

Pull out everything [yes, everything] that’s currently in your closet. Keep in mind, as you’re doing so, that you probably only wear 20 per cent of your clothes on a regular basis; 10 per cent of them are for special occasions; and the other 70 per cent of them are probably never used at all.

Keep in mind, that you probably only wear 20 per cent of your clothes on a regular basis

3. Separate clothes into five piles

A  Piece of clothing that meets any of the following criteria:

• it is outdated
• it is ripped
• it is stained
• it doesn’t fit [if you’re not sure whether or not it fits, try it on now]
• you think it may come back in fashion someday
• you wouldn’t dream of ever wearing it again

B   Wire hanger pile. If you have any wire hangers in your closet, this is where they go. Here’s the problem with them: they’re weak, they stick up in the air, and they damage your clothing.

C   Clothes that need minor repairs such as sewing a hem or replacing a button. If it’s too much of a hassle to repair it, then don’t put it in this pile.

D  Clothes you love and wear at least once a month AND clothes you love and wear at least twice a year [special occasion wardrobe]. Your wardrobe should always make you feel good about yourself. If you don’t love it or wear it often, it doesn’t belong in this pile.

E  Any other items that don’t fit into Category A, B, C or D.

4. Category A or B

Dump it or donate it. Okay, now here’s the fun part. Grab a large garbage bag and dump everything [yes, everything] from your ‘A’ pile into it. Bring it to your local charity organisation first thing in the morning. If you’re still reading this in disbelief, take a deep breath to get over the initial shock, then resolve to toss it or donate it. You’ll feel better in the end. While you’re at it, take all those terrible, awful, lousy wire hangers in your ‘B’ pile and bring them to your dry cleaner’s for recycling, or dump them immediately. Are you still considering keeping something from pile ‘A’ or ‘B’? Please, dump it. It’s clutter. You’ll feel better about it later when your closet is organised, inviting and free of chaos.

5. Category C

Now that your ‘A’ and ‘B’ piles are donated or trashed [I hope], let’s move on to your ‘C’ pile. This pile should contain those articles of clothing that need minor repair. Get a basket or container; dump this entire pile in it. Now, carry that basket over to your clothing repair area. Give yourself a two-week deadline. If the repairs are not done in two weeks, dump or donate the entire basket. After all, if it’s not important enough for you to repair, it’s clutter. It’s easy for clutter to build up, and I want to help you eliminate any chance of it happening to you again.

6. Category D

Organise your keepers. Sort everything in your ‘D’ pile by category of clothing [blouses, skirts, pants, suits and so on]. When done sorting, start with one category. Take one article of clothing at a time, put it on a hanger [the colourful, sturdy kind] and hang it in the closet. [Important note: If you found something that didn’t belong in the closet in the first place, don’t put it there again.] Do this until you’ve managed to hang all of your categories of clothing, making sure that all clothing and hangers are facing the same direction. [By the way, if you share your closet with someone, don’t mix clothing together. Put each individual’s clothing on either side of the closet.]

7. Category E

Categorise and organise everything. Now is the time to categorise what is there in the ‘E’ pile. If these are items that have to be stored in your closet for lack of any other storage space, then start by sorting them. Then, get some inexpensive organising containers so that each category remains separated and place the containers on shelves in your closet.

8. Sort your shoes

Now is a good time to set up your brand new, sturdy, expandable shoe rack and neatly place your shoes on it.

Remember that a well-organised closet always has room to accommodate more clothes or accessories

9. Finishing touches

Now, you’re ready for some finishing touches. If you install a few hooks on an empty closet wall, you’ll be able to hang belts, umbrellas and handbags. If you’re lucky enough to have cubbies in your closet, purses and hats can be stored there; otherwise, put them on your closet shelves. You can even pick up a clear, over-the-door shoe bag for small accessories such as hosiery, scarves, jewellery and so on. Don’t put shoes in the shoe bag. It may sound funny, but these bags are too flimsy and awkward for the weight of most shoes, plus they collect dirt from shoe bottoms.

10. Final thoughts

Don’t overstuff. There should be plenty of room in your closet to get an item in or out. If there’s not, consider thinning out your wardrobe a little more. The goal here is quality, not quantity. Don’t buy another thing to wear without first determining if you really need it. Some people like to discard something they’re not really happy with anymore, for a new item.

Congratulations! You’re done. Don’t you feel great?! You deserve a special reward for your hard work. Treat yourself to dinner, or a double hot fudge sundae. Go for a massage. Rent and watch a favourite movie. Be happy. Your closet is!

The post 10 steps to a happy clothes closet appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

16 centuries later, I find wisdom in what Socrates said. His values are relevant even today, perhaps more than ever before. The more I think about the wisdom of Socrates, the more I am convinced about the pointlessness of our heavily consumption-oriented world. Ironically, we are consuming more and more and getting less and less satisfaction from it. Consumption has become a malaise, an epidemic gone unchecked that has led to a massive imbalance of resources and caused widespread discontent. Worse, it has made us a slave of the very things we seemingly own.

Related » Normal vs Natural: Are You Living an Unnatural, Normal Life?

There is a widespread conviction that we will be happier when we buy more stuff. When we buy into this belief, we fall into a vicious trap—in order to buy more stuff, we must make more money; in order to make more money we must work harder or longer; in order to work harder we must compromise on our priorities—round and round in circles we go, even life is reduced to hankering after stuff that we want, never really stopping to reflect if we really need it.

More stuff = less joy

I know from experience that stuff never brings happiness. Sure, it brings momentary pleasure but only to give way to a feeling of dissonance along with the desire to get the next item on the endless list that is freely fuelled by our consumer-oriented society. Desire, by its very nature, is insatiable. That means I am never satisfied with what I have—there’s always something better, bigger, more advanced and with more features out there that I must own… a more lavish apartment, a bigger car, a more hi-tech handset, more clothes, shoes, ties, belts and so on.

But do I really need them? This question brings me to the values of frugality that Socrates practised. In today’s context, we could call it minimalism: owning only those things which are absolutely essential to live comfortably.

What truly matters

To me, minimalism seems to be a sensible way of living. It leaves me with ample time and resources to explore the many dimensions of life that are veiled by my obsession with consumption. Because I don’t have to care for my possessions, I am left to care for myself and what I truly value—my loved ones, my health, my personal growth and this vast, beautiful, breathtaking world. What’s more, it frees me up from the stress of having to make more money to buy all those things that I probably don’t need. It also allows me to give away my stuff and my time freely, leaving me with a feeling of abundance.

How do I go about discerning my needs from my wants? By understanding myself. Socrates advocated that individuals should strive to know and understand themselves and unless they do so, their lives have no real meaning or value. Once I know and understand myself, I know what and how much I need. No unnecessary clutter, no wasteful expenditure, no stress, no dissonance. Only a life that is rich with love, joy and peace. Hence, the mantra for maximum living is “minimise your possessions”.

The post Minimalism: The Key to Living a Richer, Fuller Life appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

We are overwhelming ourselves at the moment. We have been convinced for a long time that more is better. And I certainly applaud the effort that is being made to help people get it under control. But the truth is I have yet to see an article that deals with the root cause, which is two-fold.

Stop hoarding!

As long as we keep bringing in and getting more stuff, feeling like our value is in things, the clutter and the feeling of being overwhelmed will never go away.

Consumption has become the American way. It defines us. And, as an American, I see how my country has bullied the world into the same insanity. America needs to change this image for it is in an identity crisis. Not only does our obsession with possession cause us stress and confusion, overwhelm us and take our time, money and energy, it is also the cause of the depletion of our natural resources. It’s all connected.

We are overwhelming ourselves at the moment. We have been convinced for a long time that more is better

A few years ago I helped lead a spiritual tour to India and now a piece of my heart will forever beat there. I experienced both, the profound poverty and newfound affluence, a shocking juxtaposition. I also experienced what I think of as the ‘soul’ of India. It is a kind of humble simplicity, a purity of heart. The ancient wisdom of the Vedas still moves through and affects daily life. Meditating on the shores of the river Ganges at sunrise is a favourite memory of mine that I constantly go back to. Watching the yogis practice in the golden light, listening to the recognisable chanting and the ecstatic shouts from those who joined in, plays over and over again in my mind like a favourite song.

It is my heartfelt prayer that abundance continues to come to India for there is great need there too. However, the insane truth is that we in America need what India has as much as India needs what we have. Maybe we can meet each other in between.

Do you really ‘need’ that?

The root cause of all the clutter is a poverty of the soul. We keep thinking, here in America, that we can buy our happiness. That we can buy our children’s love. That with enough money, and the stuff it buys, we can fix anything. Well, we’ve tried that. We’ve beat that idea all to heck and it hasn’t worked. I believe we are starting to come full circle though. Yoga and meditation is becoming more popular every day. But it can’t happen soon enough. We must slow down and breathe. We must find our essence once again.

While in India, I learned a very painful and profound lesson. I did not consider myself a greedy person. I don’t think many of us do. However, my definition of greedy has changed. I now define greed as what is seen anytime someone has way more than what they actually need, and yet they still use the word ‘need’ regularly when referring to things like clothes, pizza, sunglasses, cars, art, electronics, and so on. This use of the word ‘need’ has no relationship to the actual definition of the word. When I use the word in this way, then I have become greedy in my neediness. I call it ‘needy greedy’!

There is another word I have often misused which is similar to need: starve. When I say ‘I’m starving’ when referring to food, it’s like saying ‘I need’ when referring to a pair of pants when there’s a closet full at home.

The root cause of all the clutter is a poverty of the soul. We keep thinking, here in America, that we can buy our happiness

Moment of truth

While co-facilitating the spiritual pilgrimage to India, it was actually on the way to the river Ganges where my mind was forever altered. There was a thick fog as we wandered through the dirt roads and skinny alleyways in the old city of Varanasi. As the sun pushed through, it appeared that the fog itself was emitting a golden light from within. This light reflected off the old walls and temples that make up much of the cities in India. The only sound was that of our footsteps on dirt as we meandered toward the river.

There were 40 or so of us tourists wearing fanny packs, sneakers and sunblock. I hadn’t had much to eat for several days because, when in India, I discovered, you eat pretty much the same food every day. And I, unfortunately, was no longer feeling very grateful for my meals. I had even skipped breakfast that morning. As we neared the ‘Mother Ganga’, I thought several times to myself, I’m starving! I had said this more than once out loud over the last few days.

Then many yards in front of me, from out of the golden light, a person came into view pushing an old wheelbarrow. The dark shadow, silhouetted by the sunlight behind it, looked like a skeletal hanger whose ragged clothes were draped over it. There was something in the wheelbarrow, but I couldn’t make it out, maybe it was wood for one of the many cremation ceremonies.

Whatever it was, we were headed right for one another. I wanted to change trajectory, but my efforts were thwarted by something bigger than my own will. Just a few feet away from the wheelbarrow now, I strained to see what its contents were. As I glanced downward, it moved. A man, who looked older than life itself, struggled to lift his head and open his eyes. He was starving to death, with less skin and bones than the emaciated person pushing him. As we passed, just inches from each other, our eyes met. I saw pain, pleading and death in his eyes. Suddenly, a pang of hunger entered me that was so powerful it sucked the life force right out of my body. I felt faint and dizzy as my eyes glazed over, accompanied by a humming in my ears. I staggered over and took five steps while my left hand reached for the nearest wall to lean on. “What’s happening to me?” I thought, “God help me.”

And I believe God had done just that, but not in any way I could have known at the time. For a moment, I was starving. This is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. Then, as soon as it came, it was gone. Simple hunger once again. Since that day I do not say “I’m starving” or “I need”. To say so is untrue. When I feel those words coming, I replace them with the truth: “I’m hungry” or “I would like”. This changes me. Then I take a moment for self-inquiry. I try to understand what my motivation is behind the “wanting”. Half the time, the truth is I don’t really want anything. I say a quick prayer for the millions of those on the planet who are actually in need and truly starving.

The gift I received from the man in the wheelbarrow that day was, maybe, the most precious gift of all—compassion. Through it, we can heal ourselves and that’s the start to healing the world.

Do not purchase or accept anything into your life unless you are sure it supports your “soul”. All the rest must go!

A time for reflection

When we say “I’m starving” or “I need”, we are giving a powerful message to our subconscious mind. The subconscious does not discern between exaggeration and truth. It takes what we think and say at face value and manifests it into our life as it sees it, taking great liberties with interpretation. “Starving” and “need” denote lack. They point to the experience of desperation, emptiness, drama, and loss. One way or another, to the degree that we say and think such things, they will play themselves out in our lives in its many and various disguises.

So, step one: Stop bringing stuff in! Do not purchase or accept anything into your life unless you are sure it supports your “soul”. All the rest must go!

And step two: You are perfect and whole, just as you are. A miracle to behold. There isn’t anything “out there” that is needed to complete you. Don’t fall for that trap as countless millions of us in America have. It truly has led to our suffering.

And so, my friends in the mystical and rapidly-changing land of India, it is my prayer that we examine the directions our lives are taking and meet somewhere in the middle. Namasté.

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