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9
POSSESSIONS
A Basic Philosophy
- The states of having or not having a range of possessions are not ends in themselves. There must be reasons based on their good or bad contributions to our well-being.
- In making rational decisions about what to keep or discard, we must face the likelihood that a small percentage of things we dispose of will be regretted. However, we must ask ourselves whether it is worth keeping everything to avoid that risk.
- There is no point in having something and not knowing that we have it. Possession without awareness is generally pointless.
- Possession is an economic question – not only of money, but space, time and alternatives foregone. The total costs and benefits of any possession need to be assessed. If it gets in the way of more important pursuits then it is more of a liability than an asset.
Factors That Influence Retention or Discarding
- The likelihood of being able to acquire it when needed.
- The inconvenience or consequences of not having it when it is wanted.
- Frequency of use.
- The space available, the space taken up and the opportunity cost of not being able to use that space for something else.
- Maintenance cost and effort. The initial purchase price is often the smallest part. If you cannot afford the maintenance, then we cannot afford it.
- The number of duplicates in one’s possession.
Things that Should Almost Never Be Thrown Away.
- Personal documents of identity and qualifications.
- Summarised medical records.
- Valuable property documents of ownership.
- Records related to any current or ongoing involvement. Contracts and legal documents. Financial records required by law.
- Assets that are easily convertible into money and are increasing or stable in value.
- Things that are currently or recently in good use.
- Instructions for the operation of equipment still in use. Current guarantees.
- Spares for superseded items no longer produced but still in use.
- Items of major aesthetic value or sentimental historic interest.
- Things you forgot you had, but are glad that you found again.
Things that Should Be Considered for Disposal
- Anything you would not acquire now if you did not have it.
- Anything you might want in the future for a specific but unlikely or unimportant purpose.
- Unused assets easily convertible into money and decreasing in value.
- Anything that revives bad memories.
Things That Can Readily Be Disposed Of
- Anything you think you might want in the future but do not know what for.
- Spares for something you have never used or no longer have.
- Records that are unlikely ever to be called for, and the consequences of not having them when needed are minor.
- Items that have never been used, are unlikely to be needed and are easily available.
- Things you forgot you had, but are indifferent to having found again.
- Things you would willingly give away to someone who said they needed them.
- Items where the cost of their maintenance outweighs the benefits of having them.
- Things that tie you down preventing you from pursuing your ‘mission’.
Natural Obstacles to Avoiding Accumulation
- Buying compulsions.
- Gullibility to sales talk.
- A hoarding personality.
- Identifying with one’s possessions.
- Insecurity: Lack of confidence in one’s ability to ‘cope without.’
Conclusion
The right possessions can improve the quality of life and work. There is no virtue in crippling levels of poverty. However there is also no direct proportional relationship between the volume of a person’s possessions and their happiness and every indication of rapidly diminishing returns. In fact, possessions beyond our needs can become a burden, an obstacle to freedom of action and a hindrance to personal development. They can possess us instead.
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