You are not your stuff. Seems obvious, but we in the Western world consistently struggle with this. We accumulate more stuff as we age in an effort to better represent ourselves. Stuff becomes a stand-in for self. The bigger house, the faster car, the fancier title – all the better, because it signifies we’re more important, right?
Interestingly, in much of eastern thought the inclination is to do the opposite – to strip away in order to get clearer on the self. In this line of thinking “the stuff” serves as an impediment to clarity and a well-lived life.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with “stuff.” Buy the house if you love it, buy the car if you love the way it hugs the curves, keep rising in the ranks if you’ve got a clear purpose. The problem occurs when it becomes a stand-in for your sense of self, for your lack of a clear and strong identity. A strong identity is unchanged by a title or a car. It persists and endures no matter the external conditions. So build the self, first and most. And when that’s strong and clear, enjoy the stuff alongside it if you so choose. Whether you choose the Western way or the Eastern way, a strong core is essential for a well-lived life. Time for a good rinse of your identity statements, how about?
BUILT TO LEAD 