“A comfortable home is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after health and a good conscience.” —Sydney Smith, 1843
It is difficult to overstate the importance we humans place on “home.”
I once heard a commentator speaking about the movie The Wizard of Oz. His opinion on why it has become such an iconic film was “because Dorothy’s journey is ultimately one where her entire goal is simply to return home. And that longing is true for each of us. We all desire a home where we are loved, accepted, and can return to when we need to.”
How interesting then, for me, when I stumbled across this almost 200-year old quote from Sydney Smith that speaks of almost the same truth: A comfortable home is a great source of happiness. On par (almost) with health and a pure conscience.
We know this to be true. Our homes are more than just buildings. They can be a great source of happiness. They are places of refuge away from the world and are the launching pad from which we enter the world to hopefully live out the best versions of ourselves.
They are places to share our dreams and fears. They protect our families and both keep our memories and allow us to create new ones. Our home is a place to find hope, grow safely, and experience peace in a unkind world.
And at this point, I must mention that I am speaking of an idealized version of home. Not everyone has fond memories of home or lives today in a home where safety can be found. Some experience just the opposite and I am not discounting that reality.
It is true, in many ways, that none of us live in a perfect home because our homes are always occupied by imperfect humans. But I believe our desire for home to be safe, accepting, calm, and comfortable is part of the human spirit. And if you do not have one, you likely understand this longing more than most.
A comfortable home is indeed a great source of happiness.
If that is true, we would be wise to care deeply about the things we bring into it, keep in it, and how our belongings affect that level of comfort.
Sometimes we do that well. Other times, our homes are filled with things we don’t really need. Items we bought thinking they would make life better sometimes end up making it more complicated, more stressful, less functional, and less comforting.
Even worse, when we fill our homes with excess possessions, we negatively affect the other two variables mentioned in the quote: both health and conscience.
Health
Studies show that clutter is bad for our health—both physically and mentally.
For example, researchers at UCLA have discovered a link between high levels of stress hormones and a high density of household objects. In other words, clutter increases stress levels—almost undoubtedly.
Princeton scientists discovered that a cluttered environment limits our ability to focus. Their study reports that a visually disorganized environment has neurological effects similar to what we experience when barraged and overwhelmed by lots of different noises at once.
And clutter can even cause overeating, asthma, impaired learning, and loss of sleep quality.
When we own more than we need, we negatively affect two variables of happiness: home and health.
But that’s not all. Owning too much also negatively affects our conscience as well.
Good Conscience
Overconsumption is ultimately a result of misplaced intentions and resources. Nobody’s greatest value in life is to just own as much stuff as possible.
We dream bigger dreams for our life. We want to be faithful, loving, and kind. We want to be available to the people in our life. And we want to make a difference. These are the values and pursuits that align with heart, soul, and conscience.
But living with good conscience means making choices that match our values. This is where minimalism is so beneficial. Minimalism helps us buy less, buy intentionally, and match both our spending and energy with our values.
Making thoughtful choices about what we bring into our homes means we spend money and resources on things that truly matter to us. When we align our time and money and energy intentionally with our greatest values, we live with a clearer conscience.
Why Less Is More
Sydney Smith was an English writer in the early 1800’s and could certainly never have predicted the amount of things we accumulate in the modern world or the size of our homes.
But his wise words continue to ring true.
Here is his ranking of the top three factors for happiness: health, good conscience, comfortable home.
Embracing minimalism results in all three. It can improve our health by reducing stress. It can clear our conscience by helping us make intentional choices aligned with our values. And it can make our homes more comfortable by eliminating clutter and distraction.
Less clutter, more happiness.
Tina says
I loved this article and plan to start today to get rid of a bunch of old birthday, Christmas, anniversary, other, cards I’ve accumulated over 20 years (since I’ve lived here)! I’m scared to start but I have faith that I can do this. And reading this article has helped me realize the importance of, “letting go”….
Judy says
LESS CLUTTER. MORE HOME.
Love it!
Marybeth Chapman says
I always enjoy reading your postings. I signed up for your course a year ago, got a good start on it and keep at it bit by bit. Everything you say is true. I am so glad you are here for us! Thank you.
Marybeth Chapman
Maria J. says
Your home is where your heart is.
Thanks for sharing excellent articles.
Marjorie W. Albritton says
I have read articles on minimalism for a long time. however, my husband and I had traveled and accumulated a number of souvenirs. I just couldn’t get rid of them. UNTIL recently when, my husband had died, I faced the fact that I needed to move into a couple rooms in my niece’s home. Wow, 6 large rooms into 2 small ones. I am able to take only the essentials. The question was “Can I live without this?” Amazingly, I had to answer that question most of the time with “No,” And more amazing, I feel lighter, as if I am going on a marvelous adventure.
Stephanie L. says
I was blessed with a good home life growing up and then again when I went away to college with an older couple who welcomed me into their home to live. She has “adopted” me as her granddaughter. She also was my matron of honor in my wedding. She showed me and gave me a beautiful home life away from home where I learned even more about the importance of home and relationships. I visit them often even tho it’s been 16 years since I lived with them. I want to give my kids the type of comfort my homes gave me. It’s not in the material things as I think and analyze what makes these memories so dear. It’s the love and time spent and memories made over cheese and crackers and talks. This article reminded me of all this. I love the quote about home. Even hundreds of years ago this rang true. How interesting!
carol says
this article was so well written and easy to understand and so right on. so impressed by following thru with the first 3 things of clutter and what it does and then pointing that out again in the middle. thank you for this. getting up to get rid of more and understand the need even more now and forwarding to my husband to help him understand my frustrations sometimes on my needs to make it nice. thank you carol in suburb of Chicago, IL
Betsy says
This is so true. I’m grateful for my little house but i chastise myself for letting stuff clutter it up, knowing how I can’t relax in a packed house.
Margrethe Mummert says
Hello. I signed up for the course several years ago but never actually took the course (too scared, truth be told). Is there a way for me to take the course now?
joshua becker says
Yup, everyone who signs up for the Uncluttered Course has lifetime access. Your log-in will still work no matter how long you first signed up.