Letting go is hard. Letting go of things that you paid too much for is even worse.
Minimalist fashion challenge Project 333 doesn’t require letting go (just a 3 month separation from all but 33 items), but eventually you have to make the decision to hold on or let go.
One popular argument for holding on to clothing and other stuff is “I paid so much for that” but holding on to something because you paid for it once will only ensure that you keep paying.
If you don’t let go, you will pay again and again.
You will pay with your money.
Even though your purchase is complete, some items require further payment. You’ll pay to insure, to store, or to take care of your item in other ways. You might even pay for stuff to organize your stuff. Better hangers, closets and other organizational gimmicks don’t solve the problem. If organizing your stuff worked, you’d be organized. Let it go.
Paying once is enough.
You will pay with your time and attention.
Cleaning, organizing and thinking about your stuff takes time. You have important choices to make so increase focus and clarity by alleviating decision fatigue.
Paying once is enough.
You will pay with your heart.
This is the worst payment of all. You pay with emotion, by holding onto the past, by punishing yourself for old habits. You pay with guilt, anger, and indecision.
Paying once is enough.
The answer is simple. Let it go. Let go of the item and all of the costs attached to it. You have paid enough.