TED Community » Chris McNaught

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Simplification, seeking significance in every situation, and living a life of contentment.

An idea worth spreading

Most people own too much stuff. We have things that never get used, aren't important to us, and yet we can't bear the thought of not having them. I have spent the last few years eliminating extra possessions, so that now I own fewer than 500 items. Now, my energy and focus can be spent on important things, not useless things than demand my attention.

Talk to me about

Contentment in life; living a simple, minimalist lifestyle; tiny homes (under 500 sq. ft.)

People don't know that I'm good at

Photography, although I have a lot to learn.

Comments

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• +2

  A reply on Conversation: Can we really become happier? Happier ourselves? Can we create happier places to work? Or even happier societies?

  Jan 11 2012: I agree Charles (couldn't reply to your reply on my comment). I can be content in the midst of any circumstance, but cannot be happy in many circumstances. Contentment, peace, and joy are choices.

• A reply on Conversation: Can we really become happier? Happier ourselves? Can we create happier places to work? Or even happier societies?

  Jan 11 2012: I too am living minimally. It's been a long process - almost 10 years now - but am down to the possessions that are truly important to me. Blogging about the whole experience connected me with so many people going through similar situations, and confirmed that wanting "less" is a valid life choice.

• A reply on Conversation: Can we really become happier? Happier ourselves? Can we create happier places to work? Or even happier societies?

  Jan 11 2012: Happiness does have many faces. As a school counselor, I spent a lot of time talking with students about emotions, and that emotions aren't good or bad, they're just emotions. Certainly some emotions are more comfortable than others, and we might prefer one over another. But we don't get to choose our emotions. When someone jumps out of the dark and yells, "BOO!" my fear is not a choice, nor can I choose not to be afraid. The emotion of fear happens in response to the circumstances.
  
  Likewise, happy is an emotion (at least in my life and my definition). So it's not something I choose. And faking happiness is worse than being unhappy.
• +1

  A reply on Conversation: Can we really become happier? Happier ourselves? Can we create happier places to work? Or even happier societies?

  Jan 11 2012: Absolutely - emotions can give us feedback. I try to listen to my emotions, especially when they catch me off guard. "I wonder why I'm feeling that emotion right now?" Looking at the emotions let's me make better decisions on how to deal with those emotions, and the situation that caused them.
  
  And even though I believe we don't get to choose emotions, I am also a believer that what I think affects how I feel, and how I feel affects what I do. I may not be able to change my circumstances, but I can certainly change my perception of them, which will definitely affect my emotions, hopefully making me happier, in the midst of my contentment.
• +2

  A comment on Conversation: Can we really become happier? Happier ourselves? Can we create happier places to work? Or even happier societies?

  Jan 11 2012: I've given up being happy. Emotions are reactive and I don't get to choose how I feel. I do get to decide how I react to life and all the circumstances that affect my emotions. I make a conscious decision, every day, to be content, which seems much more important than my being happy. Even in the midst of continual medical issues, job loss, financial setbacks, I am content. Because of my contentment, I am able to look for the significance in each situation. And because I look for significance, I find it easier to live in contentment.
  
  If I were to focus on being happy, there would be so much disappointment, too much.