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Episode Transcript
Welcome toThe Verywell Mind Podcast.Im Amy Morin.
Verywell / Julie Bang
Youre listening to the Friday Fix.
And the fun part is we record the show from a sailboat in the Florida Keys.
It’s calledThe Happiness Lab.
Essentially, putting our money towards benefitting someone else.
And if you like what you hear, find more of The Happiness Lab wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Now lets dive into todays episode.
If you answered yes to any of those questions, todays episode is for you.
Those items that you refuse to throw away or get rid of, say something about your self-worth.
What if I said, Tell me what objects you hold onto and Ill tell you who you are?
Maybe you cant part with clothes that no longer fit.
It might be a t-shirt from a concert you bought 20 years ago.
Or maybe you hold onto birthday cards and keep them stuffed in a drawer year after year.
We all give some objects sentimental value, even if they dont hold any monetary value.
I got flooded with answers.
In fact, I got hundreds of people who even sent me pictures of the objects they keep.
Ill give you an example from my own life.
In the episode with Dr. Drew Ramsey, we talked about nutrition and mental health.
Well, when I was in the third grade, we had to make Valentines Day boxes.
So my Mom helped me make mine.
My Valentines Day box was a Big Mac.
I havent eaten a Big Mac since I was 12.
But I still have that Valentines Day box.
Its in my basement in my house in Maine.
Ive moved like 10 times since I was in the third grade.
But every time Ive moved, Ive dragged that box with me.
It has no functional value and it isnt worth anything in terms of money.
And yet, I keep it.
Why would I do that?
Well research says the objects you struggle to get rid of are likely tied to your self-worth.
Instead of thinking these objects are mine, we think of them as me.
The study found that people struggle the most to part with possessions that lack monetary or functional value.
According to researchers, the items you hang onto are likely to be linked directly to your self-worth.
And people measure their self-worth in different areas.
Throwing away these objects might cause you to feel slightly less successful.
It’s as if these physical manifestations of your triumphs will somehow take away from your achievements.
Those palpable objects likely fuel your identity as someone who is loved and appreciated.
Thats why I hold onto my Big Mac Valentines Day box.
My self-worth doesnt depend on a hamburger.
But, my mom helped me make that Valentines Day box.
She didnt love Big Macs.
But she knew I did.
And she knew I hated school but would do anything to help it feel more tolerable to me.
The study shows that getting rid of these objects leads to real grief.
Parting with possessions that make you feel worthy can cause you to experience sadness–and even depression.
But they can also give you some insight into how you feel about yourself and whats important to you.
Simply sharing a link to this episode could help someone feel better and grow stronger.
Do you want free access to my online course?
Its called 10 mental strength exercises that will help you reach your greatest potential.
Then, send us a screenshot of your review.
Our email address ispodcast@verywell.comWell reply with your all access pass to the course.
Thank you for hanging out with me today and listening to the VW Mind podcast.
