Learn to recognize the cravings to acquire stuff and develop the skills to let them go…

Yes, it’s possible. We can learn to not feed our cravings/obsessions. How? Through training (such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga perhaps…). I’ve been following Buddhist philosophy/psychology for more than a decade and am a meditator. This stuff really does work! When we learn to become still, to hold the wanting and craving with an open hand – it releases by itself. We don’t need to push it away, reject it, be harsh or violent with our habits and compulsions. If we just let go, there is no “rope burn” as things leave our life. As I said in a previous post, compassion works. We can set down our burdens – no grasping – let them "be" rather than pushing them away or rejecting them. We might have to gently pry our fingers open – one at a time. It took awhile to accumulate all our stuff – it takes awhile to release it. But as soon as we open to the possibilities, we’ll recognize that help is available. A next step is possible. Seek out books and other resources on the topic, talk with folks (caring & helpful friends, sympathetic counsellors), join a self-help group, enlist the services of declutterers/organizers…