The 7Ps – Purge
Glenda @ Mitchell News
Be intentional about what you choose to do. Be intentional about actually doing it.
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The 7Ps – Purge
Say NO to FOMO
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*Hot off the Press*
The last month has been a time of both celebration and challenge.
I have enjoyed a couple of wonderful book signing events. Not only have I been able to share my stories but I have been entertained and inspired by the stories of others.
It has been wonderful to spend time with my 92-year-old mother. Despite being physically limited, she continues to challenge and inspire me with her tenacity, curiosity and zest for life. Other people are often amazed at the robust conversations that we have.
Walter & I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary, a poignant opportunity to look back and celebrate the amazing adventures we’ve had together.
On the other side of the coin, whilst it has been fun discovering new locations as we explore where we would like to settle, we are getting a little tired of living out of 2 suitcases and a storage container. One could say that we are victims of the lifestyle choices we have made – lots of experiences and adventures but limited stability. Moving around also takes its toll on relationships – we are very grateful for the fabulous friends who have stood by us.
Perhaps now is the time to heed my own advice – to reassess what is important to us in this next stage of our lives and make intentional choices.
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*Purge – Say NO to FOMO*
I was speaking to someone recently and he gave me a simple explanation of how he views the things we think about doing. He puts them in 3 separate baskets. One contains the things we’re getting on with. The second is jam-packed with those things we’d like to do. The third basket holds those things we’ve decided not to do – we’ve said “NO”. In my experience, the last basket is the toughest one to fill. For some reason, we think we’re going to miss out – particularly if someone else has done it – so we keep it in the overflowing basket of things we’d like to do.
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a unique term introduced in 2004 to describe a phenomenon observed on social networking sites. The world we live in thrives on a constant barrage of “experiences.” Social media feeds overflow with curated adventures, exotic trips, and seemingly endless opportunities to “live your best life.” This carefully constructed reality can easily trigger the FOMO monster. Every time we open social media, there they are: taking some awesome trip, fielding the opportunities we ought to have gotten, achieving what we only dream of. Meanwhile, we sit on our couches, missing out on everything – or feeling as though we are.
There are a myriad of books, articles and podcasts about the quest for minimalism. One popular definition of this concept goes something like this: minimalism is about owning only what adds value and meaning to your life (as well as the lives of the people you care about) and removing the rest.
But what if it isn’t just about things? What if it’s about a recalibration of what we value, a conscious choice to prioritise both experiences & possessions and a commitment to living with intentionality?
One could look at it another way. Minimalism requires you to own less and looks similar in every home – it’s about having less material clutter. Intentional living asks you to be conscious of the decisions you make and is very personal and unique to each individual. Combining the two drives us to choose to own those things and to do those experiences that are in line with our unique values & passion.
It is not about living a boring, empty life with little or no fun. It’s about defining what “enough” means for you, aligning your possessions and experiences with your values, and making space for what truly matters. It’s about saying “yes” to the adventures that spark your soul and “NO” to the ones that drain your energy and resources.
It is a journey, not a destination. It’s about constantly refining your definition of “enough” as you evolve and grow. It’s about recognising that comparing your life to someone else’s carefully curated Instagram feed is an exercise in futility. What matters is finding your own version of richness, one that fuels your passions.
A couple of months ago, I introduced the 7P’s, starting with what I believed to be at the core – Passion. Whilst the other components can be done in any order, and even simultaneously, they all draw off and feed into passion in some way. This makes passion the first step in the journey.
If you haven’t already done so, there likely has never been and will never be a better time to determine what truly matters to you. Connection, creativity, personal growth, environmental awareness? Let these guide your choices, both in terms of possessions and experiences.
Embrace the power of “NO.” Setting boundaries is essential. Don’t feel pressured to own every item or participate in every trendy experience just because everyone else is doing it. Learn to say “NO” to things that don’t align with your values or that drain your resources. By embracing your unique definition of “enough,” choosing experiences and possessions you can overcome the FOMO trap and create a life that truly resonates with you.
A practical example with a twist: A friend of mine likes buying plants for her garden and spending hours tending the beautiful flora. For me, as someone who doesn’t have a garden, her actions are borderline obsessive. Recently we were having a conversation about her desire to be more minimalist. On the face of it, buying lots of new plants doesn’t appear to be in line with this goal. However, looking at it from another angle, it is perfectly in line with her ultimate desire to achieve a low-maintenance garden. We agreed that selective and intentional seemed more accurate than minimalist. Or to put it another way. If I were to go out and buy a whole bunch of plants because my friend is doing so, it would be because of FOMO. FOMO could even drive me to buy a house with a garden. But I have decided to say “NO” I am going to put that in my basket of things I’d like to do. For her, choosing to buy plants and to spend time in her garden is a clear example of being intentional about choosing what she owns and intentional about choosing where she spends her time.
Challenge for the month:
What is one item that you have been hanging on to that you can get rid of – sell, give away or throw away?
What is one activity that you have been thinking of doing for ages but realistically will never do as it’s not in line with your values and passion?
Let me know what you have managed to purge from your life.
Once we’ve eliminated the things that drain our resources, what’s next?
Next month we’ll consider another component in the journey to a balanced life, one lived with intention and passion.
I’ll uncover #4 of the 7Ps, so look out for it in your inbox.
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*Quote of the Month*
“FOMO is the result of comparing your behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reels.”
– Unknown
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*Kicking Out The Bucket List*
For further information or to order the book directly (signed copies available)
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If you would like help with working through how to eliminate things from your life where they are not adding value to your passion, let’s have a chat – it’s FREE!
If you’d to discuss anything that you’ve read, I’d love to hear from you!
Glenda
The 7Ps – Passion to Party 
The 7Ps – Plan 
The 7Ps – Prioritise 
The 7Ps – Park 
The 7Ps – Party #2 
The 7Ps – Party