Tiny Transition and Downsizing begins on June 28th
Mariah’s 8-week E-Course, Tiny Transition and Downsizing, is now open for registration. Class begins June 28th. The Tiny Transition and Downsizing e-course shows you step by step how to downsize, de-clutter, and clear your mind and space, all within a supportive, motivating group of like-minded friends throughout the journey. The practical weekly lessons and private student-only forum allow you to make progress at your own pace within a group of like-minded friends on the same journey.
I’ve been told that the group is a catalyst for lifelong change.
The lessons are designed to take all of the overwhelm and confusion out of downsizing and simplifying, and transitioning into a smaller space if that’s you’re intention.
Hi, I’m Mariah. And I used to be a hoarder (it’s okay, I’ve come to terms with my past – we can use the H-word now).
Before I lived in 112 square feet (the cutest vintage camper house ever), before I got rid of 95% of my stuff, before I traveled the country for 8 months in a modded-out Honda Element with a single backpack of stuff, before i was living light and tiny, I was living in 1500 square feet of crazy, cluttered, mountains-of-stuff mess.
I’m not sure what your situation today is. But I want to ask you ONE question:
WHY do you want to live in a tiny house?
(or camper, or trailer, or van or other small cabin – there’s no rules here, right?).
Think about it for a second.
WHY do you want to live in a tiny house?
Most likely, there are real reasons, important reasons. Goals you want to achieve, things you want to, people you want to spend time with – and the tiny house is a means to that end.
Think you have to wait for your tiny house to start living out those goals and dreams? To start having more freedom, and saving more money?
Think again.
I see so many people get caught up in the object of the tiny house (or the camper, trailer or other little dwelling) – the actual, physical little building on wheels. They get so caught up in the little house as the symbol of simple living, freedom, financial freedom, lower living costs and lighter impact – that they forget it’s not necessary for actually LIVING that life you want.
You can start enjoying 95% of the benefits of living in a tiny house right now, just by downsizing. That’s why I created the Tiny Transition and Downsizing E-Course, to help people gain the freedom, time, and SPACE – the peace and focus – that I’ve found through this process.
So I want to know: What are some of YOUR reasons for wanting to live tiny or simple? What is your ultimate goal?
I know there’s a bigger reason behind your plans, your dreams, and your ideas. It’s not to live in a tiny space for the sake of it.
Maybe for you it’s the freedom to travel, financial independence, environmental reasons, or wanting to spend more time on relationships and less time at the office.
Maybe it’s the ability to move your home with opportunities that arise for you – jobs, new relationships, new places.
So what is it for you? WHY – really WHY – do you want to live in a smaller space, a tiny home, a cabin or camper?
Downsizing is a means to an end – whether that end be travel, better relationships, less stress or financial freedom is up to you.
I want you to know that you can start living that life now – whether or not you are moving into a tiny home, downsizing your square footage, or just trying to gain sanity in your current life – you can do it with downsizing.
The lovely men and women who have gone through the Tiny Transition and Downsizing course have come out the other side with less stuff, money in their pockets, emotional bad habits kicked to the curb, and more happiness and time and space for LIFE to happen.
But today, I want to tell you WHY you hold on to all that stuff.
5 Reasons Why you Hold onto Stuff you Don’t Even Like or Use:
1. You base your identity on the stuff that you own and can afford.
Whether you know it or not, many of us base our sense of selves on the things we own. Having all the cool camping gear makes us “outdoorsy” and “adventurous”. Having the designer clothes and cool bags makes us “stylish” and “fun”. Having the woodworking tools and workshop makes us “manly” and “handy”. Having the yarn, fabric, and other art supplies makes us “crafty” and “artistic”.
Whatever it is for you, in one way or anther you are giving yourself value through what you own. You base your identity and how you wan tot be perceive on the stuff you own and have.
But the truth? You are who you are regardless of how much camping gear, designer clothes, or knitting supplies you have. And no one is going to think any less of you if you don’t keep the stuff you’re only holding on to for the sake of it being a part of who you think you ought to be.
2. That stuff represents an opportunity and potential.
I see this a lot with my students that make crafts, sew and knit – you hold on to all of these little scraps, fabric, unused and half-finished projects, because they represent an opportunity to make something.
You see this vision or idea of what it COULD be, so you hold on to a piece of junk because it has “potential”. How much potential does it have sitting in a closet or that box? Not much.
I used to really struggle with this. I had all the art and craft supplies – and didn’t even have the time to use them. Now, I’m more creative and productive than EVER before even without the big collection of feathers, buttons, and paint – because I have the time and space to create, and I’m not bogged down with a room full of crap when I feel the inspiration to make something.
The truth is that all those little scraps, paint bottles, and supplies only weigh you down and make you feel guilty for not using them. It’s weighing you down both mentally and physically.
3. You’re emotionally attached and can’t let go.
When you’re emotionally attached to an object, it represents something that made you feel loved, valued or safe. It represents a PERSON that you loved or cared for, who may not be around anymore. And it represents a feeling more than anything else. In some cases, it might be a positive memory. And in other cases it is a sad memory or feeling – which makes it hard to deal with and look at and give away.
If you’re holding on to things because it belonged to someone you hold dear, or represents a happy time – you’re forgetting that those feelings and memories don’t belong to that object. They BELONG TO YOU. So own it – stop giving that little trinket all the power and take it back for yourself.
In the Tiny Transition and Downsizing E-Course, you learn how to let go and love it. I promise, you will turn that fear, anxiety and emotional stress into feelings of lightness, joy and freedom.
Once you’ve done to groundwork in this course, the purging becomes much easier.
4. The Endowment Effect
This means the fear of losing something you already own is GREATER than the promise of gaining something new.
“In behavioral economics, the endowment effect (also known as divestiture aversion) is the hypothesis that people ascribe more value to things merely because they own them. This is illustrated by the observation that people will tend to pay more to retain something they own than to obtain something owned by someone else—even when there is no cause for attachment, or even if the item was only obtained minutes ago.”
So think about that. Your brain assigns more value to the stuff you own – no matter how old, unused, or unnecessary it is – than to the things that could actually improve your life and make you happier.
That’s a powerful force. Luckily, we go over how to combat these instincts in the course so that you’re not at the mercy of the endowment effect!
5. Financial fear and “sunken cost fallacy”
Many of my students grew up in a time when you made do and mended, you wasted not and wanted not, and you didn’t throw perfectly good things away until they were completely worn out.
I like this philosophy in general, but it can lead to a horrible suffocation by your stuff if not checked.
This is also known as the sunken cost fallacy, where you use the fact that you originally paid for an item in order to justify keeping it.
“I spent $200 on that! I can’t get rid of it! That would be such a waste of time/money spent!”
But that’s the kind of thinking that got you in trouble in the first place. And it’s a fallacy – meaning it’s actually not logical!
In the Tiny Transition and Downsizing course we have an entire lesson dedicated to selling your stuff and making your money back (if that’s what you choose to do, not everyone has the time or inclination) and everyone who decides to sell their stuff makes back many times what they invested into this course. Many people are making 10x – 20x the cost of this course in the process of their selling their stuff. I give you all the tools and resources.
Others remember a time when they didn’t have everything they needed, and the idea that they could once again be in that situation stops them from getting rid of their stuff now.
My advice? Stop planning for these worst possible scenarios. Stop “planning” for these what ifs, these “apocalypse” and bad situations. Don’t give those thoughts the time of day. Don’t invite them in and don’t give them power.
You need to look at it in a different way. What could those purchases, if sold for money (even if it’s just a part of what you paid for it years ago) be for you TODAY? Those dollars could be a new sink for your tiny house. The flooring or roofing material. It could buy you the materials you need to outfit your van and hit the road. It could be an emergency fund.
Think of the possibilities! It could buy you a vintage camper! This is what happened for me. I had tons of junk, and no money. Took me a while to realize that I could trade in my junk for the vintage camper home and freedom that I had always wanted. It took a year of selling off my stuff, but it funded my entire home build/renovation.
Stop thinking about what that stuff cost you or “could have been” – and start thinking about what it could be now, in your life today.
Why do you hold on to stuff? Did any of these resonate with you?
If so, you should join me and your new community in the Tiny Transition and Downsizing Course.
This course is for anyone who feels utterly stuck in stuff.
For anyone who has no idea where to start with this journey – and wants a step-by-step roadmap and guide that eliminates overwhelm and leads to results.
For anyone how has been downsizing for some time now, making good progress, but has hit a WALL. (One of the best comments I get from students is that they have tried EVERYTHING before this course – read all the books, the blogs and the articles – but nothing really stuck and made REAL difference until doing this process laid out in the course.)
For anyone who wants less emotional clutter, a lighter life, more space and more TIME for things they really love (because honestly, no one wants to spend their weekend “cleaning the house” and “doing chores”.)
Downsizing is both a practical, actionable process – and an emotional one too. You need to do both in tandem – or you’ll get overwhelmed, stressed, and give up.
The Tiny Transition and Downsizing E-Course is designed to take you step-by-step through the downsizing, decluttering, and simplifying process.
“This class is changing my entire life. For the good, too. So glad I made the decision to spend the money to take this course!”
— Becky R.
When you sign up for the Tiny Transition and Downsizing E-Course, you get:
- 8 weeks of downsizing lessons and challenges (it’s like Downsizing bootcamp!)
- LIFETIME access to the private class forum
- Accountability, support, motivation and camaraderie from me and your classmates
- The tools you need to simplify your home, mind, and LIFE starting right now.
Here’s what one student said about the course:
“This class has single-handedly changed my thinking and life. The email course is rocking my world with the “how” to do this, the access to the associated Google group is invaluable. You could lurk and never post with this group and it’ll change your thinking and life. Even if you just want to tread more softly on this beautiful jewel of a planet we live on, you will benefit from this course.” – Andrea M.
During the course you will:
- Clear your space and mind of clutter, making room for what’s important to you
- Change your entire mindset and outlook on “stuff”, finally finding peace and focus
- Meet a group of soon-to-be lifelong friends who share your outlook and values and are on your same path towards simple living
- Get the motivation and support you need to make major life-changes for the better
- Make real, tangible steps to getting into a tinier, happier life
“This was the most helpful and inspiring course I have ever taken! I have learned so many things, gained new friends and have become more inspired to downsize my life. My life is forever changed (all for the better) after this course!” – Shelby
You can REGISTER HERE for the Tiny Transition and Downsizing E-Course. Class starts on June 28th. Mariah is excited to get started and is happy to be supporting you throughout this class and beyond.
I would like to see a picture of Mariah’s camper house.
I tried living in one and they just do not seem safe- sleeping on the electrical system for one. . .