Finding Value in Attachment to Possessions

Being moderately attached to things has great advantages. This is because it enables us to take better care of our belongings and continuously derive benefits by making the most of them for as long as they remain functional. From the perspective of both our possessions and ourselves, such behavior greatly enhances their value. In Japanese culture, where the belief in spirits dwelling in all things is traditional, we have been taught the importance of taking care of our belongings since childhood. The 5S activities – Seiri (sorting), Seiton (organizing), Seiso (cleaning), Seiketsu (standardizing), and Shitsuke (sustaining) – which are practiced in the manufacturing and service sectors, can serve as effective routines for fostering attachment to our belongings.

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