The Subtraction Equation

The Math of Better Living

We’re drowning. Not in water, but in stuff. Stuff we think we need. Stuff we’re told we need. Stuff that’s supposed to make us happy, successful, important.

More work, more hustle, more noise. It’s the mantra of the modern age, whispered by algorithms and amplified by influencers. A relentless pursuit of…more.

We've been sold a story. A compelling one.

A narrative that says more equals better. That accumulation leads to satisfaction. That if we just pile on enough stuff, enough achievements, enough hustle - we'll finally arrive.

Addition comes with weight.

Every "more" we chase adds another brick to our backpack. Another notification demanding attention. Another deadline racing toward us. Another item on the endless to-do list.

Consider the weight of your to-do list, a monument to busyness. Each item, a tiny shackle binding you to the urgent, the immediate.

Is it truly serving you, or are you serving it?

Are these tasks building towards something meaningful, or simply filling the void with the illusion of productivity?

The myth of more whispers in our ears: "You’re not enough yet." It convinces us that the next achievement, the next deal, or the next milestone will finally unlock happiness.

It never does. The finish line keeps moving.

We pile on responsibilities, chase fleeting metrics of success, and drown in commitments—all while losing connection with ourselves, our loved ones, and the moments that truly bring us joy.

The problem with “more” is that it’s insatiable. It doesn’t just demand a bigger plate; it demands a bigger appetite. And the cost? Stress, urgency, and attachment to things that don’t nourish us.

The industrial economy trained us well. Show up more. Work more. Produce more. Consume more.

It's exhausting, isn't it?

The Subtraction Solution

What if we've been doing the math wrong all along?

Less attachment. We cling to things – possessions, ideas, identities – as if they define us. We build our sense of self on these fragile foundations, terrified of letting go. But true freedom lies in detachment. It’s the understanding that our worth isn’t tied to external validation, to the things we own or the titles we hold. It’s the courage to release our grip and embrace the impermanence of all things.

True wealth is not measured in what we pile on, but what we deliberately remove. It's found in the spaces between - the moments of quiet, the freedom of an empty calendar, the lightness of letting go.

Think about the last time you felt truly content. Was it when you checked off that 20th task of the day? Or was it in a moment of stillness, when you weren't chasing anything at all?

The Weight of More

More comes with baggage: More work means more stress More hustle means more urgency More noise means more distraction

Each "more" is a promise that leaves us wanting. A temporary fix that demands another fix.

The Freedom of Less

Less is not about deprivation. It's about curation.

When we subtract the unnecessary: Stress dissolves into clarity Urgency transforms into intention Attachment becomes freedom

It's counter-intuitive in our more-obsessed world. But that's exactly why it works.

Every day presents us with a simple choice:

Add or subtract.

Pile on or pare down.

Chase more or choose less.

The path to better isn't about accumulating more tools, more techniques, more strategies. It's about removing the obstacles that stand between us and what matters.

Let us get to how to do this in action

Let’s make this practical. What would subtraction look like in your life?

1. Subtract the Busywork Not every email needs a response. Not every meeting needs an attendee. Busywork is a seductive trap. it makes you feel productive while stealing your energy for what actually matters. What’s one thing you can stop doing this week that will have zero negative impact on your goals? Stop it.
2. Subtract the Noise We live in a loud world. Social media, news, and endless notifications compete for our attention. But not all information is worth consuming. Choose silence. Choose deep work. Choose meaningful conversations over superficial scrolling. Turn off the noise and notice how much clearer your priorities become.
3. Subtract the Shoulds “I should do this.” “I should be more like them.” These narratives don’t come from you; they’re borrowed from a culture that thrives on comparison. Let them go. Define success on your own terms. What does a fulfilling life look like to you, not to everyone else?

Summary of the action in case you missed it. Remove one unnecessary commitment Delete one recurring meeting Silence one notification Let go of one "should"

Watch what happens in the space that remains.

Notice how subtraction creates possibility.

How less creates room for better.

The world is constantly selling us more, but choosing less is an act of rebellion.

It's saying: I choose clarity over chaos I choose depth over breadth I choose being over doing

Your better life isn't waiting at the end of more. It's already here, buried under everything you don't need.

The path forward is clear: Subtract. Simplify. Let go.

And watch how much better emerges from less.