An Interview With Drew Gerber
Donate to someone who would have better use of your material items. A foster child, a homeless person, or a friend.
We live in a time of great excess. We have access to fast fashion, fast food, and fast everything. But studies show that all of our “stuff” is not making us any happier. How can we simplify and focus on what’s important? How can we let go of all the clutter and excess and find true happiness? In this interview series, we are talking to coaches, mental health experts, and authors who share insights, stories, and personal anecdotes about “How Simplifying and Decluttering Your Life Can Make Us Happier.” As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Linda Nguyen.
Linda Nguyen thrives on bringing people together to create long-term relationships that expand business opportunities and increase returns. Her everyday goal is to cultivate meaningful connections and impactful collaborations that serve her clients and community. She hopes to inspire others through her lived experiences to defy traditional ideals and use our innate talents to pave a new path as creatives, entrepreneurs, and non-traditionalists — creating our own unique legacy.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share your “backstory” with us? What was it that led you to your eventual career choice?
At the pandemic’s start, I transitioned from a corporate healthcare career to working simultaneously on several startup projects in different industries. I amassed a wealth of knowledge and skill sets. Entrepreneurship has always excited me as I enjoy the uncertainty of each day. Over the years, I served on several non-profit boards and love the community-building aspect of curating a solid network to make an impact in the community.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
When I gave with no expectations, what I received in return was tenfold — quality friendships, new experiences, life-changing perspectives. Serving the community has made me a better person. I now stand firm on my values, have a positive outlook on life, and look at challenges as opportunities. Happiness has a different meaning than it did in my earlier days.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
Connecting cultures is a passion of mine. Where I live is a melting pot of ethnicities, and I love immersing myself in different cuisines. I’ve been brainstorming new projects to build a safe space for those with different backgrounds to authentically learn more about one another.
Can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority on the topic of “How Simplifying and Decluttering Your Life Can Make You Happier”?
Over the years, while working on the Dalai Lama Library and Learning Center project and spending time with the monks of Namgyal Monastery, I’ve been inspired to begin purging my personal belongings and paring them down to the basic necessities.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the main focus of our interview. We live in a time of excess. We have access to so much. But studies show that all of our “stuff” is not making us any happier. Can you articulate for our readers a few reasons why all of our possessions are not giving us happiness?
Our possessions eventually become a heavy weight to carry. The weight then clouds our minds. Many attach a sense of status to their possessions which becomes an emotional and mental weight as they try to keep up with the Joneses. It’s an endless cycle.
On a broader societal level, how do you think this excessiveness may be harming our communities and society?
The excessiveness causes a false sense of wealth, security, and status. Individuals can hide behind an unauthentic “picture” they’ve crafted of themselves, only leading them into a hole of insecurity and other psychological issues.
The irony of struggling with happiness in modern times is glaring. In many places in the world today, we have more than ever before in history. Yet despite this, so many people are unhappy. Why is simplifying a solution? How would simplifying help people to access happiness?
Simplifying by ridding of unnecessary materialism allows people to be more in tune with the simple non-material pleasures of life.
Can you share some insights from your own experience? Where in your life have you transformed yourself from not having enough to finally experiencing enough? For example, many people feel they don’t have enough money. Yet, people define abundance differently, and often, those with the least money can feel the most abundant. Where in your health, wealth, or relationships have you transformed your life?
I no longer place the same significance on material goods as I used to. They used to be a status symbol, yet I don’t know if they impressed anyone except me. Now I appreciate a luxury item for its quality, function, and history. I am starting to replace my fast-fashion items with quality staple pieces that can be mixed and matched.
People, places, and things shape our lives. For example, your friends generate conversations that influence you. Where you live impacts what you eat and how you spend your time. The “things” in your life, like phones, technology, or books impact your recreation. Can you tell us a little about how people, places, and things in your own life impact your experience of “experiencing enough?”
Growing up in a primarily immigrant area, it was understandable how materialism symbolized one’s wealth as one fought to rebuild everything one lost after leaving their country. It was all they knew to attach themselves to.
I now surround myself with a new generation of dreamers, doers, and achievers who attach themselves to ideas. The impact they make in their communities, quality friendships, and personal development is what they consider “enough”
What advice would you give to younger people about “experiencing enough?”
Don’t place your worth on material things. Place your worth on the difference you can make in the world.
This is the main question of our interview. Based on your experience and research, can you share your “five ways we can simplify and declutter our lives to make us happier?”
- Start with one section of a room at a time. Don’t overwhelm yourself by tackling an entire room in one day.
- Use the Marie Kondo method. Ask yourself if the items spark joy in your life. If not, let it go.
- Donate to someone who would have better use of your material items. A foster child, a homeless person, or a friend.
- Volunteer or serve others. It will humble you and help you rethink the value of material possessions.
- Don’t forget to declutter your mind as well. Replace every negative thought with a positive one until it becomes a habit.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I want to spark a global compassion movement. Before we criticize and judge, we should all try to understand the struggles each had to face. One way to begin is by returning to my dream of connecting cultures through music, food, art, and stories — starting with one community at a time until it echoes loudly across the world.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
www.linkedin.com/in/lindanguyencommunity
Thank you so much for these insights. This was so inspiring, and so important!
About The Interviewer: For 30 years, Drew Gerber has been inspiring those who want to change the world. Drew is the CEO of Wasabi Publicity, Inc., a full-service PR agency lauded by PR Week and Good Morning America. Wasabi Publicity, Inc. is a global marketing company that supports industry leaders, change agents, unconventional thinkers, companies and organizations that strive to make a difference. Whether it’s branding, traditional PR or social media marketing, every campaign is instilled with passion, creativity and brilliance to powerfully tell their clients’ story and amplify their intentions in the world. Schedule a free consultation at WasabiPublicity.com/Choosing-Publicity
Linda Nguyen of Culture Series On How Simplifying & Decluttering Your Life Can Make You Happier was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.