Your first step in the right direction doesn’t have to be a big one.
There may be a number of factors that keep us from making the positive changes we desire in our lives. There is fear, complacency, laziness, distractions, negative peer pressure, addiction… there could be much written about each.
But for most of us, the inability to change the course of our lives boils down to one simple problem: The change seems too difficult. And as a result, we simply don’t know where to start.
We understand the importance of healthy, life-giving habits. We’ve seen their positive influence on the lives of others. We envy the life they live. We desire it, but the road looks far too long from our Point A to their Point B. And we give up the pursuit before we even start.
I’ve seen this countless times in my conversations with others (both formally and informally) concerning the importance of decluttering our homes and lives. I’ll mention the countless benefits we have discovered by purposefully living with fewer possessions. The message will be well-received… even desired. But almost immediately, the pursuit of this specific positive life-change will be countered by the most difficult of objections.
They usually sound something like this, “But what will I do with my book collection?” “I’m a sentimentalist. I could never get rid of this or that. There’s too much emotional attachment.” or “I’ll never get my husband/wife to go along with it.”
And my response is always the same: Just start small. You don’t have to start with a big step.
You don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. Just one small step down the right path is all you need to start heading in the right direction.
This truth applies to every positive life change we desire to embrace with our lives.
The journey anywhere almost always starts with one small step. As I look back over the past years of my life, I see this theme recurring over and over again:
- The journey of removing most of our worldly possessions began by simply removing the clutter from our cars.
- The accomplishment of running my first marathon started by waking up one day and running one mile.
- The journey of establishing this blog and inspiring others began with one simple post.
- The goal of becoming a life-long reader started by picking up one book on January 1st.
- When my wife wanted to learn how to sew, she accompanied her friends to a sewing class at a local church.
Interestingly enough, I am not alone. In fact, this is a theme I see recurring in all sorts of pursuits and personalities. Each of them successful in their field, each offering the same advice: Start small. For example…
- Chris Guillebeau recounts that his success started when he simply decided to start writing twice/week.
- Leo Babauta has written for years the key to changing any life habit is to start as easy as possible.
- Dave Ramsey tells those in debt to get out by paying off their smallest debts first.
- Lori Deschene began building her powerful online community by posting one inspirational quote each day.
- When I asked Brad Lomenick for advice on taking my message to a larger audience, he replied, “Just keep showing up.”
- Benny Lewis says the first step in learning a new language is to simply embrace an optimistic attitude (and a simple phrase book).
- Jeff Goins claims his writing career took off when he intentionally began telling himself, “I am a writer.”
When it comes to embracing positive life change (whatever that may be in our unique lives), the road may indeed be long from Point A to Point B. But it always starts with one step.
So go ahead, take one small step in the right direction. And then, take another one tomorrow. Before you know it, you’ll be further down the road than you ever expected.
Claudia says
Dear Joshua Becker, I agree, take one small step today. One thing that helped me to scale down was to give away at least 2 things a day in one room. I rotated through rooms each day of the week. I tried to give away one cherished item to a friend and one nice item to the disabled vets.
The one step at a time also helped when I decided to climb Kilimanjaro. I saw that huge mountain poking its head up through the highest clouds and my first thought was this is crazy but one step at a time and I reached the summit despite having an autoimmune disease and being 55 years old.
I hope everyone takes one step today, give away things that you love and you are filled up inside instead of cluttered on the outside.
B says
I so desperately want to find peace in my home ; l know THE MESS is a big trigger. Any suggestions for ME, because my family of absent father and always opposing teens, (17, 15, 12) have learned from ………. that I complete ALL tasks (speaking now just on clutter, mess, cleaning and deep cleaning. I have a 4800 square foot house plus basement, that is always my responsibly. P.S. it is NOT an option for ME TO JUST give kids chores- how many times have I heard, ” thats not my job. You do it” -HELP. BARB
Dani says
I hear you B. I have been working towards reducing clutter to feel a sense of minimizing my surroundings. Clutter results in anxiety. Can’t find things and forgetting what I have and buying more…and so on. I currently use the 15 minute rule (can be more or less). I take 15 minutes and go to my basement and grab a bunch of things and sort them into groups of similar items. Then I decide what I want to keep, throw out, bring to reusit etc. Another example is cleaning the bathroom (ugh!). I clean the toilet and vanity or toilet and bathtub. Then I go grab a coffee or workout. Then I go back and wash the vanity and finish off with bathroom floor.
It may sound crazy, but it works for me. I’m older now and can’t clean a whole bathroom at one time (my back, my needs – they don’t like it).
I hope this gave you some ideas. Good luck!
Dani says
One more thing B…your kids have to help out!!!! They are old enough. The only incentive they should be given is “to make you feel better and that you do so much for them already”.
Claudia says
One thing that I did with my son when he didn’t obey such as not turning down the music, not wiping the dishes, you name it, he would lose one thing in his room that he liked. If he didn’t turn down the radio, I would take it and lock it up. He would have to buy it back. If they aren’t bought back in a certain amount of time they lose it, thus much less clutter in their rooms and eventually they learn. He also always paid half for anything he wanted to buy, he bought less and better quality things, again less stuff and he taught him great habits for his future.
Once I was so upset about his not greeting guests that he lost the door to his bedroom. Now he is one of the friendliness men you could know.
Green Machine says
Recycling books is the right thing to do sharing with others.
Elizabeth Helen Connolly says
I realized that I am not getting any younger. My kids are all grown. I do not want to leave them with the burden of sorting through my things so I began the process. I still have a long way to go and I realize when I’m gone most of the things I’m filing will be thrown away. But it is hard to thrown away anything when the thought is there that it might have a use. But I’m doing it and finding that occasionally I end up wishing I hadn’t thrown something out but most of the things haven’t mattered. I still have a long way to go. What can I do with all these books I don’t need? I would hate to throw them away…
Sally Kaye says
Books are among the hardest to dispose of these days. We recently had to work through and clear out my mother-in-law’s unit when the time came for her to enter care in a nursing home. We ended up donating the books in good condition to the local library, who happily accepted them. Any they didn’t want to add to their library collection were to be sold at a charity book sale. She was happy that they weren’t just “thrown out”.
Anne B. says
We should always try our best to recycle to save our earth and donate to help others. ?
Christine Ballmes says
Give them to your local library
Hospitals for the waiting rooms,doctors office ,
Thrift Stores
Rainy says
Yesterday we cleaned out the basement and our bedroom closet and worked on a spare closet and our smallest child’s closet. Three cars full of trash. We have five children and have been working on cleaning out for a while but we are in full speed ahead and today will be spent cleaning out also. The garage. No only does it make it easier to spend more time with your kids. It’s easier to keep clean and since I am going to the process of being tested for ms. The doctor is pretty sure I have it. Getting rid of unwanted and just material things you don’t need will make everyday life easier for me.
Trish Hinz says
Yes having a clear area is great when you have ms, I’m sorry to hear you are being tested for this, I have had it for 9 years now, and having less things around to trip over or bump into is great! I’m also still working on clearing the small things in my room, and walk in robe, I’m over the clutter! I found since having ms, I don’t like to feel closed in or trapped, and I feel that way with too many things around. Good luck hun
Jo says
Q: How do you eat an elephant? A: One bite at a time! I’m a fan of removing a small amount of unessesary stuff each week. Bit by bit it disappears (as long as you don’t bring new stuff in!!)
Alanna says
I began cleaning my desk before I was even finished reading your post. Therefore, it would seem your mission is a very effective one! :)
Teejay VanSlyke says
No advice is closer to the truth! My transition to minimalism started abruptly since I moved into a small motorhome, but my current habits of possession curation are gentle and day-by day.
I’m actually in the middle of writing a book about my transition. I’m excited to share my journey toward a more focused, experience-driven lifestyle!
Thanks for your insight!