The world offers many choices.
From the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the water we drink, to even the air we breathe, modern consumerism is always there… always offering more and more.
As a result, it becomes very tempting to accumulate.
But there is a life-giving beauty found in simplicity—a beauty that not only champions living with intention, but also champions dreaming bigger dreams for our lives than the ones we are sold in magazines.
As you further your pursuit of this countercultural, minimalist journey, consider these seven foundational mindsets that will help ground you and motivate you:
1. Our Resources are Limited
Every person alive has a different amount of resources—but they are all finite and limited.
Our lives, while filled with potential, have boundaries.
Money, time, and energy are limited, and their allocation speaks volumes about our values.
By embracing minimalism, we make a conscious choice to invest these finite resources in pursuits that genuinely matter—however you define them—be it relationships, passions, faith, or personal growth.
2. Life is Full of Trade-Offs
Every choice, then, comes with an opportunity cost.
When we decide to own more, we simultaneously decide against other potentially more fulfilling experiences or contributions.
Minimalism isn’t about going without—it’s about recognizing that every physical possession we bring into our lives means having to let go of something else.
3. Marketers and Businesses Do Not Always Have Your Best in Mind
Advertisements can be seductive.
They don’t just sell products; they sell dreams and often play on our insecurities along the way.
There are some businesses that genuinely want to serve and help you. But that is not always the case.
It is important to remember that. And it is vital to recognize when their goals don’t align with your personal well-being. Minimalism arms you with the discernment to see through the empty promises.
4. Minimalist Living will Probably Always Be Unconventional
My dream is to change the world by introducing as many people as possible to a minimalist lifestyle. And I hope, someday, all of culture is changed in a positive way by these writings.
But there is a very strong possibility that minimalist living will always be unconventional—human nature can be a difficult adversary…
With that being the case, your minimalist path might not always resonate with the culture around you.
But take comfort in the fact that your decisions may be countercultural, but that doesn’t mean they are unwise.
5. Excess Possessions are a Greater Burden that We Realize
Both metaphorically and literally, unneeded possessions weigh us down.
The pursuit, maintenance, and the eventual decluttering of excess drains our energy. We don’t always notice the weight (both physically and mentally) of our excess possessions until we begin to remove them.
Minimalism isn’t just about reducing clutter; it’s about lightening our soul.
6. Your Minimalism will Change as You Do
Life is a series of seasons. We change homes, job, passions, hobbies, and life stages.
Minimalism is there to provide the freedom and flexibility to make the most of each change.
But each change in life brings about a new iteration of minimalism in your life. There is, of course, a time when the initial removing of excess possessions is complete.
But our specific practice of minimalism will refine with each of the life changes.
7. Life is Too Valuable to Waste Chasing Material Possessions
Life’s richness doesn’t come from the abundance of possessions.
We were designed for something greater. And the sooner we stop looking for life in the things we buy, the sooner we can discover our truest potential elsewhere.
Minimalism may begin with a decision to own less—and that desire may arise from any number of realizations.
But pursuing minimalism for the long-term takes more. It requires deeply understood and appreciated beliefs that help us see the pursuit of less is more than simply rearranging the items in our home.
It is about seeing ourselves and the world differently.
These seven mindsets should help ground you well for that long-term.
Sue says
Number four is a real challenge. Working through it. Thanks for the constant encouragement though. Wonder why this is so hard for others to grasp.
Mickey Drake says
I am enjoying Becoming Minimalist but twice a week in my inbox is getting difficult to keep up with. Is there a way to make it a once a month thing so that I don’t get overwhelmed with things I can’t get to read because there is so much in my inbox..? Or a blog post that I can read once a month instead of twice a week when I’m trying to clean up the email inbox..?
Betsy says
Hit the delete button or unsubscribe. You can always find the articles when you have the time .
joshua becker says
Hey Mickey, some people like receiving my new posts via email so I offer that option. If you don’t want to receive the emails whenever I publish a new article, you can just visit this website whenever you want.
Nolan says
For most email applications, you can set a rule to where the emails go directly to a specified folder. I would recommend this, so you can check on your own time.
I recommend using this kind of rule for pretty much any kind of email the regularly hits your inbox, especially if you cannot successfully unsubscribe from a particular culprit…
Nancy says
This is so helpful because continued discussion helps to weaken the consumerist agenda and strengthen the simplicity muscle!
Thank you!
Joseph Muennink says
I started minimizing long before this site was on the internet. I have built up and lost everything so many times I lost count. The last time was it, after a category 5 hurricane that hit us wiped out everything there was no way I was going to live for all this “junk” I had accumulated again. Now my wife and I live in a R.V. With hardly any possessions and still have a few things we want to rid ourselves from. I don’t buy anything anymore and have found that we just don’t need it. I try to concentrate on what’s important. No longer have a “Prime membership “. Good luck to all and most importantly may God bless you all.
Christine says
Hi, by chance was it hurricane Ian? We are in the same situation as you and your wife. I do love not having so much to clean and keep track of anymore. I love my small cozy RV. We will build a future home but it sure will be minimal but extremely functional for us and possible future grand babies’ my new concept is quality over quantity!!!!
Susan Farley says
I unhooked myself from the Amazon “gravy train” a year ago – best move ever! Good luck with the RV and future plans. I am not surprised that you don’t want to start over yet again. I would not want to do that either and am trying to cut down ever further on my possessions as I get older.
Janet Benge says
Thank you Joshua. Your words reached me in my office in Florida this morning and I am grateful. When I finished reading I sat for a while and the phrase “Minimalism is a Doorway, Not a Destination,” came to me. I have been following you for 3 years now, and I am where I want to be in terms of skills and practices that support my beliefs, budget and lifestyle – I have walked through the doorway and now find myself with the time and energy for the next step! Thank you.
Gira Bhakta says
This journey of letting go of possessions has been hard for me, but I know it is the right path because I can feel the clutter causing me stress, and I want my home to be a comfortable and cozy space.
Your newsletter is inspiring and helpful. This particular bit is gold:
“Life’s richness doesn’t come from the abundance of possessions.
We were designed for something greater. And the sooner we stop looking for life in the things we buy, the sooner we can discover our truest potential elsewhere.”
Patricia Oldham says
I thank you more than you can ever realize. Still have too much but now to learn to unclutter the mind . Less is more as to the home but also letting of years inside my head is a major challenge.
Laura Sweeney says
I’m 60 years old, pursing the minimalist lifestyle. I feel so much better since I limited my possessions and got the freedom to move around. I also create minimalist art and digital art that’s easy to carry with me.
Christine Mühlenkamp says
“…dreaming bigger dreams for our lives than the ones we are sold in magazines” – beautifully said. Your thoughts & texts never cease to inspire me, and I’ve been reading them for 12 yrs now! Thank you!