Note: This is a guest post from Eric Ungs of Unless You Care Project.
“Being a minimalist means that you value yourself more than material things.” —Brian Gardner
We often think of minimalism as shedding away our external possessions and living with only the essentials. Certainly, this is very much part of it.
But I am learning the journey is not just external, it is also internal. To experience true abundance from minimalism, it must start within.
Just as some people accumulate things to create a false identity or pursue a mythical state of happiness, eliminating yourself of possessions without coming from a place of inward truth is short-sighted. They are disconnected.
Living an abundant life derives from traveling a journey of intentional self growth. It’s functioning through your true self to live a simple life. It’s getting good at being simple. Self simplicity becomes the clarity in which you find meaning. It’s the removal of the unnecessary. It’s the discovery of what you value most.
Self simplicity is the intersection of self-care and minimalism.
As you begin to focus on your inner self, minimalism becomes the by-product. (tweet that)
Here are 5 simple ways to live an abundant life through self simplicity.
1. Simplify your wardrobe.
Two years ago, I adopted a minimalist wardrobe. A solid colored t-shirt, jeans and a pair of Vans sums up my daily wardrobe year round. It’s the attire that I feel most like myself in. Because of this minimalist approach, I am able to eliminate unnecessary energy that gets put into what I wear. It spares me a few more minutes in the morning to sit at the table with my family for breakfast before we all head out the door. It results in one less source of stress and anxiety within my day.
2. Eliminate digital distractions.
As our mobile device is the bridge that connects us to the world, it’s also the very thing that pulls us from living in the moment. For the past couple years, I’ve removed all notifications on my phone. It no longer is a constant distraction that pulls me from the present moment.
One Saturday evening while my wife and son were gone, I had a sudden impulse to remove the TV from our main floor family room—the room where we spend most of our time. Since then, our family has become much closer and our focus is no longer fragmented. We play more, we have spontaneous dance parties, we listen to music and sing together, we grab our own books and read, and we have quiet time together.
I even began noticing glances at my watch would allow different levels of anxiety to creep in. My ego would spew off all the things I should be doing instead of what I was doing at that moment. So I no longer wear a watch. It’s eliminated a feeding source for my ego. And the anxiety that would creep in from wearing a watch has since subsided.
3. Focus on your art, not your job.
Most people dislike getting up in the morning because of the job they have. The unfortunate reality is we spend a third of our lives in the workplace. So why do we drudge through it working for the weekend?
Changing your mindset in how you approach your job opens up life’s abundance. It no longer becomes a balancing act of work and life, but becomes life itself.
Remove yourself from the cog-like behaviors and pour your unique abilities into all that you do. It makes getting up in the morning a lot easier. This shift in mindset has transformed how I work.
Previously, my daily goal was working towards a promotion, a more prestigious title, and a larger paycheck. That’s it. Since practicing self-care, office politics has become less attractive, the race up the corporate ladder no longer serves a purpose, and the prestigious titles are now just words.
Focus on the difference you can make by the work only you can do. New meaning will immediately arise.
4. Learn to say no to things.
I used to feel like I had to say yes to everything thinking that’s what the path to success looked like. Often times these commitments and obligations I agreed to caused unnecessary stress and friction within my relationships: family, friends, colleagues.
The ability to say no provides space in my life to focus on the things I value most. It’s not about being involved with everything, but rather involving myself with the right things.
5. Embrace the mundane.
It wasn’t until I committed to traveling a journey of intentional self growth that I discovered where life is really lived—in the mundane. Life is lived in those in-between moments we often hurry past. It’s in the car rides to daycare, standing in the grocery line with your son, reading to your kids before bed time, or clearing off the dinner table as a family.
It’s all the things that are part of our days that we tend to gloss over. But these are the simple memories that last a lifetime. These are the experiences that write our story and shape our lives. It’s those simple things that matter and become the things we appreciate most.
I didn’t set out to become a minimalist. It was born through self-care and committing to travel a journey of intentional self growth.
But through self simplicity, abundance was found.
Further Reading
How to Enjoy a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From
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Eric Ungs writes at Unless You Care Project where he helps others lead a life of intentional self growth.
Judy says
For years, I’ve been a slave to my home. Every day off from my job was spent cleaning…and it never seemed clean. I always said it would take days to get the house really clean…and I never had that kind of time. Recently, I truly broke a barrier and let go of sentimental clutter that was holding me back. What a difference! Now cleaning is a lot easier and the house looks great. I want to go even further and paint…and declutter the walls a bit. I’ve been afraid to take on the challenge, but if my husband preps the walls, I should be able to do the rest. :)
Eric Ungs says
I can so relate to this. We have a dog that sheds and the hair drove me crazy, which would bleed over into other areas of my life. These trivial sources often disguise themselves throughout other parts of our lives. Since self-care, I’ve learned to let it go. So much more enjoyable. Good for you and thanks for sharing!
Stacy@awellstockedlife says
The mundane should be embraced…these are the rituals of our lives and become the sum and the whole of our most of our days. Moments to treasure in their simplistic beauty. Great post.
Eric Ungs says
You got it Stacy! Thanks for reading.
Raychel says
This is lovely. I still covet the better title and the respect I put upon it, but I am getting better at not taking my phone everywhere I go. I never did wear a watch.
Thank you for your insights.
https://motherteacherartistwoman.blogspot.com
clement sadjere says
Lovely and inspiring post i must confess. I am guilty of some of the aforementioned stuffs, and i guess some adjustment would be made. Thanks so much for sharing
mtnest says
A little over a year ago I got rid of my cell phone. Gasp. I know. I’m probably in about the 1% of the population who can do that. I work from home and have a landline (caller id and I keep the ringer off!) I can afford a cell phone no problem but feel infinitely lucky that I do not have one or need one – really, I’m not exaggerating! It is very liberating not to be tied to a cell phone. Maybe some day I will get one again but for now I’m living it up!
Eric Ungs says
That’s spectacular!
Bob Pepe says
I left my home once and forgot my phone and I was out and about the world for about 3 hours without it and it was awesome. I was running errands and one of the errands was to bring home a Pizza. How could I order a Pizza without a cell phone to call it in? God Forbid!!!
I actually walked into the restaurant and ordered it and sat down for about 8 minutes and waited for it and had a nice conversation with another customer. A human interaction that never would have happened if I had my cellphone…
James says
Eric, great stuff. #3 is resonating with me at the moment (Focus on your art, not your job.) It’s so top of mind right now that I can’t read enough material on this subject. I’ve got what seems like a great job on the surface – and most days it is fine – but I still struggle every day to find any sort of meaning in it, and I’m always counting down the days until the weekend/vacation when I finally feel alive. If you have any books or articles you’d recommend that further explore this, I’d love to read them.
Eric Ungs says
James, I do! Shoot me an email at unlessyoucareproject at gmail dot com and I will share.
InsiderAccountant says
I think eliminating digital distractions (and distractions generally) is very important for your state of mind, but it is amazing how foreign this seems to non-minimalist.
One of the senior partners at work was amazed that I don’t read the local newspaper (which is a pretty sub-standard newspaper that isn’t worth the time it takes to read), but he has read it every day for 35 years and can’t even contemplate removing this distraction from his life.
And the idea of not having my emails synced to my phone and tablet just enraged him. I truly think that he has come to need this sort of distraction in his lifeet and am concerned about his ability to adjust once he retires at the end of the year!
I would much rather be digitally disconnected and enjoy a bit of peace. That way I can leave work at work!
Bob Pepe says
I have not deleted the Emails from my phone yet, but am close. I spend 8 hours plus per day at work in front of a computer and anyone that needs me at night (which isn’t often) has my phone number. I do not need to be reading emails at night when I should be hanging with my family.
I am getting rid of it today…. Thanks for the push!!
Bethany @ Online Therapy and Coaching says
Wonderful post! Physical decluttering leads to mental decluttering, and vice-versa. :-)
Michael @ Bestrobovac.com says
I need to make a sticker with all 5 guidelines. I need to read it every day, as soon as I wake up. However, easier said than done. 2 and 4 are by far the hardest to follow!
Christina @ Embracing Simple says
Great read, Eric! I have felt myself being very distracted by the abundance of technology in my life lately and how it prevents me from being fully present at times. Especially the TV and social media. It’s interesting that you no longer wear a watch, as I find myself doing that with my phone too where I feel guilty if I’m watching the minutes fly by and I’m not doing anything “productive”. A wonderful reminder to us all to just embrace the simplicity that life can hold!
Eric Ungs says
Nailed it! Embrace the simplicity of life. Thanks Christina!