Ten years ago, I was introduced to a word and a lifestyle that changed my life forever. I was introduced to minimalism and the reality that by owning less, I could live more.
As we began removing physical possessions that we did not need from our home and life, we suddenly found more money, more time, more focus, more energy, less stress, and more opportunity to pursue our greatest passions in life.
During the process, I discovered a life-changing principle:
Addition by subtraction.
That when we remove the things from life we do not want, we make more room for the things in life we do.
And when we remove the things from life we do not need, we create space for the things in life we do.
This is a principle that extends beyond physical possessions—it has impact in countless other areas of life as well.
In a recent issue of Simplify Magazine, ASU Economics Professor Kelvin Wong wrote about Opportunity Cost and the significance of it in our daily lives. “Every choice we make comes with a cost, even those that are monetarily free, since even our time or energy can be put to alternative uses.”
Our lives are finite. We have a limited amount of money, and time, and energy, and space. And we only get one chance to live our best life. What we decide to allow in has a profound impact on its direction.
In fact, one of the most important decisions you will ever make in life is deciding what is most important in life.
Deborah K says
This is so true for me. I live a simple life by the beach. I’ve decluttered things that do not move me forward. I get to embrace nature and walk my dog and earn a living doing what I love. I also have decluttered some thoughts along the way too, thoughts that have held me back! Minimalism it works on the physical, emotional and mental plane!
Jo says
Love your comment about the importance of deciding WHAT IS important in your life. Sometimes the decision is not only cluttered by physical possessions but also by others imposing their wants upon you. I struggle with separating these other “wants” out from my own wants and needs.
Always love reading your writing!
choose simple says
“Addition by subtraction.”
That’s a great principle! I haven’t think of minimalism that way until now.
Deannamand@aol.com says
you had me at ” one of the most important decisions you will ever make in life is deciding what is most important in life.”
Janet says
I love the idea of addition by subtraction. I’m working on it!