Last updated:
There is a quote from Seth Godin I love to post in the Becoming Minimalist Facebook group. It goes like this:
Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.
The quote is appreciated by most people who see it. But there are always a few (on any quote that I post) who want to disagree, dissent, and argue with the sentiment.
In this particular case, they comment that vacations are fun and traveling is good. Both of which I do not disagree with. The point of the quote is not whether vacations are fun and traveling is good.
The point of the quote is rather than only enjoying our life while on vacation, holiday, or weekend, we should strive to make our lives the ones we want to be living—every day of the week.
We should learn how to enjoy life on a daily basis.
Rather than seeing vacation as your annual opportunity to escape life… craft a life you don’t need to escape from.
This is not necessarily easy to do. But it is entirely possible. In fact, for the most part, I have done this with my life. I love and enjoy my every day. I don’t count the days until the weekend, I enjoy Monday as much as I do Saturday.
How to Enjoy Life
Here are nine ways to begin crafting a life you don’t need to escape:
1. Make Relationships a Priority.
The old adage is quite true, “There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.” Loving relationships bring a joy into our lives that can never be matched by income, title, or career achievements. People matter and are worth the effort. It is important to notice in the adage above that several types of relationships are important to our well-being. One, where we are being loved by another. And a second, where we are pouring out love. Work to have both.
2. Remove Unneeded Possessions from Your Home and Life.
Physical possessions are a burden to us. They require time, energy, money, and always distract us from the things in life that matter most. It is difficult to fully appreciate how much of a burden our possessions have become until we begin to remove them. Contrary to what advertisers shout from the rooftop, more stuff will not make you happy. Quite the opposite is true. The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don’t.
3. Make Your Work Your Job.
Vicki Robin, in the first issue of Simple Money Magazine (which you can download for free) draws a helpful distinction between “work” and “job.” Your job, she would say, is what you do for money to provide shelter, clothing, and food. Your work, on the other hand, is what you do to contribute to others, the causes you are passionate about, and the good you wish to bring into this world. When your work is also your job, you have achieved a sweet spot in life.
4. Or, See Your Job as Part of Your Work.
Of course, #3 above is not always possible for all people. Sometimes, our work does not provide financial compensation and pursuing our passion as a career is not always feasible. Still other times, because of the immediacy of life’s demands, we are required to do the job in front of us for the sake of providing for those who are counting on us. In those cases, there is still opportunity to craft a life you do not need to escape from. But it requires us to rethink the nature of our job by focusing on the good that it brings into the world and recognizing how it aligns with our work in other ways.
5. Guard Your Time.
Not every pursuit in life deserves your energy. It is important for each of us to become more aware of what is truly worth the hours of our one, short, important life. Those who have crafted a life they love have not done so by saying “yes” to every opportunity or invitation in their inbox. They have done so by guarding their time ruthlessly for the things that matter most and by learning to say “no” graciously to the others.
6. Take Care of Yourself.
There is little joy in a selfish life focused entirely on self. What matters at the end of our life is not the house we lived in, the car we drove, or the possessions we purchased. What will matter in the end is how we treated others. Keep selfless living the goal of life. However, an empty cup cannot pour into another. If we are going to live selfless lives (the true measure of success), we must learn that caring for ourselves is the first step in caring for others. Rest, exercise, and pursue healthy habits… we need you to be the best version of yourself.
7. Appreciate Your Season in Life.
Just as seasons of the year come and go, so do seasons of life. We’re kids, in college, young adults, newly married, raising children, empty-nesters, grandparents, caring for aging parents, being cared for ourselves… or any combination of the seasons above. Those who are most satisfied with life are those who appreciate the current season of life they are in and learn to make the most of it. They do not long for the next one or attempt to continue living in the previous one. They accept the reality of changing seasons and embrace each one with grace and resolve.
8. Understand the Reality of Trials in Life.
Every person in life is either in the middle of a trial, has just emerged from one, or is heading toward the next. Trials and storms come and go—sometimes as a result of our own poor decisions and sometimes as the result of living in an imperfect world. Trials often become the very thing we most wish to escape in life—sometimes for good reason. But given the nature of their constant existence, how can we learn to appreciate the life we have in the midst of these trials? First, we embrace the reality of their existence. And second, we look for the good in the midst of them (no matter how hard we need to look).
9. Find Happiness in Your Every Day.
Happiness is not something to be pursued, it is something to be discovered and recognized. If you are expecting to find happiness after _____ changes, you will never discover it. The hardest truth to grasp about happiness is also the most promising: It can be experienced each day regardless of your current lot in life. As Thomas Kinkade once said, “True simplicity begins when you learn to enjoy the amazing abundance of what is already yours.”
If you want to learn how to enjoy life and craft something you do not need to escape from, you can do so. It may require you to change your mindset, your pursuits, or where you focus your energy, but it is always worth it.
Fred says
7 & and 8 really opened my eyes. I’m now much better equipped to cope with my current season. A season with it’s share of trials.
This is my 1st visit here, I will be back!
Tracey Linder says
Maybe it’s a sign…just today I was reflecting on my simple life when I lived in the Pyrenees in a 200 year-old farm house with my little ones and French husband. Upon returning to the United States, and working in a city, life became filled with “stuff,” the pursuit of more stuff and more money, and the American work ethic, which allows for much less vacation/family time. I have longed for the slower pace and the surroundings of nature and close neighbors ever since
Cathy crum says
Yes we walked the Camino a few years back and saw the beautiful French and Spanish was of life so much slowly and more self sufficient.
I can understand why you pine for the Pyranees again.
Rick Miller says
I would add one more… “Live where you love”. We ditched the city for a very rural life, and while we have to be more planful around shopping and there are a lot more ‘chores’ associated with it (good healthy activity), these are things we like. We are randomized less with meaningless things, we don’t have any noise, pollution, or stress of being in the hustle and bustle of the city. It may not be for everyone, but back to the point, it is what we love, and living here has reduced the background anxiety exponentially.
Kathy Chang says
My boyfriend and I have lived in big cities for the whole life, and been thinking it’s time to move to rural area since what excited us in the city has become annoying. So it is encouraging to see your comment here, “live where you love” is the goal we are pursuing now, among other things. Thank you.
Ram lal says
I would also add one more life.
Melissa says
These idealists articles that essentially tell people to be happy with the advice of “just be happy” are so stupid.
DP says
Yes I agree, that is why i turn to the philosophers, the Epicureans are real interesting group, i believe being with people you are friends with is key and doing stuff. I dont think taking trips is a bad idea either.
SUSAN DYE HILL says
Happiness is a choice. When you accept things as they are, you are able to choose happiness instead of suffering.
Venkat says
Great article. Very inspiring and so true. I try and I duct some ” vacation ” in my daily life outside office hours and I also induct some official work while on vacation . The latter may sound a bit odd but I really enjoy doing that without such a work encroaching on my vacation and on the time I spend with the family.
Susan says
Wonderful post! I’ve been studying Buddhist philosophy for nearly 10 years now and all that you say is very consistent with it. You have much of great value to share – thank you for doing so. Obviously you’ve inspired many based on the comments I’m seeing here. A well written and well intentioned post that, in my opinion, hits the mark 99%.
One note, though – in one section you discuss seasons of life…please be aware that not everybody will go through a season called “newlywed” or “raising children”. There seems to be an assumption built in there that these phases are givens and for many people they are not. For those who will never experience these so-called seasons, some will be at peace with that and some will not, some will have chosen to forego them, some will not. All of your points about happiness where you are, happiness NOW, stand solidly and perhaps are even more important in those cases, but I wanted to call that out.
Thank you for a great post!
ROBERT BANKS says
MAYBE OFF TRACK BUT MY FATHER ONCE POINTED OUT TO ME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAPPINESS AND WEALTH, HE SHOWED ME A FAMILY THAT WAS POOR BUT ALWAYS SMILING AND CLOSE, THEN SHOWED ME THE WEALTHEIST FAMILY IN MY SMALL TOWN AND THEY NEVER SMILED WAS ALOOF AND ACTED LIKE THEY HATED EACHOTHER
John Hobbs says
An egocentric sermon. Minimalism denigrates the conservators of culture and distorts the true depth of society’s achievements and aspirations.
Steve J says
Wow, who’s on the pulpit now? Thanks John for your profound words
You do you bro.
Ram lal says
Thanks
Joanna says
I have noticed minimalism is groving. The popular swedish furniture producent wrote on his magazine short article about “The myths of minimalism” :)
I enjoy your blog and I’ve introduced one of your books to my mom who stil is bourdened by maximalism. Maybe you did wrote a post about helping others to open her eyes on their cluttered life?
Blessings
Joanna
Craig Christenson says
Hi Josh
I’ve noticed a lot of large “Storage Unit Complexes” going up around the Denver Metro Area. I’m sure it’s happening throughout the great USA.
A good article for you to explain WHY? Is it a sign of a great economy?
Craig Christenson