Very few people, if you were to sit across from them over coffee, would proclaim that owning everything in the world is their greatest goal in life.
Most people would answer quite differently.
When you engage in heartfelt conversations and ask people what they want to accomplish in life, most speak of love, relationships, impact, and significance. They desire to live meaningful lives, close to the people they love the most. Many speak of faith. Or they talk about solving important problems. But very few proudly declare, “I just want to make as much money and own as much stuff as I possibly can.”
Our hearts speak of something greater, more fulfilling, and longer lasting.
I bet yours does too.
And yet, too often it seems, we trade our heart’s greatest pursuits and greatest passions for the temporal possessions of this world.
I once had dinner with a man who mentors outgoing CEO’s and corporate executives in the Pacific Northwest. I asked him about his work and how he got started in it. He told me, “Joshua, I had a surprising number of retiring executives come to me and say something along the lines of, ‘I feel like I wasted my life.’”
He went on to tell me more. That these men and women had spent their lives investing into and building companies that were successful by almost every standard of measurement. But at the end, the only question they were asking was, “Was it all worth it?”
Now, just to be clear, this is not a post about the merits of corporations or their executives. Indeed, some of the people I most look up to in life are highly successful in business and live meaningful lives at the same time.
This is a post about something else entirely. This is a post about the temptation that surrounds each of us, every day, to trade our greatest passions for the things of this world.
Because minimalism is about more than owning less.
Minimalism is also about alignment.
It is about removing the burden of unnecessary physical possessions from our homes and lives. But it is also about reevaluating the esteem that possessions hold in our affections. And being intentional about removing the distractions that keep us from realizing our most important goals.
It is freeing to own less. Owning less frees up money and time and energy and focus. But it frees up more than that.
Minimalism frees our lives to realign our resources around the greatest passions of our heart. (tweet that)
And this is a benefit that cannot be overstated.
Grab a sheet of paper. Across the top, write, “The Three Most Important Things I Want to Accomplish with My Life.”
Quietly, make your list.
When you are finished, begin asking yourself hard questions about alignment. Am I spending my money pursuing these accomplishments? Have I crafted a life that devotes enough time and energy toward this list? Have I allowed any distractions (whether physical possessions or time commitments) to take precedence over any of these items? Are there other, less important pursuits in my life keeping me from fully accomplishing this list?
Have I allowed my greatest passions and most important desires to be usurped by the world around me? Have I chased society’s definition of success rather than my own?
In the end, we’re all going to ask ourselves, “Were the things I devoted my life to worth it?”
And if we discover at that time, that we traded our most meaningful passions for the things of this world, it will be a trade we’ll regret making.
Well said joshua, the things of this world stay here. There are alot of business owners and CEO’s even workers that find themselves in these situations. Giving their all to a company or job and in the end realizing they have in a way given all of their time not doing what makes them happy or their passion.
Joshua, Thank you for consistently writing the articles on BecomingMinimalist. Thank you for coming out of the comfort zone to write the articles. I read your archives often to remind myself that BecomingMinimalist is a shift inside me. It is more for me to build new habits and the internal me, than just the stuff. Otherwise, decluttering and deowning are tough when I just focus on the stuff.
Yes this is indeed very true having a lasting good impact on others is far more than money. I began a business and I realize I am happier when people reach out and are happy we helped their senior loved ones. This means more than any amount of money can bring
Following my life long passion of photography is wonderful and fulfilling, if you love your job and are passionate about it…then you are very lucky, as it will never feel like a hum drum job! My goal in life is to continue to be a photographer and maybe someday end up being a famous photographer…I love life! Each and every day brings a new beginning to cherish, and realize life is what you make it! Just be happy…
My goal in life is to get through it, and get it over with. Life isn’t a bunch of roses or even a bunch of rotten bananas for that matter. To me this article is like reading about life on another planet.
I’m buying each of my two grandkids girl and boy a copy of Walden. I keep a copy by my bed and read and re-read it. I’ve learned more from it than any religious document including James’ anthology.
What a beautiful comment and gift for your grandchildren. I first read Walden as an adult and am currently re-reading it. I was surprised to find that things we think are modern problems, like consumerism, were so present and deeply considered pre Civil War. Whatever you think about Thoreau, his words inspired environmental and civil rights activists to make this world a better place, and his words are powerful.
My thoughts on this:
Happiness is always relative. A person who’s never had money or glory would certainly crave it much more than someone who’s already been there and done it. But to someone who has done it and has experienced the pain and pressure of chasing these things, a different life would be preferable.
These people who have chased success all their lives may have felt that they wasted their life…but in my opinion, they didn’t. They pursued what they felt was more important at that time in their life. As a person gets older, their perspective in life changes.
If they did NOT pursue their dreams, whether it was materialistic or not, what would they have done differently? In my opinion, they would have ended up miserable at the fact that they didn’t put forth the effort to achieve their goals. And they still probably would have felt they wasted their life.
Bottom line, what’s most important is that you follow your own desires, and nobody else’s. As of right now, I am content with enjoying all of my time off in peace and freedom, with no real goal other than to enjoy my life. Will that change in the future? Most likely. But I believe that living one moment at a time according to your own desires and ideas will lead you to happiness…whether it’s grinding for that big screen TV, or helping others, or finding the love of your life, or saving the world, or just enjoying a moment of tranquility.
We came into this world naked… without money, possessions… even knowledge and memories. We leave it without money and possessions… Knowledge and memories are information and according to current scientific theories… are infinite. They will exist after your physical form has been reduced to dust. There is a profound reason why this is so. It is at the core of the mystery that we are all tasked to solve… “What is life?”
flawed assumptions from the start. the base being there is meaning or purpose here. this place whatever is one of relativity, of relation. that means there can be no absolutes here. to bring them or even attempt to impose them would likely result in the rest of the reality which would have been labeled other, will have no choice to seeming close ranks and oppose. will is not free, it is like a muscle, and the other is always at least our match. shadow boxing is like that.
I am happy with my lifes work. its been hard at times,but its paid off in ways that defy logic. I get everything in the world,if that’s what I need at that moment. My world is my own. I set the size of it everyday. Sometimes I include others, sometimes I am the only one in my world.This works for me. Subsistance existance…If I need a lot ,I take alot, but I use everything I take with none left over,only taking what I need. If i want “big”…there must be a “big” reason,then big happens , if not …I am satifsied with small..because small is just the right size to fit small since the goals is to “finish” small.In such a case, “Big” would be too much,then you must get rid of the excess ( more work.)
my lifes goal…finding what I absolutely enjoy doing more than anything else……and let it kill me! I will die happy! Since I will grow old and die anyway,eventually….. I will make it happen on my terms! no regrets.
Chapter 2 of The Appeal (2008): “No amount of money could ever satisfy Mr Trudeau. There were bigger men in town, and he was running to catch them.”
The absolute final line of that same book: “Now that he had three billion, he really wanted six.”
Sadly, bartering rarely works. You need money.
This all sounds quite nice, in reality less than .001% of the population actually believe this. Many say they do. Talk is cheap. It is easier for a camel to got through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter heaven. Don’t worry Church is something I despise now. Most involved openly despise and hate the poor. So many phonies in this world.
me and my friend were texting each other today and the word contenment came up, and i thought yes thats right for me at this moment, making me appreciate what i have, i consider myself rich with all i have . clean water, warm bed, sufficient food, so easy to lose sight of the important, i think what Jesus says Be wise in what we invest in. xxx lv Jacqueline x
Thanks for a fabulous post! Reminders of focus are so needed for me (and probably some others too!).
My favorite part of this post is all the comments – I love seeing people thinking through their lives and actions and considering what they really want!
Joshua,
You hit the nail on the head. Being intentional in our choices and aligning them with our truest values is more than half the battle!
I’ve found that the less I own, the less I’m owned. The beauty of less is it gives more of what matters most space to breathe.
Thanks for the awesome content!
XO,
Emily
I definitely agree with this post. Minimalism often gives some of the physical and financial space that we need for alignment, and I think that the overall mindset also allows for us to be more aware of how we spend our time as well. To me, that has been one of the most important things. Choosing well how to spend all of our resources in alignment of our true goals, but right now I am especially aware of time.
A great read, once again. Your blog inspires someone like me who also aspire to create motivational content for readers/visitors. Keep up the awesome work.
Thanks,
Jon | Bucket List Fanatic
It’s so true, that when you ask people what they want they reply with “love, relationships, impact, and significance. Meaningful lives, close to the people they love the most. Many speak of faith. Or they talk about solving important problems.” but most peoples actions or lives tell a different story. they still work longer hours to have more to get closer to that goal of owning everything. I think it’s an addiction to always needing something more.
I’ve been selling and getting rid of most of my possessions and it’s very hard, it’s difficult to let go of these things which you don’t really need
Minimalism is all about organising what you want in a better way and use the remaining stuff at another place where they can be appreciated better.
So very true. I could have stayed at a job I was no longer happy in, a few years ago, and in a city that I needed to leave, but I decided to take a leap of faith, take a completely new direction in careers, and I get paid a whole lot less. I miss aspects of the old career, but now I realize I can live on SO much less. So much less money and stuff. And it is freeing. I definitely don’t want to get to the end of my life and feel like I’ve wasted it.
Jesus said, “What good would it do a man to gain the world, but lose his soul?”
If I had to be honest, sure—I would like to have more money. It has always been a “dream” of mine to live in a historical mansion. BUT—just a dream, because I love history and touring old homes. It would take a lot to get a house like that in the state I live in. I could move south and get a plantation home, but my family is more important and I would never leave them (everyone lives here).
I never had massive amounts of money and I can’t imagine what that would even feel like! I know for sure though that money doesn’t buy happiness. Hand a million bucks to someone who just lost a loved one too soon. They would gladly have the person back, not the money.
My husband and I are both employed in well paying public service positions. We both love our work and have a very strong work ethic. We have strived over the years to set ourselves up financially, both for your future and for our children. I will admit we have been extravagant at times with our purchases, spending on things we enjoy. The past few years we have focused more so on experiences (overseas travel) over things. I embrace minimalism more so than my husband, but I am bringing him around. Our children on the other hand do not grasp the concept of minimalism and I struggle with not giving into their requests for more and more stuff, such as the latest iPhone! We can afford to buy them what they want, but how does that teach them to value their things, and to not desire the latest gadget purely because it supersedes the current model, and not because they need it. We are generous with our money – we regularly donate to worthwhile charities and those in need.
My point is this: whilst embracing the concept of minimalism I believe it is still possible to be remunerated for the work you enjoy doing and to use that remuneration to provide for those you love and those less fortunate, as well as on experiences that enrich your life!
Really enjoyed this piece.
“Minimalism is also about alignment.”
Bam! Right there.
I once worked a job in which I got great pleasure from the work I did on a daily basis. I worked on important initiatives related to health care that truly impacted people’s lives. Very gratifying.
Then, one day, my department was reorganized and I found myself in a (higher) corporate position that was dedicated more toward the profit side of the business.
The work I did no longer aligned with my values. I did not feel as if I was contributing to the greater good. Instead, I was contributing to the bottom line.
Shortly thereafter I moved into a new position that once again aligned with my values that I am still in. Sure, this job stresses me the hell out some days—like many jobs can/do. However, this position also gives me great pleasure seeing its positive impact in the community up close and in person.
When someone asks me what I do for a living, I actually have to refrain from saying, “Make the world a better place.”
Because that’s what I remind my team we do, because we do.
I do give my kids that answer though :)
“Make the world a better place.”
I think that’s a great answer! :)
If I truly feel relief at reading these posts, but am over an edge and unable to become minimal in one day, do I believe and embrace? I want to think so…I want to be where the posts take me. Thank you!!
Nancy, I know that feeling well and feel for you. Just start today and this time next year you won’t have so far to go. Every step adds up. Like a diet or a mountain climb or anything you want to do. If you do a little at a time, you will get there.
Hi Joshua! Such an important reminder. Alignment trumps just about everything. If we are not in alignment with our deepest goals and values it is likely that we will run around trying to mask the pain by buying too much stuff, overworking at jobs we don’t really like, staying as busy as we possibly can and pretending we are just “fine.” Far better to find out what really matters to us as early as possible so that at the end of our lives we don’t ask ourselves, “was it worth it?” We will already know the answer. Thanks for more great reminders. ~Kathy
I love this because it’s so true…… very few people say…….
“I just want to make as much money and own as much stuff as I possibly can.”
It is all about ‘love, relationships, impact, and significance’.
So well written – thank you.
I retired early from an excellent income and benefits as a police chief, in order to pursue my passions in the creative arts. The result- more time with family, better health, and fulfillment with my art. I relocated to a more affordable area and never looked back.
Some worthy things in my life are, health, family and creating memories that will last a life time. I am a late bloomer to minimalism but really enjoying the purging process. We are downsizing in to a two bedroom apartment from a three floor town house.
It helps the purging process knowing some one else might get some use out of goodies we dont need any more.
I used to go shopping out of boredom and now I have taught myself to think before I bring something in the house. Very refreshing. Thank you for teaching us that there is another way to live with more joy and the best things in life and it is not material things.
Kathy: Agree, we are retired and moving into a 2 bdrm patio home with way less work we have now with yard and larger house. Much purging past year much donated. I have tried to motivate others near retirement to do likewise- apathy seems to rule the masses.
Joshua – I would love to know more about the “man who mentors outgoing CEO’s and corporate executives in the Pacific Northwest.” Are you at liberty to share his name or company? Thank you. Amy
This is a wonderful sentiment if we were all of the same mind, or could at least get there! What I mean to say is, the majority of people feel this way deep inside, however, the collective mob stands in the way. We are the problem. I know that the pursuit of success, money, and glory is riddled with emptiness yet we think the others around us are the issue.
BEWARE WET BLANKET MOMENT: The reality is, we are the “others” who the other person views as the problem. If that makes any sense? Once the mob collects together their mentality reverts to wanting to belong to a like mind. The majority of us are fooling ourselves because when it comes down to it, we work at faceless corporations who use “green” initiatives and corporate “responsibility” as a tool to hide their true nature. We get caught up in the retail shop til you drop trap. The commercial marketing machine is not run by computers, it is people just like you! Do you actually believe it’s your neighbor or colleague who is the ladder climber, keep up with the Joneses, materialistic snob who pushes the boundaries of excess? Its all of us. The person who interviews these outgoing CEOs who claim that they felt they wasted their lives, should also ask: “As a successful CEO you obviously had the smarts and motivation to get where you are. If this is true why did this revelation come to you at the end?” I ask why these seemingly successful people did not stop the train sooner, Answer is their greed and want for more was so strong they would never have. Only now, like a man on their deathbed do they confess it was not worth it, but we all know they would not have done things differently in the moment. Unfortunately there are no “3 ghosts” moments to stop them before these Scrooges live their life to reach for that golden parachute. The story of the pitfalls of success and materialism are ancient wisdom, yet thousands of years later we have not learned our lesson. The new iPhone gets released and my point is proven once again. The very sad news videos of Black Friday shoppers trampling each other like a ravenous herd of mindless beasts shows we are not the enlightened species we claim to be. We indoctrinate our children with the same wants and the cycle continues. Thousands of immigrants flock to our Western countries to live the dream which most of us seek desperately to leave. We seek solace in Eastern rituals of meditation, herbal medicine, yoga, and the rest while the people who invented it only want to come here and become a part of our smartphone/internet/designer clothes society.
BUT…minimalism is all ours, at least it seems that way. It is the most simple way to reach a more fulfilling life. Buy less, spend less, less need for money! Don’t need a much money? Wait…then no need for a higher paying job. What? No need to work for a company who fosters a cut-throat and grab that brass ring mentality. Money, work, competition, three less things to stress over. Wait there is more: No more arguments over money, no more back stabbing at work, no more empty holes to be filled by mindless purchasing! Less stress! Hmmm seems to me the path is clear. Now if I could just bottle this I could be rich and I could buy anyth….oops…Truthfully? I would buy my own product and be done with it. First on my list!
YOu- sir or madam are a GENIUS!
What are your thoughts on working to become rich and successful so you don’t have to work and you can instead now focus on other pursuits, such as creative and humanitarian efforts?
Matt, that is a great idea! Take a look at gocurrycracker.com and madfientist.com and jdcollinsnh.com
Matt – Find the parable about the fisherman and the businessman. That’s your answer. And you don’t have to be rich to give.
Perhaps part of the issue is our “educational system” trains us to be compliant consumers more than educated citizenry. It certainly seems to be the case when one looks at our culture and see’s the priorities that are established (entertainment, sports,endless creation of illegal wars, etc). If the essence of life is relationships and learning, why not make teachers highly lucrative occupations and have bake sales for weapons system.
I BUY THEREFORE I AM
I hear from men and women from all walks of life, some very successful by the world’s standards, who feel they are missing the mark and wanting to readjust. There can be a lot of fear in changing course but I often think of this – how will we know at the end of our days that we have lived well? I agree that clearly knowing our “big rocks” allows us to course correct regularly and align our daily lives with our larger goals and values.
Very true. This is where trying to achieve financial independence also is important, as it allows you to pursue those 3 goals. Minimalism helps you get to financial independence by allowing you to spend less and need less to be fulfilled. This means you need to save less to be financially independent and free to pursue life as you see fit.
I would love to hear what yours are, Joshua. This article pierces.
I really love this piece, especially the simple (but very powerful) exercise of listing “The Three Most Important Things I Want to Accomplish with My Life.” Here are the three that emerged for me:
1. Strong and meaningful relationship with God
2. Strong and meaningful relationship with husband/family/friends
3. Strong and meaningful creative expression (for me, photography)
I love these, Cindy! How do you break these overarching goals down into more concrete, day-to-day activities? Especially with regard to family and friends that may not be physically close by?
Curious, how many shirts (short and long sleeve) are normal for one to have? 7 each? 10 each?
Kendra: some own way more than that which I have recently purged some and donated because none of us can ever wear all the stuff if it is too much in our closets. Do a search for capsule wardrobes. Joshua: Most people I know casually have no idea how to re align their lives much less unclutter their stuff, as most people desire cluttered lives, constant distractions, and are bogged down in useless activities like TV addiction. I spend lots of time reading, some have stopped their cable and even got rid of their TV.
Minimalist and a Christian. Love this movement. I’m also a political minimalist, Can that be a moment?
If anyone has a grocery store, don’t throw out food, that’s energy and it’s for people (Religious communities will take it if you need any help, Redistribute and deregulate, zero waste for food).
Kendra,
I don’t think a person should start setting rules about how much is enough or how much is too much, unless the rules apply only to that person. Take a look at your particular situation, where you wear the clothes to, etc. Do you actually need 7 short-sleeved shirts? (or whatever) Maybe you do; maybe you don’t.
Someone could look at my clothes and say I have too many, but some are for work only. Someone could look at my shoes and gasp at the number of pairs. But because of foot problems the heels on the shoes run down quickly. My job requires me to be on my feet all the time, so I need to have comfortable shoes.
The point I’m making is that every person needs to look to his/her own situation, and decide what is right for that situation. I should also note that what’s right for one time in your life, may not work well for another time.
Hope this helps.
Hi Kendra, the t-shirt question. Depends on how they fit and the condition. If they are both fit and in good condition I say 10 is always good in case you have a busy week. I lived in an mini-RV this summer, to save money and to see what minimalism was all about.
I wasn’t suffering with a fridge and stove and lights and heat for the cool summer nights, but I learned I could live with just the basics.
Hi Kendra, I would like to state that there are no quantitative variables for measuring or assessing minimalism. Therefore, the NUMBER of shirts you own does not matter. What matters is whether those shirts are really NEEDS and ESSENTIAL possessions.
Minimalism is a ‘tool’ that enables individuals to intentionally focus on the essential things in life, while removing the nonessential stuff. In other words, minimalism is subjective and therefore can only be measured by qualitative variables such as improvement in the individual’s quality of life.
Blessings!