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Becoming Minimalist

Own less. Live more. Finding minimalism in a world of consumerism.

Encouraging Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

Written by joshua becker · 12 Comments

Never underestimate the importance of removing stuff you don’t need.

Encouragement provides us with motivation to persevere. It invites us to dream dreams of significance for our lives. And it begs us to work diligently with optimism and promise.

Overcoming the pull of consumerism is a difficult challenge regardless of our stage in life. Simplicity requires encouragement. To that end, I hope you will find motivation in these articles below.

Each post was intentionally chosen to inspire simplicity in your life. For maximum effect, find a quiet moment this weekend and enjoy them with a fresh cup of coffee or tea.

Why this CEO Who Owns Less Than 100 Personal Items Says Minimalism is His Key to Success | CNBC by Ashton Jackson. “For many people, being able to splurge on material items is the ultimate indicator of success. But Ganesh, who currently owns 89 personal items, believes the complete opposite, finding that the less he owns, the more freedom he has.”

10 Ways To Live A Simple Life That Will Make You Happier | Medium by Mvoca. “What is simple for you may be something different for someone else; this difference lies in the things that fill your life with enthusiasm and courage, and in the things that enrich it.”

Mega Millions $1 billion-plus lottery jackpot: Will winning make you happier? | New York Post. “One stressor associated to a major cash windfall is dealing with people who come out of the woodwork to share your prize — or, rather, try to rob you of it.”

Getting to the Heart of Impulse Shopping | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. Why have we been more compelled to shop for clothes, gadgets, workout equipment, hobby toys and more?

It’s Worth Embracing a Minimalist Lifestyle. Here’s Why. | No Sidebar by Emma Scheib. “The journey might start with clearing the clutter but it usually continues with a deeper look inwards. A look at the most important things, how we spend our time and how we love others.”

The Empty Promise of Consumerism Summarized On One Receipt | Joshua Becker on YouTube. A friend of mine recently returned some items and showed me the receipt. I can’t think of a better summary of the empty promises of consumerism than what it said.

Comments

  1. Betty White says

    August 2, 2022 at 8:38 AM

    My husband and I are young – he is 80 and I am 75. We have lived a minimalist life for a long time. I am reminded every day of the many aspects of minimalism that make our lives easier and more manageable, safer, and calmer as we grow older. It is all because reducing ‘things’ and ‘obligations’ allows us to be more active, less reclusive, better organized (phsically and mentally), and financially freer to explore our interests. If you have written about the benefits of living minimally for the elderly, I have missed it. I would love to share some of my thoughts about ‘aging minimally’ if you are interested. BTW we truly enjoyed your presentation here in Phoenix in June!

    Reply
  2. Julia Kasdorf says

    August 2, 2022 at 5:22 AM

    Hi Joshua. I would love to read the medium article but there’s a paywall. Thoughts?

    I look forward to weekend reads so much I don’t want to miss a story.

    Reply
  3. Nadine Toscano says

    July 30, 2022 at 4:08 PM

    I look forward to Sunday mornings, where I can relax, enjoy a nourishing breakfast and reflect on the insights within these weekend reads. It helps set the tone for my week, and refreshes my commitment to living a simple life. Thanks to you Joshua and all of your wonderful contributors for sharing these with us all :)

    Reply
  4. Stacy says

    July 30, 2022 at 2:09 PM

    The first article bothers me very much. The man owns 89 items that he is responsible to manage. His family owns other items. There is very likely a woman in his life managing all the other “family” items. Not trying to be a troll, but in our society, women still very much have to manage the bulk in the household items (silent to-do list). It is a gross inequality and women literally suffer physically and mentally from the excess in the “family” arena. I don’t know this family’s personal story, but it seems a little one-sided on what actually is occurring.

    Reply
    • Longtime inspired reader says

      July 30, 2022 at 2:34 PM

      Yes, now I just put together a box or bag of things for my husband to take to the landfill (including the recycling / donation area as applicable) because he clearly had no interest in doing it himself. And this is not excess “my stuff”, it’s excess family stuff, including his stuff. And so it rolls on. I now restrain myself from asking my adult children if they want to take any of this stuff when they visit – most of it is not going to be welcomed.

      Reply
  5. Longtime inspired reader says

    July 30, 2022 at 1:09 PM

    I only had to read a few lines of the Medium by Mvoc article before deciding to pack up a donation box of clothes, etc, that are just bogging me down rather than helping me. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Longtime inspired reader says

      July 30, 2022 at 2:20 PM

      I was struck by how closely Joshua’s video could easily be about any abusive relationship – – in this case it was the marketer – consumer relationship. I’ve been hanging around on this site for years, but this video really gave me a new perspective. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Anon says

        July 30, 2022 at 7:58 PM

        ?

        Reply
  6. John P. Weiss says

    July 30, 2022 at 8:35 AM

    There is such freedom in simplicity. Unburdening ourselves from the superfluous. I think Thoreau said it best: “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.”

    Reply
  7. Betsy says

    July 30, 2022 at 8:13 AM

    I really appreciate your weekend reads. Sometimes I think winning the lottery would be a wonderful thing. I could pay off my children’s mortgage and help out grandchildren with college. But then I see what a burden excessive amounts of money can bring and I’m glad I’ve never won. I have what I need and I’m at peace. It took years of bad purchasing to get me to this point.

    Reply
    • Lou says

      July 31, 2022 at 2:32 PM

      Beautiful share , I second that . Lol ? you just don’t want that much from the lottery . I have won it once and spent the whole amount (close to $10.00) off and wished I put it into my kids lunch or save . In the same way a very good and trusted friend , usually buy tickets to give on occasions. He doesn’t But one fir himself . Perhaps he doesn’t wish to. Lol ?

      Reply
  8. Kodey WhiteWolf says

    July 30, 2022 at 6:49 AM

    Thank you for being out there. With you inspiration I’ve been down sizing and getting / understanding more clearly of the differences of want vs need without sacrificing.
    Now with a partner who has “excess” of stuff it’s slowed down a bit. Yes we’ve talked a little about getting rid of some stuff and she has. Guess I’ll start with my stuff a little at a time being an example to her.
    I do feel better and hold that (feeling) memory of that big surge I did 3 years ago so I can continue with my stuff a little at a time
    These weekend reads help a lot
    Thanks again

    Reply

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