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.
When You’re Overwhelmed, Simplify | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. The feeling of being overwhelmed is extremely common in the people I talk to, and it’s becoming more and more clear to me that this is the default state for most of us.
The Simple Steps to Creating a Minimalist Schedule You Can Stick To | The Fun Sized Life by Renee Benes. Often times people think of minimalism in terms of “stuff” and the things that we own and accumulate. This is all true and plays a huge roll in the minimalist lifestyle. Today, however, I want to get down to the lesser known struggle of minimalism. The side you can’t see.
7 Simple Things to Ask Yourself Before You Buy Anything | No Sidebar by Emma Jayne. You see, it’s one thing to declutter your stuff and make new space, but resisting the consumer itch is another beast entirely. Everywhere we go we’re bombarded with marketing, and it’s cleverer and more subtle than ever.
How to Make Gratitude a Daily Habit | Joshua Becker on YouTube. It is hard to be thankful when your world is crashing down. And yet, those are the days we need it most—those are the seasons of life when its strength, optimism, and perspective carry us through.
Good morning, Josh.
While I am a follower and a definite believer in relative minimalism, I found your opening line this morning to be, well, not quite right. I am not criticizing you for the line as it stands does work. However, I was immediately struck upon reading it with a strong feeling of disagreement. I think it is likely semantics, but as I saw the things I have around me in the living room–beloved art objects, temporary autumn decorations, a few decor decorations on the coffee table, and so on, I instantly realized that rather than the way you phrased it–“Never underestimate the importance of removing stuff you don’t need.”–felt weird for the first time.
It does have a matter of truth to it, especially when realizing how utterly, totally, even rabidly, our society is committed to materialism and breakneck-speed level consumerism. But since I stepped out of that rush a long time ago I tend much more toward two other “mottos”: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” by William Morris and “Wanting what you have.”
Of course the latter two only work if you have opted out of our crazy consumerism. I may not need the items on my gallery wall but I passionately love each and ever piece. I don’t need my red plastic lobster, Clawdine, but I love her; she never fails to make me smile.
I don’t have an excess of art and decor but what I do have I love. I look at each piece in its place every single day because they bring me absolute joy. Could a true minimalist get rid of many of them? Maybe I could. But then my home wouldn’t be as joyful to me as it is now. And all the clean, white (empty) space on the walls, nightstands, dresser, and bookcase wouldn’t be as beautiful as it is if the art and decor was gone.
It truly is a balance so we do not disagree. It’s that balance where true balance and a happy life merge seamlessly. So today I say thank you for “Never underestimate the importance of removing stuff you don’t need.” and offer to you “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” I wish you a wonderful weekend.
I think Joshua’s point is that when I have an item and I ask myself why I’m holding onto it it’s fine to part ways with it. If it brings you pleasure, you use it or it provides beauty to your world that’s great. It’s possible to have an organized space without tossing everything. After years of reading his blog that’s the message I’ve come away with.
These were all great reads. <3 So thankful to be amongst them.