Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us.
The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration.
For that reason, I hope you will make an effort this weekend to find a quiet moment with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy some of these hand-picked articles to encourage more simplicity in your life.
My Metamorphosis: From Past Consumerism to Current Minimalist | Julie Devivre by Julie B. Rose. “So to those who practice the minimalist movement, it’s subjective; there are no defined thresholds. But because there are no defined thresholds, I sometimes question whether I’m doing it wrong — if I’m ‘enough’ of a minimalist.”
The Perfect Decluttering Tip I Learned From My Friend Who’s Always Moving | Apartment Therapy by Shifrah Combiths. I don’t need to feel guilty when I donate things that no longer serve our family.
Unclutter Your Life by Erasing Your Future. | Medium by Tina Lear. This unsettling practice creates unending possibilities.
14 Surefire Ways to Impress Others | Becoming Minimalist on YouTube
Carolyn says
now with christmas over, I didn’t do much store shopping, but, got each member of the family butcher shop gift certificates. mad the holiday shopping so much easier.
Robyn says
I really enjoy the personal uniform or capsule wardrobe articles. The decluttering ones are a dime a dozen but I find style uniforms of people fascinating and inspiring. I remember the first time I read your weekend post it was about a woman named Alice, I can’t remember her last name, but I was inspired to create a late fall/winter/early spring capsule wardrobe/uniform with turtlenecks and jeans.
Shelly M says
3/4 sleeves V neck are also best for any time of the year, jacket depend on the season, and always green or grey mix match
John says
The lead vocalist for OneRepublic sings a song about his grandfather, who was a preacher. Two lyric lines stand out: “He was a million miles from a million dollars / But you could never spend his wealth.” Courage, kindness, friendship, and character are what matter, not the size of your house or the car you drive (Your YouTube video echoes this perfectly). Have a great weekend!
Betsy says
Thank you Joshua for these great links. You help me stay on course with unloading unnecessary stuff. Any article I can’t open I just move on to the next. There’s always such a good selection of reading on your blog.
Bonnie Paton says
The article by Tina Lear is very inspiring – thanks for sharing it.
Senta Rose says
I love your emails but I don’t like it when you link to paid sites like Medium. If this is the direction you go I’ll need to leave.
joshua becker says
Thanks for the comment Senta. Medium provides three free articles per month, most readers will have no trouble accessing it. So I will continue to include inspiring articles published there and elsewhere that have similar policies (the Washington Post, for example, has a similar policy). That’s how I approach my decisions on what to include. You are, of course, welcome to stick around or leave any time you want based on that decision.