“Buy less stuff. Do work you love. And make a positive difference.” —Joshua Becker
I never set out to become a blogger. In fact, it is with mixed emotions today, that I announce I have become a full-time writer.
And it all started on a typical Saturday morning with a decision that became a passion. A passion that became a career.
How a Regular Morning Led to a Life-Changing Decision.
I woke up Saturday, May 24, 2008 with a relatively simple goal: clean out the garage. It was a decision not unlike the decision made by countless people around the world every weekend. After all, houses need cleaning, cars need maintaining, and possessions need managing.
Little did I know my life was about to change forever.
After a few hours of cleaning, my neighbor was the first to notice my defeated posture and frustrated facial expression. Her smile and light conversation was meant to cheer me up. I appreciated it. But it wasn’t until I began pointing out my frustration over the time and energy spent cleaning that she responded with a sentence so profound, it turned my life upside-down immediately.
“That’s why my daughter is a minimalist.” She said, “She keeps telling me I don’t need to own all this stuff.” I remember her words like it was yesterday.
I turned around to see the pile of things in my driveway. As I did, I noticed my 5-year old son playing alone in the backyard. And suddenly, a life-giving truth became clear.
All the possessions I owned were not bringing joy into my life. But worse than that, they were distracting me from the very things that did. And a minimalist was born.
My wife and I would go on to remove many of the nonessential possessions from our lives. All told, 60-70% of our stuff would eventually be sold, donated, recycled, or thrown away.
How a Decision Became a Passion.
I remember sitting by my computer just hours after our decision to intentionally live with less. I registered a free WordPress domain name: Becoming Minimalist. I intended to use the website as a simple online journal to chronicle our journey and keep our extended family updated on our progress.
But the process of journaling held far more benefit than I ever imagined. It provided opportunity for me to write about our process. But more than that, it forced me to articulate the emotions I was feeling, the lessons I was learning, and the benefits I was experiencing.
As a result, I became highly attentive to the positive, practical benefits we began experiencing almost immediately after choosing to live with less. We noticed we had more time, more energy, and more money for the things that mattered most.
I remember one dinner party just months after our decision. I sat next to a wonderful friend and began explaining to her our decision and our progess living with less. Her face lit up immediately. She began listing all the things in her home she would like to remove and began dreaming of the possibility of living a freer life without them. It was almost as if she was just waiting for someone to give her permission to own less.
Suddenly, it occured to me that I had just played the role of my neighbor in my friend’s life. I had invited her to a new and better way to live. Around this same time, more and more readers began visiting the Becoming Minimalist website—just enough to remind me there was great value in this message of minimalism and people were drawn to it.
Living with less quickly became a passion for my own life. But additionally, a passion was growing in my heart to spread the message of minimalism in a world bound to consumerism—to become one voice calling people to buy less when every other advertisement was calling them to buy more. My passion for simplicity quickly grew beyond the walls of our own, uncluttered home.
How a Passion Became a Career.
With a renewed focus and desire, the goal of Becoming Minimalist began to evolve. What started as a personal online journal quickly morphed into a website dedicated to inspiring and equipping others to discover and embrace minimalism.
I watched other bloggers. And learned from their example.
Social media began to play an important role in spreading the message. We established Becoming Minimalist on Facebook and joined Twitter shortly after. Our presence on both continues to grow.
We wrote two books. Simplify and Inside-Out Simplicity have sold in the tens of thousands on Amazon and as PDFs in bundle sales. Simplify has ranked as the #1 Self-Help book on Amazon on two separate occasions.
Readership at Becoming Minimalist began to grow and has exploded recently. Traffic has doubled over the past five months. During the month of September alone, over 300,000 visitors visited Becoming Minimalist and were exposed to the message of minimalism.
One year ago, we launched the Becoming Minimalist Newsletter (no longer available) after sensing a growing desire to unite simple living advocates. The newsletter serves as encouragement for those committed to promoting simplicity. It is unlike any other email newsletter I have ever received. It is designed to equip the reader to grow in influence and promotes simple-living posts from every corner of the web. It is read by over 6,000 subscribers.
And through it all, because I love my work and find rich meaning in it, I have continued to work 50+ hours/week at my full-time job. For the past 15 years, I have served as a pastor in a number of different Christian churches. When this blog first started, I served as the Youth Pastor at one of the largest churches in New England helping middle school and high school students find fuller-meaning in their hearts and souls. Most recently, for the last two years, I have served alongside a good friend of mine planting a church in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country.
But I have known all along pursuing both passions was unsustainable for the long-term. And at this point in my life, my greatest opportunity for impact is to promote living with less in a world that has bought into the lie that pursuing possessions is a worthy endeavor.
As a result, effective today, October 1st, I am committed to the full-time promotion of minimalism. With fear and excitement, today, everything changes for us.
What Does This Mean for Becoming Minimalist?
At this point, there will be little change on Becoming Minimalist. In fact, regular readers will probably notice very few changes on the website. I do not intend to increase the frequency of posts. I only hope to improve their quality. I also hope to spend more time writing guest posts on other websites looking for new opportunities to introduce others to the invitation of minimalism.
The Becoming Minimalist Newsletter will still be delivered on an every-other week basis. There is a chance this frequency will increase in the future. But for now, it will stay the same. By the way, thanks for all the kind words and feedback I receive from it. I appreciate every single one of them.
I do hope to become far more interactive and available to readers than ever before. I hope to become more responsive to blog comments, Facebook messages, tweets, and e-mails. Community is important to me. And I look forward to having more opportunity for it.
I have a desire to accept more speaking opportunities than before. I desire to continue promoting minimalism and its intersection with entrepreneurship, business, happiness, and spirituality. My commitment is to continue offering speaking engagements at an incredibly affordable price. You can find out more here.
I also have plans for some exciting new projects in the very near future. I will be releasing a new book later this month and have been collaborating with other simple living bloggers for an amazing opportunity we will unveil soon. I have also begun the process of creating a book proposal for 2014. These projects are ones I am passionate about creating and offering to you. I look forward to the opportunity of finally having the time to create them with full excellence.
Lastly, it is every bit my intention to keep Becoming Minimalist reader-supported (ad-free). Despite what some may think, my income from Becoming Minimalist is just barely equal to the income from a part-time job. While we don’t need much (minimalism has made this possible), I do have a responsibility to my wife and two young children to provide faithfully. And to that end, I will continue to pursue and create resources that benefit both the reader and the creator.
There are such wonderful days ahead. Our message is important. Our opportunity is great. And together, we can absolutely change this world for the better.
Image: Swaminathan
You do! Your post has inspired me so much that I deeply impressed by the idea and the practical way of living a minimalist life. I am on progress and I believe life will only become better if we live our life from inside out. Thank you so much for your good work! That world needs you!
Good luck! Go ahead! I joined your newsletter after the switch though. Will see how this decision as the next step transforms from a career into another fundamental big shift in the world! :-)
In making your switch from youth pastor to minimalism, just remember God is first in your life!!!:)
Amen! I couldn’t help but think, as I was reading this, why he felt called to spread the word of minimalism and not the word of God. I think (though he says otherwise) that he could have done both, serve God and tell others of becoming minimalist.
No offense to him of corse. This is just my opinion and this is between him and God.
Good luck to you on this new path. I came across your blog from another blog and new right away I wanted to receive emails. You have inspired me to start living a more simple lifestyle and I am hoping to pass that on to my family and friends. Thank you for your words!
Just read this post. Congratulations on your decision! I know it must be a little scary, but I believe you’ll be very successful, Josh. Your site has positively influenced thousands of people – me among them. Keep up your wonderful work, and may you be blessed in all your endeavors!
Wow! I am so excited for you! I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Times of change are exciting . . . and sometimes scary. I look forward to seeing you speak in Gretna next month!
Wonderful news, Joshua. In the same vein as the reader who asked for suggestions on a minimalist approach to weddings, I would would appreciate your views on a minimalist approach to funerals. It is a subject we would all like to avoid, but a necessary part of life.
Great job Josh. Best wishes on the commitment and the journey!
I so admire your focused direction and courage . . . all the best to you!
Hi, Joshua,
I wanted to say that my husband and I got married on the afternoon of May 24, 2008. That day has been a great day in history! And we are minimalists, too, but it took a couple years to realize our wedding registry could have been simplified. We absolutely love it. I enjoy reading your posts every time you submit them to your readers. I am writing about minimalism, too, and I’ve noticed how such a clean slate allows me to love those around me better. To engage them. I read this morning’s post about silence, and I am excited to try it out. Your ideas and words inspire my ideas and words. Isn’t minimalism awesome?
Thanks for the update on your life. While I’m not entirely sure that I have it in me to be a minimalist, I do want to rid myself of the excess clutter in my home. I’ve enjoyed reading your posts and look forward to reading more in the future!
Thank you for this website- my partner and I check back to it often to keep reminding us of the ideals we strive for. (Now I can walk through the mall – one of my long standing pastimes- and come out with NOTHING. This is an incredible feat for me as a twentysomething woman in America.)
Perhaps an idea for interactivity is to start a Twitter chat — if you look at the tagline #sachat we have a lot of discussions around Student Affairs in higher education topics every Thursday. There is a moderator that poses questions via a theme every week (Q1, Q2) and everyone responds with their answers (A1, A2) via the hashtag. Perhaps #minichat, #BMchat, etc. I’d LOVE that since i can connect with other community members.
Or, Google Hangouts are awesome too for connecting to a community of folks.
Anyway, love the work. We need this movement.
How awesome! Inspiring story of your journey. Exciting step to be going full-time, congratulations. So looking forward to reading more of your work and being further inspired by the minimalism message you share. It definitely mirrors and fuels our minimalist lifestyle. Thank you! Bernadette :)
Hey Joshua, Congrats! It takes Great Conviction and Courage to move forward with something that starts as an idea. You will now have time to live your own way and walk your own mile. At first you might find yourself panicked, feeling guilty, or even questioning your own decision. With action and forward motion, this will fade and the New Found Freedom will begin to re-shape into Pure Passion. Also, remember that it’s ok to walk your own mile, though many will fault you, just like a great man did many, many years ago. Best of luck to you!
ps if you ever make a “how to minimize” Video, I will be first in line.
Wow Joshua, that is wonderful news for all concerned :)
I realize that the choice to choose must have been quite difficult for you, given your responsibilities to your faith and your family, but I’m sure you made the right move!
Thanks again for all your hard work in spreading the word and if you ever want to guest post on The Joy of Simple, the door is always open :)
Take care and all the best.
Lyle
This will be interesting to watch. First off I do congratulate you in that you’ve gotten to the point where you’re able to do this. The thing I’ve noticed among many of the minimalist folks out there is the decided change that happens when they make this move. Specifically, Zen Habits and then The Minimalists. I used to read their sites always, but have entirely stopped this year. Something happens. When a passion becomes a job, there’s a switch and I can’t put my finger on it, but part of it is that the passion becomes commodified, and as a result the sites turn into ones that are more self-aggrandizing and less helpful, or become less of a good place to share with like-minded people. Comments close, courses are referenced in every single article, the same insight is repackaged and delivered over and over. I came to feel worse reading them than better, so I stopped. Yours is a site that has never done this. I’ve always felt that you come from a place that’s a little different. You share your path and I find the way in which you do this welcoming and very honest. I very much hope that you find a way to write without losing the soul of the place. May this be a wonderful journey for you.
“Comments close, courses are referenced in every single article, the same insight is repackaged and delivered over and over” — you’ve put this so nicely! I could not shape this feeling for myself but now I have it. Thanks!
Anyway, Joshua, keep up the good work–the Kingdom of God needs you & your passion. Good luck!
Congratulations Joshua! Can’t wait to see what is in store!
Congratulations Josh! This is very exciting.
Minimalism is a worthy cause, and one that I will always promote in my personal life and on Deep Existence. I’m happy to see you make the leap into full-time minimalist blogger, because the consumer mindset will continue to grow and deceive people into thinking that more stuff means more happiness. So it’s important to counter that idea and show people otherwise, and I’m glad you’re doing it in a big way!
A minimalist for life,
Stephen Guise
Congratulations. Looking forward to the evolution. Enjoy the ride!
Carl
Congratulations on your leap to full time writing! You’re promoting a great cause and have inspired so many, myself included. Wishing you all the best!
I’m excited and happy for you after reading your post this morning. Kudos to you for following your heart. Thank you for allowing us to see the adventure you are living. You are one of my favorites on the subject of living a simpler life.
All the best in the coming future,
Mike
We don’t know each other. Nonetheless, my heart sank a little to read that you won’t be as active in the church as you once were. I say this a sister-in-Christ:) Congratulations on being able to write full-time, really, just please don’t lose sight of what really matters…
I’m finally emerging from a year of lurking to congratulate you Joshua and wish you all the best as you embark on this exciting adventure!
Anna, I understand where you are coming from, as I am sure Joshua’s congregation will feel the loss of him as a full-time staff person. However, while his ministry may decrease in his local church, in enables an increase in his ministry to both the Church (global Body of Christ) as well as non-believers. I for one applaud him for being obedient to God’s call to non-traditional service that “really matters.”
I agree with what you are saying- only Joshua knows what his true calling is, I just felt compelled to voice a sadness in someone leaving a position of ministry whether at my church or another. Just my two-cents;)
I felt the same tiny twinge of sadness, too.
The feeling was similar with me. But I’ll let Josh live his life and I’ll live mine. I hope it all works out well for you, Josh
Completely. Honestly, all the best to him.
This news is very exciting for you and your family! Your blog and newsletter are both so inspirational! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insight!
Thank you for your thoughtful articles and links. As a mother of six daughters, I am interested in applying concepts of simplicity (a close relative of minimalism) to engagements and weddings. The idea that a wedding is a religious ceremony marking the beginning of a marriage is often lost in our society. The idea that a reception is primarily a place where guests can connect with family and friends is even more lost in our culture. Food and drink as a gracious act of hospitality is replaced with grossly over-priced catered meals served in an elegant location often too small to accommodate all the friends and family who have been part of the lives of the newlyweds, so relationships are diminished in favor of appearances. I would appreciate the input of the minimalist community concerning weddings.
I’ve been having very similar thoughts recently, but I come from the perspective of a parish pastor.
I recently conducted the wedding of a young couple (new believers) who chose to get married at the regular Sunday morning service because they wanted their church family present for their marriage. It was very nice. The service started out with the Rite of Marriage, the groom kissed the bride, and the entire wedding party sat down with the rest of the congregation for the Service of Matins (we’re liturgical). We had the regular appointed readings, hymns, etc. Afterwards, there was a reception in the church’s outdoor courtyard with some catering and some pot-luck.
My wife’s cousin did something very similar. She got married on a Saturday morning and had a desert reception in the church basement.
As a pastor, I normally hate weddings. Couples rarely care about the theology of marriage or the elements of the marriage rite. Couples rarely care about planning for their life together. What do they care about? They continually lobby to personalize the ceremony to the highest degree possible. I’m sorry, I just can’t allow Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender” to be the processional hymn.
I’m in agreement that young people who choose short engagements and simple, intimate weddings are very wise. I wish there were more of them coming to me.
Congratulations on this important decision. I must say that I’m not a little bit jealous and this news has spurred me to go back and read your stuff again (as I find that I am again feeling the pressure to get more stuff and work for more money, etc.)…