Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything 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.
Ownership Isn’t Real, We Rent This Life | Frugaling by Sam Lustgarten. We are simply temporary custodians—holders—of physical objects that we lug around.
I Achieved the American Dream—and It Was Awful | Yahoo by Darlena Cunha. I’m still suffering from that old American Dream.
The Anti-Bucket List | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. Life isn’t a big todo list. The most amazing things are right in front of us, right where we are.
Minimalist Living: When a Lot Less Is More | TIME by Josh Sanburn. A lifestyle of owning just the essentials has a small but passionate following among millennials.
Why You’re Buying Things You Don’t Need (And How to Stop!) | Fulfillment Daily by Daisy Grewal. This is some interesting research.
About Joshua Becker
you write so beautifully. i am inspired by your blog.
Thank you Joshua for all of your posts and inspiration! These short articles are great coffee reads to inspire! I look forward to your articles every day for inspiration on my own blog and going-minimalist journey! love quotes
Hi Joshua,
Even though I have never commented on your or any other minimalist blog but I cant tell you how much an impact you are on my life.. My story 6 months ago and today is so much different and am doing so good.. suddenly it seems that i can take control over my life .. the real life examples and the well written posts give a lot of strength and inspiration to work towards a simple and peaceful life.. Thanks Joshua.. Just wanted to tell you that you are doing an AWESOME job of rescuing lives of people who sometimes feel lost in all this meaningless persuit.. like me.. I never felt at ease in the race that people surrounding us try to call life.. Thanks to you now I know that there is an other form of life possible to live .. and its okay to be different.. :) Thank you.. :)
Thank you Joshua for all of your posts and inspiration! These short articles are great coffee reads to inspire! I look forward to your articles every day for inspiration on my own blog and going-minimalist journey!
Very well-put! I have been a minimalist for 5 years now. It’s a day-to-day lifestyle choice that is always a work-in-progress but it’s one that is fulfilling. Consumerism is exhausting and seemingly unending. The choice of minimalism is a quiet reprieve from that busy-ness. Thanks again for your post!
I changed the B in my Bucket List to an F. I feel much better now.
Thanks for passing along the Fulfillment Daily link and website. I think I have found one of my new favorite blogs. I’m a science guy.
Also, I read Leo’s anti-bucket list post earlier this week, and I have to say, I’d never looked at it from that perspective. As someone who has never created or added any items to a bucket list (other than to write a few novels before I die), I found his insight refreshing.
Thank you again for gathering up weekly links. I miss the days when blogs used to share outgoing links with readers more frequently or even, gasp, have blog rolls. With all the SEO nausea, a lot of websites and blogs have become too obsessed with in-site page views and tunes, and have forgotten the community aspect of blogging.
I wasn’t a fan of the last article at Fulfillment Daily. The take away message seemed to be don’t buy or eat when your self confidence is low or you might eat and buy things you don’t need and get fat and poor. How about don’t buy into our consumer culture at all in the first place?? Seems to me a more long-term help towards feeling content and not overspending or eating. If we actively work daily not to be drawn into society’s false messages – as Sam from Frugaling wrote in his article – then suddenly status, possessions and even race/gender divides are suddenly no longer important. Or, we see them for what they are: illusions, human constructs that need have no bearing on how we feel about ourselves and the world around us. A little surprised you included this article after the depth of those previous
I loved the Anti-Bucket List piece on Zen Habits. I feel the same way! In fact, when creating a Bucket List was first touted as the thing to do, I instead wrote a long list list celebrating things I’ve already done, rather than things I want to do. Items on my list range from the rather grand (visit the Great Pyramids of Egypt, ride the bullet train in Japan) to the simple (love a dog, join the bone marrow registry). It was so satisfying and I can add to it anytime I have something I want to celebrate having done.
A great selection of articles this weekend – shared with the other Oxford-based minimalists at http://www.facebook.com/groups/OxfordMins.
excellent i look forward to the reads on Saturday, hee hee,
loved the get rid of bucket lists, last year i had a list of 40 things i needed to do and it was great really motivated me into getting things done in preparation for a new job, so i thought i would do the same again, this time it drove me up the wall ie pressure unnecessary pressure soon realised that and basically scrapped it, its what was said, most things can be made fun with what we already have and all that is arounds us,
when i have my to do list haha i make sure there are only 3 things on the list and thats that, some days i am too tired and so why pressure are selves, my home is what it is and as i say, “you can look at the dust but please don,t write your name in it”
thanks for inspiring me yet again
love Jacqueline
Hi Joshua! Thank you for sharing. I am sitting with my coffee and my pet, enjoying these articles as always :). I wanted to tell you that I think the Fulfillment Daily link might be broken? It might just be my computer too though.
Thank you so much for including me this week, Joshua! I put a lot of heart into that article, so I’m happy to be included. :) I sincerely appreciate everything you do for this community. Means a lot! Have a wonderful weekend.
Sam, I loved your article on ownership. I am always happy to see Joshua include you!!! :)
Great stuff.
Hooray on minimalism being featured in Time Magazine! It’s amazing how this little movement has grown in the past 5-10 years!
i love the entire writeup it complements an adoption of the culture of simplicity.
Wow! What great timing. I love the anti-bucket list article. Just this week someone mentioned something they had accomplished from their bucket list and I thought what about me. I don’t really have a list. Having a bucket list is just another to-do list instead of enjoying this moment, place and my current relationships. I don’t want to put my hope, time and money in some bucket list activity, I want to love the moment I am in and play games with my kids. Grow a garden and eat fresh vegetables. Slowly I am simplifying my life and removing the stuff that robs my time and joy.
Joshua, I love your blog and look forward to every new post. Thanks for all your great thoughts and sharing other peoples thoughts too.
And Carol…heart to heart…thank you! :)
Hi Joshua–I am always so happy to be here! :)