Fill your life with stories to tell, not stuff to show.
The simplicity/minimalism movement is a beautiful community. And I enjoy any opportunity to promote writing that encourages people to live more by owning less.
So fix yourself a nice warm cup of coffee or tea. Find a quiet moment this weekend. And enjoy some encouraging words to inspire more simplicity in your life today.
Simplify Magazine. Simplify Magazine is a new, quarterly publication designed to help families focus on the things that matter most. I am excited to be involved with it. The first issue releases this summer, but you can sign up now to receive the first issue free.
How I Went From Being A Hoarder To A Minimalist | Mind Body Green by Eve O. Schaub. No one can clean your clutter for you. Clutter doesn’t have a place to go yet—they are objects in limbo that are the result of deferred decisions.
The Disease of More | Mark Manson by Mark Manson. Success is often the first step toward disaster. The idea of progress is often the enemy of actual progress.
How to Declutter the Toys | Simple Families by Denaye Barahona. Play with purpose.
How The Rich Are Poisoned by The Preference of Others | Medium by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. When people get rich, they lose control of their preferences, substituting constructed preferences to their own, complicating their lives unnecessarily, triggering their own misery.
Sally says
Why is the new quarterly magazine only for ‘families’ are singles and couples without children not included?
joshua becker says
I think much of the content will be applicable to any and all readers. But our specific focus is going to be families with this magazine.
Janete Canteri says
I don’t think the language used by Mark Manson is so terrible like some peple are saying, by the the way, the language in many American movies are much more horrible to hear. I really liked the content of Manson’s text. Joshua I always read all you post because I know you do it with love. God bless you and your family.
John says
I often read Mark Manson’s pieces, colorful language and all. Because he shares counterintuitive views and thoughtful ideas. The “disease of more” is all around us. Mark is right to suggest that we ask “Why.” Why do we need excessive stuff? Or excessive perfectionism in ourselves? As he notes, it’s about tradeoffs. Thanks, Joshua.
Nancy Kimbrow says
The Manson piece made some very good points that I really appreciated. The language was distracting.
Joshua, I really appreciate your blog, the decluttering course I’m in the midst of, information links you provide, your practical approach to minimalism, and kind spirit. Keep up the good work!
joshua becker says
Thank you for the encouraging words Nancy. I appreciate them very much.
Tina Kuehne says
Your recommended reading of The disease of More by Mark Mason was so full of filthy words and innuendos that I couldn’t finish reading it, if this is going how your emails go I am sorry to have to unsubscribe, Bless you
G says
Yep, the barrage of f-bombs and more was unnecessary.
Vince says
Agreed! :(
joshua becker says
Whenever you choose to refer to someone else’s work, by definition, you lose the opportunity to pick the words that they use. I didn’t find the language in that piece to be particularly excessive, so I chose to include it.
Nathan says
I also had this issue. I look forward to these weekend reads, but was disappointed in the language that this article contained. I did not finish reading it, as I do not find vulgarity to be acceptable. Please don’t forget the faith based background that many of us find refreshing.
Ben Evans says
The language used is not for insult or to push people away, it’s to colour the descriptive tenet of the article. Faith based goggles on or not, he had some interesting ideas, and that is what Josh’s site is all about. It’s inclusive .. not conditional .. as faith based rhetoric seems often to bang on about. If you didn’t make it to the end here is the final paragraph .. see if it meshes or not with the way you think.
“Life is a game of tradeoffs. And you must eventually choose what you’re willing to trade based on what you value. And if you’re not careful with your values, if you are willing to trade things away for the sake of another hit of dopamine, another temporary trip to your own personal psychological 10, then chances are you’re going to things up.”
Arlenea says
Ohhhhh–great recommendations. I really enjoyed these reads. Thank you!
Betsy says
The Disease Of More was a great read. It’s so true in life. I had a job I loved and enjoyed. I guess I was good at it because I was offered a promotion and more money……..of course more pressure too. I was miserable, I went home miserable, I didn’t enjoy my weekends because knowing Monday was coming quickly made me miserable. I went back to the old job. Less money but no longer miserable. I pay my bills, save and have a good life. Lesson learned.
Gina Roberts says
So true.
wendy portukalian says
I’m reading your book, The More of Less and today I’m starting my minimalist journey. I live in a 6000 square foot house on 21 acres with shops, barns, carport, garage and cars full of stuff. Pray for me and my husband (he hasn’t read the book – doesn’t have time :)) that we will follow through on this journey.
Betsy says
Best wishes Wendy. Take it a day at a time.
joshua becker says
You’ll get there Wendy.
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says
Wendy, as he sees and feels the lightening of the tremendous load he is under, he’ll be ready to read about it and embrace it. I’ll be thinking of you and would love to hear how it progresses. Wishing you all the best.
betts says
re : simpliy magasin : could we just simply visit the website BEFORE giving/signing up our email address………..
joshua becker says
The link does direct you to the website.
Shannon says
I always enjoy the weekend reads — I tend to avoid searching for articles on the internet because I’ll end up lost down a rabbit trail (keeping it simple! ;-), so it’s lovely to have a “curated” selection to ponder! Thank you!
Cheers,
Shannon