The simplicity/minimalism niche is among the most friendly, encouraging, and helpful communities you will ever find. There is a genuine understanding that any promotion of simplicity is good for society—and there is little concern about who gets the credit for it.
It is a pleasure to be part of such a wonderful group of people. And I enjoy every 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 before the holiday rush. And enjoy some encouraging words to inspire more simplicity in your life today.
Why We’re So Materialistic, Even Though It Doesn’t Make Us Happy | LifeHacker by Thorin Klosowski. A look at why our brains are so materialistic and what we can do to keep it from overwhelming us.
The Psychology Of Materialism, And Why It’s Making You Unhappy | Huffington Post by Carolyn Gregoire. Americans today, compared to 55 years ago, own twice as many cars and eat out twice as much per person, but we don’t seem to be any happier because of it.
Eyes are Better at Mental Snapshots than Cameras | CNN by Elizabeth Landau. Interesting research that may just encourage you to put the camera down a little bit more this holiday season.
Our Dangerous Obsession with External Recognition | Harvard Business Review by Daniel Gulati. Although out fundamental desire to be noticed is not a new phenomenon, our unending use of social media has radically elevated the level of ego in our personal lives.
Mentally Strong People: The 13 Things They Avoid | Forbes by Cheryl Conner. For all the time people spend concerned about physical strength and health, when it comes down to it, mental strength can mean even more.
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Jenny says
Thanks Joshua!
Have just discovered your site.
Two years ago Jon and I left our jobs and gave away 60% of our stuff which was holding us back. We then downsized to an apartment near the beach.
We now rent the apartment out fully furnished and use this money to help pay for our travels.
We have been travelling the world for 2 years quite cheaply.
It is working so well and there are so many bargains and nice people to stay with that we are soon off for another year.
There is so much magic out there when you are happy with less.
http://www.teachorbeach.com/
Therese says
Love the HBR piece. Thanks for sharing, Joshua! :)
Andrea says
The Harvard piece is great! Be good to yourself
Elaine says
Joshua, I just want to thank you for inspiring my own efforts toward minimalism every day! I’ve come a long way from when I started, and it feels great to be lighter and freer of so much stuff. The real reason I’m writing today is that I wanted to let you know how much I love the way your welcoming writing style conveys your ideas. Every one of your articles is like a perfect little jewel. I have been happily reposting many of them on my Facebook page. Thanks and warm wishes for a happy holiday season! ~Elaine
Kelvin says
Thank you for the inspiration each week. Really enjoy “Mentally Strong People: The 13 Things They Avoid.” Good read. Thanks!