Minimizing is better than organizing.
Minimizing possessions is an act of permanence. It lays the groundwork for overcoming consumerism and forces questions of values and purpose. Minimalism provides the opportunity to pursue our passions:
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Great read! Personally for years I have always believed less is more. But things happened over the years that caused me to subconsciously hold onto things that did not matter, thus a cluttered mess. Fear of losing all my belongings again and again. But now that I look back at the times when I lost most of my belongings, maybe just maybe it was a blessing in disguise, but back then I couldn’t see it. So when I replenished what I had lost, for reasons I won’t get into.. I collected things I didn’t need, nor did I value. Everywhere I looked there was a huge cluttered mess! Not one room was peaceful.. that was the day I had, had enough! So I started to “organize” lol.. which did NOT work! I even went as far to tell my husband we needed a bigger house. We had too much “stuff” and not enough space! In the midst of all of this I found Johsua Becker, Becoming Minimalist. You posted on FB, “Don’t just organize, Minimize” Which sent me into a personal tizzy! I wish I could find the post, because I commented on it as if to say he didn’t know what he was talking about! I said something like this: People just need to find their organizing style! SMH! I was so WRONG! Since then I have become a great fan of Joshua’s insight and I’m taking this opportunity to 1. apologize to him! I am so sorry, truly sorry for being rude, and a “know it all” when in fact I just didn’t want to part with some of my things.. 2. now I listen to your videos while I am ridding our home of the things that does NOT matter. 3. Thank you for all your insight and wisdom! I hope you see this Joshua, because I just want you to know how sorry I am for being rude and a “know it all” when in fact I am not!
Your discussion about not just organizing, but minimizing and simplifying really hit home. I was the queen of organization – spending time, for example, with “perfect” file systems for paperwork, and folding clothes so they would look uniformly neat. But….the truth was – I didn’t need to hold onto most of those papers, and while I was never a fashionista or clothes horse, I had more clothes than I was actually using. Changing my mind set from “but I’m organized, so I’m in control” to “why am I spending time and effort maintaining things that I don’t need in my life” has been very freeing. I’m focused now on paring down to what I truly need and use, and spending my time on what brings me joy. Thanks for your help in getting me to that point – it has made a world of difference!
Hello,
French frog is there !
Thank you for your work.
Reading your articles, is inspiring me and now I see each day as an opportunity to have less possession but more happiness.
I will watch your videos with pleasure.
Bojour de France :-)
Question? I am completing a book and have a publisher and one chapter is on simplicity in which I speak briefly aboiut growing minimalist movement and include some of your information but I am asking permission to do that for publication? Please advise if that would be alright? I have positive view of minimalism especially toda
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