Minimalism has changed me. What began as just a journey to own less stuff has changed the way I view myself and the world around me in significant ways.
One of the most significant changes is my reevaluation of how society defines success. Too often, those who make and spend and keep the most resources for themselves are labeled as the “successful ones.”
But this is unfortunate. Some of the best people I know would not be regarded as successful in worldly terms—precisely because they have decided to spend and focus their resources on less material things.
These people are far too rare—or at least, they do not get enough recognition. Instead, it seems ingrained in us to desire and appreciate the praise and the admiration of others. And because of that, many people will compromise greater and more worthwhile pursuits for the facade of temporal, worldly success.
I think it is important for us to no longer take the bait—to no longer heap accolades on those who flaunt selfish pursuits.
To that end, because of how my view of the world and its people has begun to change, I will offer a short list of things that no longer impress me:
The brand name of your clothing. Manufacturing practices are important. So is quality and fit. Why the name printed on the inside (and often times the outside) matter, I will never understand. Too often, people pay a premium just for the privilege of become a walking billboard. I am no longer impressed by the logo on your shirt, your purse, or the face of your watch. Instead, I admire those who are confident in timeless fashion and seek to make an impression by their character and their countenance.
The number of carats in your jewelry. One of the most important chapters in my new book, The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own, contains the story of Bryan and Nicole. Bryan and Nicole, five years into their marriage, continue to make sacrifices each day to help pay off lingering wedding debt—most of which is wrapped around Nicole’s finger. While the size of the rock on someone’s finger is noticed by some, most are not even looking.
The price of your car. The goal of any vehicle is to safely transport persons from Point A to Point B. Reliability is important, so is comfort (especially if you spend lots of time in it). But most luxury (and sport) cars appeal to a different motivation, they are no longer just about transportation. They often appeal to our need to broadcast success and get noticed—even if that means impressing strangers for 60 seconds at a red light.
The square footage of your house. Houses provide shelter and opportunity for stability. They represent investment in both our finances and our neighborhood. Over the course of my life, I have owned several homes (just one at a time) and have experienced the pride that comes from providing and creating a home for my family. But years ago, we intentionally chose to downsize and buy a smaller one. It is a decision I have never regretted. And to this day, when I drive past a large house, the only thing I can think of is how much happier we are in a small one.
The dollars in your bank account. The ultimate measure of success in our world today is personal wealth. Incidentally, we are not the first—this standard holds true across almost every society from the beginning of time. But I’m starting to wonder if we have been using the wrong measure. Maybe the number of dollars in a bank account is not the greatest measurement of success. Maybe instead, the amount of good we are able to accomplish with our lives is a truer measure of success
The model of your cell phone. Just the other day, I was spending time at a local park with my kids and a group of their friends. One of the most repeated conversations I overheard was their constant comparison of technology. “Which iPhone do you have? What number iPod is that? And guess who just got a new iPad for her birthday?” It was alarming to hear kids under the age of 10 spend so much energy comparing models of battery-powered electronics. And as much as I wanted to blame them and correct them, I was reminded that we adults are not that different. If we are not comparing cell phones, we are often lusting after faster computers and bigger television screens.
The age of your retirement. Retirement is the ultimate goal for most people. Unfortunately, this creates an attitude that sees the greatest goal of work is to remove ourselves from it. I think that approach is short-sighted and fails to recognize the fulfillment we find in it. But more than that, the age of someone’s retirement is based on countless factors, many of which are outside of anyone’s control—one man may strike it rich by simply being in the right place at the right time, while another may have experienced the exact opposite circumstance (just ask any number of 65-year old Baby Boomers). And this doesn’t even begin to count those who will continue working late in life because they have graciously used their financial resources to bless others.
The photos on your social media account. Almost everyone posts flattering images and experiences of themselves online—from new clothes and restaurant food to local concerts and airplane wings. These images are closely guarded and selected routinely portraying only the most exciting parts of our lives. With foolish abandon, we blame Photoshop for perpetuating unattainable images of perfection while simultaneously editing and photoshopping our own lives for social media.
Let’s stop trying to impress others with the things that we own. And start trying to inspire them by the lives that we live. (tweet that)
Michelle says
I <3 this post. Thank you for sharing! Mike- I love Joshua's site and often share his posts with others on FaceBook. How else would people get inspired or gain insight if information isn't shared? I don't see anything wrong with tweeting, reposting on fb, or IG information that may be useful and helpful to others. Just sayin.
Basurart says
Wonderful reminder sir. We live in a world right now where the superficial is far more admired than the substantive. Let’s not fall into the trap.
Beth says
I am becoming more increasingly aware that I am living for an audience of one. If I can see myself the way He sees me, then I am fulfilling my purpose. All the external stuff won’t matter if I am not doing what I am supposed to be doing, what I was created for.
MC says
Beautiful way to say it, Beth. Thank you for sharing this!
Madison says
Hello,
Great post. Very inspiring. I agree with you. I feel like we have lost sight of the things that matter in life (or maybe we really never had it to begin with). It can be difficult to refocus when everyone around you puts value on worldly things, but posts like this one can be little reminders! Thanks for sharing.
Madison
Neal Samudre says
Solid post! It’s great to learn these things at a younger age when we immaturely define our status by what we own. Many people carry that with them into adulthood, but as you pointed out, it’s destructive. It’s time to inspire others by the way we live. It paves the path to a better, more fulfilling success in the future. Thanks for the reminder!
Christina @ Embracing Simple says
Very inspiring post! There’s so much more to life and to each of us than just the things we own. It’s much better to focus that energy on what really matters – relationships :)
Phil Pogson says
no longer taking the bait – yes!
Bonnie says
Great post, hit me upside the head a couple of times. Makes me ask “what did I do today to inspire others?”
juli schuster says
I absolutely love this post! I’m 49 years old and just figuring this stuff out. I agree with every single point made here :)
Mike says
Encouraging others to tweet this stuff isn’t helping your cause. Its just as fake as wearing a brand name. Change comes from within and your shouldn’t broadcast it.
joshua becker says
Thanks for the comment Mike. But I think we’ll have to disagree on this one. I don’t see anything wrong with providing people opportunity to share content via social media.
kevin @ christiansimplicity.com says
“Encouraging others to tweet this stuff isn’t helping your cause. It’s just as fake as wearing a brand name.”
There is a point there, but it shouldn’t be universally applied.
Few handle success well. Well to me means, not letting their brand go to their head; not monetizing their brand at every opportunity; not being self-promotional; etc.
From what I see on the outside, Joshua has handled it well. I suppose that flows from handling it well on the inside. There are plenty of examples where that is not the case.
Christina @ Embracing Simple says
I disagree Mike, I quite often find inspiration to apply to my own life through quotes and stories that friends have shared through social media :)
suze says
I agree with Joshua and Christina. There have been moments when I have been struggling with an issue only to find that glimmer of light in a post or an article that someone has posted. I am grateful for these moments of inspiration no matter where it is found. Sharing is sharing, and why not share something positive? There is enough negativity being shared. I believe I’m seeing more positivity posted as people realize what is more helpful for their soul and their desire to spread that healthy and “feel good” glow. Have a beautiful day everyone! :)
Micah says
I agree with Christina and Suze. I appreciate positive ideas for change being broadcast. It counteracts a lot of the negativity out there, and is a source of inspiration for me. Offering a different point of view from the majority of the world is important and necessary, in my opinion. It opens an avenue to live more closely and truly to your own ideas of authenticity when you know there are others out there thinking and living along the same lines. As in all things, the motive of the heart of the one broadcasting makes all the difference.
Lisa Sharp says
I couldn’t agree more Micah. I think it is so important to be sharing positive messages to help one another (human nature) and to balance out the rampant negativity.
Marie Katherine says
Mike – by answering you are also broadcasting your view. Some may agree with you, some not. Therein lies the answer…It’s different for all of us. Those of us who find inspiration, solace, comraderie, ideas or whatever in Joshua’s posts are very happy that he keeps doing it instead of keeping these great thoughts to himself. And I am sure those who agree with you are happy to see that there are others like them. Thank you for posting yours…made me question reading these for a minute and then realize that although I don’t agree with all that’s posted I am grateful to have the opportunity to choose for myself. Just like I choose what minimalism means for me.
StephanieK says
In order to help others see this as a viable and blessed way to live they have to get the message first. I felt the statement was profound enough to tweet it. Making it easy to do is a good thing. ;)
People are wasting their lives and valuable resources to prove they are successful just because of the stuff they own. Life is too short to make a big deal of the use of social media to spread the message many people need to hear.
MC says
Sorry Mike, you are absolutely wrong. Could not be more wrong! If someone had not posted something from this website, I would not be following it and this website has played a huge part in changing my life. Encouraging people to share the information in this website is one of the best things we can do for others! People really need this! I have shared this information with many around me, and the changes are drastic and very positive. We should share inspiration and valuable information!!!
I am so curious why you posted your comment, if you do actually follow this blog (instead of just being a nasty internet troll). It was harsh, not open-minded, and inward-focused. We need to share and help and inspire others!! It is nothing like wearing a brand name. Has someone hurt you and you are imposing it on others?
Diane says
On a Faith side of using words. The bible was God Breathed and we refer to it as the Living Word. It is the living word because words are VERY powerful. They can build up or tear down just by putting a bunch of letters together to say something. Faith also is the substance of things not yet seen rather; faith comes by the hearing of the word. So I encourage anyone to go and speak beautiful, loving, caring, uplifting words and simply watch how people will begin to respond positively. Tell someone they are loved or beautiful, or important. I promise they will at the very least….smile :)
Mr john smith says
all I can say you brainwash for cheap and poor lifestyle and if this is the way you think and you believe you will never going to get rich and you going to be a poor personyou set up your life to be F cheap and poor guy dumb
Tasmanian Minimalist says
Pardon? I don’t understand you.
Stacy B says
Dear Mr John Smith,
The idea that simplicity can only mean poverty is ridiculous! Warren Buffet lives pretty simply…so did Sam Walton…I rest my case.
And Mr. John Smith bad manners do not make for a rich life…for anyone.
I hope you find love and joy–because that is where richness can be found.
jane doe says
For the rest of the page, I’m willing to play devil’s advocate for a minute. For Joshua to say that brands don’t impress him, but then to perpetuate his brand through shared links (which drive traffic and increase the chances the article will show up in a Google search – which also perpetuates the brand because the site logo also sometimes shows up in Google searches) could seem a little hypocritical. Those saying that Joshua isn’t monetizing his brand at every opportunity are also wrong – Joshua used this post itself to advertise (or market, depending on how you see it) his new book to drive sales when it comes out, and will mention his books in many posts with links so you can easily click through and buy them. In fact, he has dedicated entire posts to this aim in the past. That being said, Mike also needs to understand that this is Joshua’s business and he needs those links and self-advertisements because he chooses not to advertise in other ways (ads on his page, other online ads that link to his site, etc.). By keeping his advertising to his own page, Joshua is actually living what he says by not shamelessly self-promoting outside of his own realm. What Joshua is asking for people to share in a tweet is a positive message, not a link to his new book, which also shows Joshua’s integrity in promoting a message and not himself or his brand. There is a balance here that needs to be met, and I personally think that Joshua is excellent at this. Keep up the good work Joshua, your message is one that needs to be shared and promoted, and with integrity which you seem to have in spades.
Christine says
Well put Jane.
Louis Werdebach says
Indeed, change does come from within and we all need to broadcast this message using every possible communications means and mode.