For the past several years, I have been creating graphics that help inspire living a simple life. At first, it was simply fun to do. But soon, the graphics became an important strategy in promoting and encouraging owning less, buying less, and living better.
I have been thanked repeatedly for them—and the graphics continue to attract interest (our Facebook group is now over 1,500,000 followers).
I thought it might be helpful to post some of the most popular images all in one place. So here they are.
I encourage you to share them with others. Share the graphics on your Facebook page or other social media accounts. Send them to your friends via email. Or print out your favorites to post in your home or office for daily inspiration.
Either way, may our lives continue to invite more and more people to experience the life-giving benefits of owning less.
Owning Less
Buying Less
Living Better
You are welcome to share these graphics wherever you desire. High-resolution images are available by clicking through the image provided. Links back to this website are helpful, but certainly not required.
Thank you for these lovely inspirations.
Love your minimalist font.
These are awesome. I own a decluttering business and although its a part time business right now I LOVE doing it. It is so rewarding when I can teach and show someone the impact there lives will be if they declutter and organize. I would love to travel the world and help people Declutter.
Let your YES mean YES and your NO mean NO!
Thsnks for generously offering to share. I appreciate it and use them in my Organizing business. Cheers!
Oh wow I needed this this week.
I have a problem with the meme that says to say no, explanation not needed. I think it’s basic politeness to give some explanation for our decision when saying no to something. Otherwise it seems as though the other person’s needs or opinion is not worthy of the bother. It usually comes across as cold or self centered.
I have ALWAYS felt the need to explain myself. I have finally learned that I do not need to explain myself. Sometimes trying to explain can make things worse. I think it depends in the situation. For me, I have been in many situations that my no has been manipulated into a yes. And that isnt necessarily good for those involved.
Maybe it seemwd harsh to you but to me it made me feel more confident. We dont always have to agree with everything. Thanks
You rock!!! So true, all of these!!
I have learned to say no. I think my teen is finally over the hump. Told her we could get what she needs for activities and school. She has even mentioned lately that she has enough. We spoke yesterday about how happiness with material possessions is short lived and just breeds desire for more things.
I’ve refined the question to getting rid of stuff… “Does it give me joy?” to “Will it give more joy to someone else?”. The answer is usually YES.
Ooooo! I love that!
That is awesome! More joy for someone else.
I love this!
Sending things on to give more joy to someone else makes me happy.
I often say I am sending items on to their next life.
Thank you! I needed these reminders especially now..
Thank you! So generous
As a visual person, I think it would be fantastic to see a collection of minimalist lifestyle photos. Not the contemporary minimalist photos you find on google, but realistic ones that might inspire the average person.
Hi, thank you for inspiring me to be a minimalist. I have been de-cluttering and spending less ever since. Personally it has made a huge difference in my life :)
However, I am living with someone who is a total opposite. She is a hoarder and she keeps loads of old stuff. Discarding is a challenge for her. How do I help her to be a minimalist?
Thank you so much for all these great inspiration. I am starting to have a minimalist life – a challenge yet I am seeing the freedom from it. Thanks for sharing all these.
Love them all!
These are good. :)
Fantastic inspiration arrive at he right time for me to address my mountain of kids items before another birthday & Xmas season. Teaching the to give to think of others!
Yes, Joshua, I’m sharing this! Thank you!
” … It’s almost surprising more people haven’t discovered it.” – spot on.
It’s is truly freeing when you realize minimalism is so much more than the stuff. I know this is known here, and I understood the concept. It is entirely different experiencing it.
These are great, inspiring snippets. I am so happy to have a home full of love; and certainly the “stuff” in it is not what makes it that way.
“Never underestimate the importance of abandoning crap you don’t need” made me laugh :) We all seem to have ‘crap we don’t need’!
Not exactly owning less, but spending less, and looking within the home instead of outside the home.
My daughter made me a beautiful slate for the kitchen that says
“Eat at Home” , it helps us to remember to do just that.
I particularly like “Learn to say ‘No’ without explaining yourself.” This morning I smiled and said “no thanks” to a social opportunity, so that I could settle into a coffee shop, visit your blog, write a bit and be with myself. No idle chit chat or gossip. No feigned interest in political talk. Just the benevolent company of ambient chatter, lattes swirling and the peace of inner thoughts.
Hey Josh … Your timing was perfect! I was just putting the finishing touches on a post about choosing to take 15 minutes a day to release our excess stuff when your post showed up in my reader.
Image #3 is now front and center, a great intro for the invitation to my readers to lighten up.
http://www.lindastoll.net/2015/10/morning-invitations-release.html
Grateful, I am …
lol :) – just don’t print ALL of them to hang in your cubicle or room :)
Thank you!
I have just the right amount of concern now, before, I had an excess of concern for what I did or didn’t have then I discovered minimalism and decluttering and I had an excess of concern for what I should or shouldn’t have.
I love the Lagom which loosely translates as just the right amount.
When I had lots it was just the right amount, then. I have right-sized, it is also the right amount, for now. Later in life I imagine I will have even less, just the right amount.
*the Swedish word, Lagom*
For sure, Joshua.
How hard don’t we try to impress others with what we own (Oh, we deny it), rather than inspiring them by how we live.
Thanks!
Just had another talk with mom, reiterating how she needs to save very little for me and my kids. No one has any interest in being crushed by possessions.
I love giving stuff away, just got rid of two old doors, and think I can five some windows to a person who makes awesome decoration with them. Better than just throwing them.
LOVE this. thanks for sharing :)
Thank you Joshua – Will definitely share.
Superbly thought provoking. Will share these over and over. Thank you Joshua.
Thank you.
These are my new refrigerator art! Especially love ‘inspiring them by the way that you live’. I did ‘just say no’ recently to an all expense paid trip to San Diego because it sounded like way to much stress for me. I cannot believe how absolutely liberating that was! I felt like I was taking care of my body and my psyche; that I was cherishing my Self by saying no. And to something free! Ha! Just because something is free doesn’t mean you don’t pay for it in some intangible way.
I am a “love to shop sales” and couponing person, trying to downsize. Your last sentence contains much wisdom!
Thanks , these are awesome. My favorite is ” say no , explanation not needed”
I’m someone who is constantly tossing stuff married to someone who clings! I recently de-stashed all my planning/office supplies, purged my basement and cleaned out my closet and gave stuff to consignment/Goodwill. It’s like coming out from under suffocation. I just don’t like…..stuff.
Amen & ditto!
I dream of doing that everyday. Besides being a pack-rat, I am also a procrastinator! Congratulations on having the a clean house now!
This post cold be an intervention for the pending crazed Back Friday shoppers. Unfortunately people will be crushed to death in the consumerism mad dash to own more.
Thanks Joshua for sharing these. I wish I could post them around the store I work at! How true they are! :)