A lot can change in seven years—so I think this blog post is overdue.
I also think, in this crazy, hectic world that seems to change faster and faster from one day to the next, this promise to you is overdue.
So, if you don’t mind, allow me the opportunity to take a look back, share what has changed, and commit to you what will never change, here at Becoming Minimalist.
14 Years Ago
In 2008, Becoming Minimalist was started. My goal was simple. I had just been introduced to the lifestyle of minimalism and this blog would be my journal—a place to share what we were removing, the decisions we were making, and the lessons we learned.
The blog grew quickly, reaching more and more people. Living with less became a passion for me.
Soon, a new passion began to emerge. A desire to spread the message of minimalism as best I could to a world bound to consumerism. To not just share my story, but to invite others into the joy of owning less and to offer any help I could along the way.
Becoming Minimalist began to change. The focus became less on my story, and more on helping others. The blog continued to grow—doubling from month to month over and over again.
9 Years Ago
In 2013, a hobby became a career. As I announced here on Becoming Minimalist, I transitioned from my role as full-time pastor to full-time blogger. As I said at the time, “My greatest opportunity for impact is to promote living with less in a world that has bought into the lie that pursuing possessions is a worthy endeavor.”
And so, for the last nine years, Becoming Minimalist has been my full-time job. And I couldn’t be happier.
A lot has changed since that announcement:
I wrote Clutterfree with Kids to help parents navigate the most common areas of clutter in their child’s life.
I developed and began teaching the Uncluttered Course, a 12-week online course that has now helped over 75,000 families around the world own less stuff and live more life.I wrote The More of Less, introducing minimalism to the world.
I founded and formed The Hope Effect, a nonprofit organization changing how the world cares for orphans. The nonprofit organization was initially funded by the book advance proceeds for my books on minimalism.
I created Simplify Magazine, a digital, entirely ad-free magazine published quarterly. Each issue features 8-10 experts focusing on one topic. We’ve published 13 separate issues since 2017.
I took over No Sidebar, a website that promotes simple and distraction-free living by highlighting new and talented writers in the simple living world.
By popular demand, I wrote The Minimalist Home detailing my minimizing philosophy and providing a room-by-room approach for anyone who wants to love the home they live in.
I launched a YouTube channel hoping to reach a new audience, through video, with the life-giving benefits of minimalism. The channel just passed 250,00 subscribers—so it’s definitely working.
I created Simple Money Magazine. A digital, quarterly magazine that complements Simplify Magazine by focusing exclusively on simple, practical financial advice.
I developed and launched an app called Clutterfree. Clutterfree is the first app on the market to provide a unique and personalized roadmap to declutter your home. It is based on my philosophy and provides everything you need, in the palm of your hand, to declutter your home. It has been used effectively by 30,000 people to develop a decluttering checklist for their home.
Then, I wrote a third book, Things That Matter: Overcoming Distraction to Pursue a More Meaningful Life, to take the principles of minimalism that I am known for and show how they can be applied to other distractions in life.
Like I said, a lot can change in nine years.
Today
As you might expect, Becoming Minimalist has become much bigger than I ever anticipated with more resources to help people own less than I ever dreamt possible.
The Becoming Minimalist team has grown to 9 active employees who help me create videos, edit articles, manage magazines, stay active on social media, bookkeeping, and provide customer support. Even both of my kids, now 20 & 16, are involved with the company.
We are reaching new people, in new ways, every single day.
The Becoming Minimalist Promise
With that history as the backdrop, and the fast-changing world surrounding us, I want to take a moment and offer a promise to you about this blog. Because there are some things that will not change.
Becoming Minimalist exists to invite people to own less and live more.
That was my mission 14 years ago and will be my mission going forward. I will not waver from it.
Regardless of what changes happen in the future, my focus will remain the same. I wake up every morning, excited to work, trying to answer this question, “How can I help people own less today?”
That passion (and this platform) have led to some wonderful opportunities. But the question I ask about new ideas is always the same, “Will this help people own less?” And that will remain my question going forward.
My promise to you is this:
No matter what happens around us, Becoming Minimalist will remain true to its purpose. We will help people own less and live more.
That you can always count on.
Whether you have been reading Becoming Minimalist for 14 years or 14 minutes, if you recognize that your life is too valuable to waste chasing material possessions, you have come to the right place. Whether you are looking for consistent inspiration to own less or practical ideas to get you there, or just curious about the lifestyle, you have come to the right place.
Stick around awhile.
Sherry Hoyt-Cline says
I am happy to see some 70 + ladies(Carol, Paula, Betty) willing to post, so I can be brave as well. At 74, I have lost several dear friends, plus my mom, dad, only sister and last week, her husband. My nephew and his wife now have to “clean” his mom and dad’s place of over 50 years of stuff. I don’t want to leave a mess for anyone; I have no children and it would fall to nieces and nephews. So, I have started this journey of keeping only what I love and need. Thank you Joshua.
Lisa Spence says
I have had to clean after the de fabrica this of loved ones. Much of their belongings became stuff placed in our basement or house.
I do not want this to be the case for me or my husband. I don’t want our things to be dumped at the local thrift store without a second thought. Therefore, we have decided to purposefully get rid of stuff. My husband and I are now slowly, but determinedly, giving away our stuff. With each item, I feel a sense of freedom and accomplishment. Our goal is to be reduced to a fraction of what we have now so we can travel without worry…
B Stance says
My husband is the one who is bringing home some bulky furniture. And I am the one who dislike and complaints about it. So far no planning to get a bigger house, luckily ? because we are retiring .
Norma says
Wow! That has been quite a journey. Becoming minimalist seems like a long term process for me too as I always find an area where clutter accumulates. Thank you for being an example for all of us.
Valerie says
I am glad to hear that you will continue with Becoming Minimalist and your other offerings and projects. Through your course I found some wonderful friends, and 2 years ago when I was in Wales, finally got to meet one of them! Through you I found Courtney Carver and so many other wonderful people in this community of owning less but living more. I look forward to what awaits :)
Kathleen Poston says
It was about 2 1/2 years ago when I stumbled across your UnCluttered Course and began my minimizing journey. More than freeing up space in my home, I’ve opened space in my mind by not having to think about and take care of all the “stuff” I don’t care about! It is incredibly liberating and I thank you so much for your commitment to sharing! I’m excited to soon be making my 2nd move during this process, into an apartment that is 1/3 the size of the home I owned when I began my Living With Less journey.
Thank you again for sharing how much more life can be found by owning less!
Marianne Hammonds says
Joshua thank you! I am slowly started to shed the things we dont need or want. I have tried in the past on my own but never gotten very far. Your articles and Uncluttered course has been a source of encouragement. I have a ways to go in the journey but I have a vision of what life can look like. I had felt that I would never accomplish much in my life. Didn’t have a purpose but I can see the possibilities of what that purpose can be .
Kate P says
I have paved my way to become a minimalist homemaker. It is so important for me to an extra room and this is so hard to have when all you can have to the most here where I live is a 3 bedrooms for 5 of us. It is a one floor house. We live in Florida all seasons and we love this house and don’t want to move. So your blog has been a wonderful place for us to chip in. Thanks.
Stacy says
Right there with you. We live in a 1350 sq foot house. All 5-soon to be 6- of us. Small rooms/closets are not an issue and floors are clear. The kids have space to play and I’m less stressed because I can be a mom instead of full-time maid. So glad we embraced minimalism when my oldest was a toddler. Seriously, for a year we had one room devoted to all piles of junk we were constantly shedding; now we just need a box in the garage. Kids don’t need the piles of stuff and it’s so worth the time it takes to clear it out. Good luck!
Helen Chatterton says
I wish you more success in your hard work, Joshua. I have enjoyed learning so much about your work and great deal of effort towards minimalism.
Jane Schilling says
I am having a great time giving things away. I’m 75 years in age, but not in spirit. Now is the time to have less so I can do more. My husband passed away 2 years ago and I am holding on to only things that I cherish. The hardest room for me to minimize is my craft room, so saving that for last.
Thank you for your inspiration!
Jonathan King says
Joshua, Thank you for 12 faithful years of focused work to encourage us all toward freedom from the tyranny of materialism. My wife and I have tracked with you off and on for several years now. The principles and tactics you’ve shared have been helpful tutors along our journey! In our latest response to the impulses of minimalism, we are selling our house and are shedding many possessions. We are stepping into the unknown with our three little ones. A question – how would you response to a thought that “owning less” doesn’t guarantee freedom from self-protection, materialism or greed (which can twist our hearts and manifest in other ways)? How do we consistently move toward minimalism for the sake of others (and not just my own happiness and comfort)? I’ve definitely seen *you* do this with Hope Effect, for example, but just wanted to see what thoughts arise after 12 years. Gratefully, Jonathan King
Jules Wivell says
I have been reading your blog posts for some time now and love the idea of minimalism. I am slowly working through my ‘stuff’ and each time I create less I feel a sense of release. For far too long I have been consumed by consumerism, an advertisers dream client, but. now I have the strength to say NO! I am so proud that I am able to do this and look forward to living a more minimalist life going forward. Thank you for your guidance.
joshua becker says
You’ll LOVE owning less Jules. So freeing.
Nancy Hicks says
Today there are 4 big black plastic bags full of stuff plus 2 boxes sitting by the curb waiting to be picked up by a local charity. My shelves are straight now my drawers are neat and my closet has breathing room. Could I sell some these things (small appliances), probably, but I want them gone! I benefit from my mind being cleared of looking at those things