“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you’re looking down, you can’t see the things above you.” – C.S. Lewis
Almost everyone I know is trying to live their best life possible. It seems we are born with a deep, ingrained sense that we only get one life… and are compelled to make the most of it. We desperately desire to be proud of the life we’ve lived.
Unfortunately, many of us will seek pride in the wrong places. We will look for pride in power, popularity, and possessions. We will hurt others in an attempt to move up society’s ladder. We will sacrifice uniqueness to gain popularity. And we will waste countless hours chasing more and better possessions. But no amount of power, popularity, or possessions will ever satisfy our deepest desires. Those things will always fall short. And there is no sense looking for pride in places that cannot provide it.
One of the greatest benefits of choosing to live a simple, minimalist life is that many of the pursuits above become replaced. And while choosing to intentionally live with less doesn’t automatically shift the focus of our lives… it can certainly provide the space that makes it possible.
It just may begin to shift our focus upwards to things that bring us true, lasting pride. Things like:
- A Clear Conscience. Living a life consistent with our values.
- Character. Choosing to treat others and ourselves with high esteem and respect.
- Sincerity. Living with no attempt to deceive those around us.
- Wisdom. Not being tossed and turned by the culture of the day, but laying a foundation of certainty from outside our ever-shifting culture.
- Love. Embracing a heart that, above everything else, seeks to love others.
Just to be clear, choosing a minimalist life doesn’t always result in a clear conscience, unparalleled character, unwavering sincerity, or boundless love. Nor is everyone who seeks those things a minimalist. There are, after all, many paths to the same end.
But I am saying that every so often, we need to slow down long enough to notice the focus of our lives. Afer all, the allure of power, popularity, and possessions can be almost too great to overcome. And intentionally choosing to remove them may be the only way to create the space needed to reject them completely.
Paul says
This touched me deeply – in a sea of possessions and climbing…
Thank you J
PM
karen bahar says
please add me to your email list
Alison Palmer says
Thank you for your inspiring posts, just what we need in this age of materialism. I’m loving all the extra space in my flat.
Tanya says
Thank you for this post. In a few days I will turn 48, the same age my mother was when she passed away. I have been asking myself if I had one year to live, what would I do? Amazing the perspective that this question has given me. I am choosing to live a life with fewer possessions, only the necessary ones, and a life of more meaningful experiences. Thank you so much for your blog and your postings…you have become a very welcome guide in this one year journey.
Happy Annie says
Perfect post, Joshua. Simple and to the point. Thank you :)
joanna says
Wonderful messages! I was lying awake all night with distracting thoughts.. and this really helped me get rid of useless worries and the past that I couldn’t let go. Thanks for sharing.
Kelly says
Wow, awesome article and awesome quote. Thank you for this.
Gena S says
Joshua,
Thanks for what, at least to my husband and I is a very clear cut and encouraging blog post. Sorry to see any of your time wasted on going “round the same bush”. We appreciate your sincerity, transparency, and the integrity that is apparent you are intent upon walking in. It has been refreshing this last week to see many bloggers focusing on some deeper questions and showing a determination to keep impacting lives with a message that resonates with more than people in any one economic bracket. As an example we have had some serious ups and downs in this economy, but began our own simpler living, minimalist journey well before the worst of the economic downturn. Has minimalism helped us weather the financial implications of the downturn? Absolutely. Would we still be on this journey and pursuing a richer inner life regardless of the ups and downs? You bet! Thanks again for staying true to your message and challenging your readers to keep growing!