For most of my life, I gave little thought to the food that I ate. Whether for a meal or a late night snack, if I liked the taste, I’d eat it. This was the extent of meal planning.
Minimalism actually made me a healthier eater. It brought intentionality into my life in ways I never imagined—health, exercise, and diet included. Recently, I gave up sugar. I doubt the discipline will last a lifetime, but it’s been a helpful experiment just to see what life is like without it and how my body responds.
And my body will respond. It always does. Everything we place into our body has an effect on it—either positive or negative.
What we consume always determines the lives that we live.
We can see this, most easily, with the food that we eat.
But this is a principle with further reaching application than the food we eat. This is a truth that rings true with almost everything we choose to consume: books, music, television, websites, just to name a few.
Think about it. If you choose to read books and listen to podcasts primarily about business and productivity, your mind is going to sharpen its focus on those things. You will begin to see the world in this way and act accordingly.
If you choose to receive your news every evening from the Drudge Report or Fox News, you will arrive at a much different view of the world (and political parties) than someone who consumes their news exclusively from MSNBC. Equally so, if The Daily Show is your only source of world news, your worldview will become defined by it.
Even the music we listen to shapes our minds and our hearts. It carries dramatic influence on the focus of our mind throughout the day.
I think this is important. What we choose to consume determines the direction of our lives. We know this to be true concerning food so we adjust our diet and meal plans.
But for some reason, we are less vigilant when it comes to the other influences we allow into our lives. It is wise for us to pause often and review the influences we are allowing into our mind and our body. Let this serve as a warning.
But this post is not just a warning. It is also an invitation.
We can also use this truth to our advantage and use it to bring about the positive changes we desire to make in our lives.
Are you trying to get healthier? Intentionally consume books and articles that encourage you to do so. Lots of them.
Are you trying to become a better parent or spouse? Surround yourself with people who are trying to accomplish the same.
Are you trying to become more successful in a specific line of work? Absorb as much as you can about the topic.
More specifically, Becoming Minimalist is a community of people who are dedicated to finding more life by owning less stuff. But this approach to life is countercultural. Our society seems built and supported by the complete opposite approach. If we are not intentional concerning the influences we allow into our lives, we make the journey even more difficult.
Are you struggling to conquer the clutter in your home or overcome consumerism in your life? Choose carefully what you surround yourself with. Put down the sales catalogs and the glamour magazines. Mute commercials or turn off television altogether. Read more and more websites dedicated to owning less (I recommend Zen Habits, The Minimalists, Be More with Less, or No Sidebar). As you do, you will find the changes become more and more natural.
The changes we desire to make in life become increasingly possible when we change the influences around us. What we consume always determines what we become—whether for the good or the bad.
Living for consumption alone is the lowest level of human existence. Sadly, it is what many live for.
I enjoy your site. I am also working to promote the same values. Maybe at some point you could also add http://www.hipdiggs.com to other sites that promote living with less.
It really is sad how rarely we stop to think about what’s influencing us. We can condemn this in teenagers who follow their peers and pop culture blindly, but then completely fail to realize that we do the exact same thing. Thanks for the wake up call, Joshua!
This post resonates so deeply. Roughly ten months ago I developed a chronic illness that demands that I pay attention to everything I consume, for food to potential sources of stress like the news. I had already been fairly conscientious about these things, but when it became a matter of life and death, my entire way of living changed overnight. Life is so precious. We need to be mindful of what we allow to fill us.
I love this post! So much truth in what you are saying and something I’m working on bit by bit. Thank you for the inspiration!
Your blog is giving us so much life right now. It’s so easy to let media distort our views of the world, when really, we need a simple reminder that media exists not only to inform us as the public, but to also make money to continue informing us as the public. That being said, media is typically fear-based, and I think that’s where the issue lies. A lot of people haven’t connected the dots and realized many of the stories, many of the “stay tuned” reminders are simply…to keep us watching, keep us consuming, and well, keep us somewhat brainwashed. Although I try to look at the world that cynically! Anywho, we loved this post and we’d like to keep consuming your blog posts! New subscribers here :D
Such a great reminder that every choice we make in life has a knock on effect and impact on another part of life, which impacts another and so on. That is why I am a big believer in lliving by design not accident. Because living bu accident is a hell of a gamble to take with your one and only life.
Hi Joshua,
I have never perceived all these things as consuming. A great perspective for me! Thank you for that. Your attitude will enable me to see more coherently.
All the same, I have disagree with one motiv, which is present in this article. You are encouraging the readers to read much and much about, let’s say generally, the minimalism. From my experience and also my observations on the net, I can tell that it is only seemingly right. Of course, at the beginning it is obvious that the novices want to know much about their new style of life etc. But when you are familiar with the minimalism and you truly feel the sense of it, reading many books and sites can be a pitfall. It may be time-consuming, tiresome and even become another way of escaping from life or just an addiction. For instance, people who pay too much attention to their health, spending hours on watching or reading about it. The same can be with other sides of the minimalism. Nowdays, this subject is quite popular all over the world, also in Europe. There are plenty of sites and books, mainly repeating similar topics. Yeah – the minimalism is simple, so there is no surprise ;) Of course, somebody can say that I’m exaggerating with calling that a potential addiction (in comparision with the serious ones), but we have to always be consious that enough is enough.
Regards!
this is awesome really awesome.. thanks…
Thank you for this post, Joshua. You’ve really boiled it down to the essential actions here. My partner and I declutter homes in San Francisco, and we write about the benefits in our blog as well: http://www.newminimalism.com/blog
An excellent post! Here are a couple of resources I’ve used that can help in the processes further.
“The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo was a great read and has given me the courage and determination to simplify my environment. Getting rid of the weight of things we don’t really love that we keep around too long can be an outward act in the clutter-free process that also releases our emotional & spiritual weights. I enjoyed deep diving into this process with great results.
An offshoot of this led to more awareness of my health and eating habits, along with the ease of stress in my life. If you’re on the journey to natural health & learning more about it, you’ll learn a lot from these experts that is amazing and transformative as well: http://bit.ly/nutruth We are all in this together!
Excelente!! Mil gracias tu publicación; hermoso regalo de Pascuas
I recently wrote an article in my blog on how I paid off $10 k of debt in one year by becoming a minimalist and it was featured in yahoo finance.But I could not have done without other minimalists like Joshua Becker,Joshua Millburn and Leo Babauta.Am still on the journey but whenever I feel overwhelmed by society consumerism and expectations,I always have the minimalist community to bring me back to my senses.
I also have started meditating again and got rid of cable. Lastly I began going room to room in my apartment and I’m getting rid of “Stuff” I no longer use/need. Since I have been “consuming” more of the things in life that allow me to thrive. :( love quotes
I love this entry. I’ve been a middle school teacher in low income school districts for 20 years. And I see my kids (students) only consuming junk- junk food, junk music, junk video games, junk TV- everything is temporary and nothing is real. Even people float in and out of their lives. And I feel so sad about their views of the world. Very little is important to them … But they love “things”. I want to print your entry because sometimes when I try to express this sentiment, I think my coworkers look at my like the Southern girl who could start Bible beating and book burning any second (from the South, live in New Hampshire), when that’s not the case. It’s just that they fill themselves with junk and it changes who they are.
oh i hate newspapers soooooo much, especially the gossipy ones, they really ruin lives of some innocent people by spreading lies etc, i refused to buy them and on the occasion i do read them i think “havn,t” you learnt anything, the news at night isn,t good to help sleep on, i am going back to my hobbies and switching it all of YAY, i need to get a life, and i havn,t had a declutter for ages either, and i feel the urge yes it is an urge, my friend passed away years ago and i was left alsorts of things but i only picked and took away small things, and the thought of someone having to rid themselves of tons of my rubbish makes me feel ill,
lighten the load all round, emotionally, physically and spiritually is definitely on the agenda for me,
thanks for the reminders
Jacqueline
I had a few days away at the beginning of the week & I didn’t switch the tv on in my hotel room once. If I’d been at home, it would have been a totally different story! I didn’t feel as if I lost out, by not being up to date with the news (I usually have a 24/7 news channel on when I’m at home, even if I’m not watching & it’s just background noise.) When I travelled home by train on Wednesday, people were sat reading their papers & I couldn’t help but notice the headlines – to put it bluntly, it was all doom & gloom! So I was rather glad that I’d been too busy doing things that make me happy, instead of being a news junkie. But now I’m back home, I’m starting to fall back into my old routine again – having the news channel on all the time. I did hope that I’d carry on the “less tv” habit now I’m back home, but it’s hard! Has anyone got any tips! Hoping you can help.
#noapologies
I should have dug through this site prior to commenting on the post. Wow, what an incredible resource that you have created here. I’m looking forward to my/our journey ahead.
Great post. I agree with almost everything you’ve mentioned here. I am asking myself how have I been so naive. I have to be honest, I’m new to this whole push towards being minimalistic but the more I read about it, the more I’m starting to think that this might just be what I’m looking for. I’m a happily married father of two and honestly, don’t even know where to start. I’m guessing that following this blog is a good start. I’m going to look through earlier posts. Wondering if there are any new parents out there that might offer some tips. In the past, I felt that it was important to have things, then two years ago, with the arrival of my first daughter, I realiZed that stuff really counts for nothing more than clutter. I’ve never been one to try and keep up with the jones, but I have been a media junky, I love consuming music and have been known to binge watch television. But I’m wanting to make a new start and I want it to happen now (spring seems like a good time as any). Any tips or suggestions are welcome (be kind). #noapologies
Thank you for this post, this blog and your books. I decided that my focus on 2015 would be Simplicity/Minimalism. I read all your newsletters and “clutterfree with kids” has been heling my family a lot.
I am happy to witness my mindset shift process, Thanks
You are what you eat. The adage is as true for what you hear, see and say as it is for food.
Nice post and a timely reminder that we *choose* what we consume and it’s best to make wise choices.
Thank you for this post! Also, I agree 100%. I noticed a couple months ago that I had gotten drawn back into a more egoic/materialistic type of lifestyle. Since February, I have shifted what I “consume” and have been spending more time on becoming a minimalist, subscribing to blogs (like this and two others you listed), and I even started my own a couple days ago,
I also have started meditating again and got rid of cable. Lastly I began going room to room in my apartment and I’m getting rid of “Stuff” I no longer use/need. Since I have been “consuming” more of the things in life that allow me to thrive, I am starting to feel amazing, once again.
Happy Easter!!
I was wondering how long it would be before you’d write a post on food, because it goes hand in hand with your message of limiting excess. Like your experiment with sugar, I’ve recently been exploring limiting meat in our weekly meal plans and swapping in more meals with legumes and veggies. Every vegetarian or vegan has their motivations for doing so but for me it coincides with my attempts to be live a minimalist lifestyle and limit my impact on the environment. I am trying very hard to buy local produce as much as possible and I think, although I cannot confirm, that a plant based diet is more eco-friendly. I am still doing my research but so far the more I look into it the more it “fits.”
Great post, Joshua!
A few years ago I quit watching the news and made google my home page to eliminate being blasted with headlines. If there is a major topic I should know about, my friends are chatting about it on facebook. I can then intentionally inform myself on the topic instead of constantly consuming the trash the news media is trying to feed me. It has made such a difference on my disposition.
I completely agree, Joshua! This is especially true with food. I’m actually limiting the amount of sugar I eat this month as a personal challenge to myself (I’m not giving it up entirely, I don’t have any much willpower as you and know I wouldn’t last, hah!).
I’m hoping it will help to give me more energy and as a result, be more active and intentional in other ways.
I like the post, and appreciate the intent, but I cannot completely agree. Your assumption is that we are entirely products of our environment (as an example, watch MSNBC and you will be coming a knee jerk liberal, watch FOX and you will become a ranting conservative). But don’t we all make CHOICES based on what we like, appreciate, or need. Personally, I follow BecomingMinimalist because I want to simplify my life and appreciate the community of like minded people. But does that now mean that Joshua now calls all the shots in my life? Honestly I am not picking at anyone, but if I say “I agree 100%”, is that really a good idea? You say, “What we choose to consume determines the direction of our lives.” But I say, “What I choose reflects and influences the direction of my life.” Aren’t we saying the same thing, or am I way off here … which is entirely possible :-)
I saw a video clip recently on the Omega Institute site by Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh in which he spoke about this topic. He said that watching television, reading, listening to music, having a conversation are all consumption acts. Some contain poisons and toxins. Reading may contain anger, fear, hate and despair. Consumption brings these into our body and mind. Be mindful of what you consume.
I withdrew from consuming all news from television or newspapers years ago because of how I felt afterward. I’ve tried to live simply for many years, but when I discovered your blog and others a year ago, I jumped into minimalism with joy. I happily sold furniture I never used and donated boxes of stuff I never used. Free at last!
A change in diet came next. I gradually went from vegetarian to vegan to whole food plant based diet. I gave up processed things one by one, even sugar. I no longer put anything with sugar into my body. I don’t miss it. The best thing is how I feel eating only twice a day and fasting for 18 hours on only water with lemon juice. Like BrownVagabonder commented, I eat consciously, am slimmer, enjoy every mouthful, have more energy, and live in the present moment.
Interesting. Just read this, after writing my post below. I can relate, but am still very early in the journey…
I couldn’t agree more, Joshua. I remember the first time I noticed this re: what media I consumed. After a long week, I binged on a less-than-brilliant show on Netflix all weekend. Come Sunday, when I sat down to write a new blog post, I could actually tell that my writing was almost in the voice of the characters on the show – just flighty and nonchalant. It was an almost out of body experience, realizing that what I had consumed all weekend had truly seeped into my head. Needless to say, I don’t watch that show anymore.
I would also like to add: if you’re trying to write in a certain genre, read books in that genre.
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter Cait! :)
Happy Easter, Judy! :)
I complete agree – this kind of lifestyles means the emphasis in on collecting memories and experiences, rather than hanging onto material possessions. It also means that you are more aware of your impact and how living simply can be a healthier, consumption free lifestyle.
So true
The more conscious I am of what I eat, the less I need to eat in general. I find that most of the eating I did unconsciously was to fill empty spots in my life or inside of me, and weren’t required for me to live. The more consciously I eat, the leaner I become, as I am consuming just enough calories to sustain a healthy life, and enjoying every bite of it.
I am a consumer too. I am sitting at the computer consuming energy as I eat a bowl of oatmeal and blueberries.
Living more simply has allowed me to break the unhealthy habit of TV and choose more healthy, whole foods. Instead of searching for something to entertain me by flipping channels, I spend more time walking in nature and connecting with human beings.
I agree with you 100%. What we consume can shape us and most of us are not even aware as we make those choices.
Joshua – I don’t usually do this but feel compelled to comment on your article today – I couldn’t agree with you more. 4 years ago I made the decision to retire early and move to Bolivia to serve as a medical missionary – I was able to retire early because I grew up saving and living below our means (although we had a lot of “stuff” do deal with when we sold our house and moved overseas). I have so enjoyed your work and the work of those striving to “value what truly has value” . I have especially seen when I travel back to the USA the frenetic consumerism that “consumes” the lives of our communities. Being overseas in a developing country has enabled me to see that even more clearly. I promote your work to my friends and family – thanks for being an advocate of “counter-culture” minimalism. May God continue to bless your work. Kevin Broyles, La Paz, Bolivia.
Do you have any recommendations for how to get news? I stopped watching news on tv years ago. I get most of my news online, but have yet to find an easy to use site that gives real news that matters without an inflammatory bias and a ton of entertainment news. Is there a site out there giving the news in a way a minimalist would love?
I find PBS Newshour to be very well balanced with minimal bias.
http://theweek.com/ is also good.
I find the BBC to be a good source of American news.. They don’t have an agenda.
AM radio
If it is important, you will find out. Then you can read up if you are interested to know more.
I noticed reading through these posts that there are quite a few people who started with removing daily news from their lives. While I didn’t start with that, it is one of those things that I made the conscious decision to do with out, and my life has been so much better for it. Like Joshua said, minimalism unexpectedly carries over into so many areas of life in addition to just the material aspect.
Humanity may be coming full circle. Back to our default simple way of life. For me the simpler way of life cause me to be more active and eat healthier. Go figure.
Wholeheartedly agree. What’s fascinating is seeing this in our children. My son absolutely LOVES the avengers. He adores his super heros. But the exposure to them didn’t happen in our own home, they happened at his daycare, from his friends. He began consuming the only thing his friends at daycare consumed, Avengers. It’s amazing to see the course of interests taken on at such a young age. This is his foundation to the rest of his life. This interest, brought on my influence and consumption from a friends interest, sets the path in motion. It’s quite fascinating. On a different note, love the word intentional. The past two years I’ve committed to a journey of intentional self growth. When this is primary, the world around your enhances. But it starts with being intentional and choosing what to consumer to support it. Great article.
Thought provoking post. Before I became a parent, one of the most conscious decisions I ever made (as a news junkie) was to turn off the noise of the daily news. I blocked MSN.com and news.google.com on my browser. It’s not that I think current events aren’t important. It is the overconsumption of negativity that was beating me down. With such a positive change in my life, the birth of my daughter, I wanted to live in the moment. My belief became, and still is, if you want the world to be a better place, lead by example and rear your children in this way.
I did exactly this and for the same reasons right after 9/11 when my daughter was an infant.
I fully agree. I would like to add that your job may also be part of the problem. We all can’t just change jobs, but we can try our best to surround ourselves with people that inspire us and not bring you down.
Stay away from the office gossip, don’t listen to others bad mouthing other employees. Focus on your work and leave the other stuff behind.
When your boss pulls in with his new car and has new clothes on every day.. pity him.. don’t be jealous..
My boss gets at least 5 packages a day from Amazon. It is a running joke because we have a guy who works in the mail room coming through the office everyday with a two wheel dolly full of presents for the boss. We call him Santa…
I do like my Boss, He is a good guy and family man.. But he owns two homes, three boats, two snow machines, and three cars…and I have never seen him wear the same shirt more than twice.
And all he talks about is the “next” thing he is looking to buy.. The endless pursuit of the “package” that will finally make him happy.. That package can not be delivered by Amazon….
BTW He is on his 2nd wife,takes about 50 pills a day and never feels good and is a bundle of stress….
I have stopped watching TV for several years now (do not want/need any advertisement at home). I kept the TV in the attic for a while (“just in case”) and then gave it to charity last month. Big relief. Now I have decided to go one step further : no radio shows, and no news. This means I am always the last one to know about the latest event (plane crash, political scandal, terrorist attack, or new iphone on the market). But this is OK, I survive without it. And it is true that all these news have an effect on us, because without them, I feel less stressed and less negative. It seems that it gives me more faith in people and in life in general. People are good, and so is life, despite all the horrors we keep watching on the news. We forget that life is much more balanced than what is on TV. One of my friends warned me and said I am disconnecting myself from the world. But I think that what I try to do is to reconnect to Life.
PS : please do not tease me about my english, I am French ;-)
My father had a massive heart attack and was given 6 months to live. He was typical of the Italian immigrant of the day. Worked two jobs, smoked, eat red meat and pasta everyday. Screamed at the TV every night cursing the politicians and local baseball team. The heart attack was no surprise. But his reaction was….
He shut off the news, canceled the paper, took a nap every afternoon, sold the big house and bought a condo and moved to Florida (from Boston), stopped smoking,eating red meat, and started taking long walks….. The detox was tough, the first few weeks were challenging as living one way for 45 years then making wholesale changes was tough… But as soon as the benefits started showing, it snowballed into 15 wonderful years of peace and relative health. He did die at the young age of 60, but from where he was at 45.. minimalism gave him 14 1/2 more year..
He didn’t know that he was living a minimalist lifestyle but whenever I took time to visit him (which was not enough). He would always have the same old dingy fishing hat on.. and the thought of it still makes me smile today..
What a beautiful story. You should make sure that you write down those memories. Perhaps it’s the beginning of a memoir.
Thanks Melissa.. He was a good man.. I hope I don’t wait until I get sick before I do the same.
Jeanne dear, your English is great! No idea you were French! Something I have picked up from someone I follow on Instagram is the hashtag #noapologies. Don’t apologize for your language skills, just do your best, don’t apologize for what you put out there, and smile! :-) ♥
Votre anglais est superbe. Moi aussi je ne regards plus la television et je ne la manque pas.
I completely agree. I have been so inspired here. Those mentioned are my go to places for blog reading. My Home is really started to feel good with almost a year of simplicity. So much happier.
I agree with you, Joshua 100%!
Happy Easter!!! :)
I think another advantage of this approach is that it enables us to focus our lives around something other than the material acquisition of stuff. Our culture often promotes that our lives should be defined by the things we own and buy–but with the mindset you describe, it’s possible to break free from that belief. I find it very liberating not to buy into consumer culture and to instead focus on what I want my life to actually be.
1st, great article and useful in many ways. However, I feel so much of it is black and white. Life is not good when we just do either or(s). It is NOT real…..well for me that is….lol.
For me it is MORE about *balance*. I believe that is how we can see all sides of issues.
You said, “If you choose to receive your news every evening from the Drudge Report or Fox News, you will arrive at a much different view of the world (and political parties) than someone who consumes their news exclusively from MSNBC”… Yet, u are doing the same narrow thinking.
So, your theory on owning less stuff, is a one sided and narrow thinking.. it treats people like they are not adults and can not work, stuff and all the other things u sited to.
So, why not do balance, rather than, either OR. “more life by owning less stuff”. I personally don’t think that is the answer. I think balance is much more realistic.
Think about this food thing we have. We, love it, and take in more than we should, then it is diet time ( I call it LIVEIT time). So, then people go into this, put less in to our bodies and go without the thins we love to eat. Well, that is a set up for failure. Instead if we seek to balance our food and see it as a LIVEIT, then we have a better chance of being SUCCESSFUL.
Life filled with ands/ors/and black OR white is not the answer; for me it is about balance. I am adult enough to lic=ke stuff, live with it, eat right and keep friends and family in my life that our positive. However, I can have people in my life that are not balnced..lol
no edit button…sorry…. I *LIKE*
Veronica I don’t understand your post – what’s the point you’re trying to make?
I think her point is, everything in moderation. But I think she missed Joshua’s point.
I’m not sure your read the same blog post we did.
As always Joshua has his pulse on the underlying meanings of our habits, and unconscious patterns and how they can become traps if we let them dictate our lives.
The choice is always yours to adapt to your best life.
I have been a minimalist for years and am now paring down to live out of my backpack for a year in France. I do not want to pay storage or burden my family with excess stuff so I am doing a careful assessment of how things fit into my newer lighter traveling life. With that I am reading blogs on minimalism, long term frugal travel and women traveling.
Do you see how my choices will affect the success of my new adventure?
Maybe you might want to read more of his posts and really get to the deeper spiritual aspect of a deliberate life with less consumption.