Joshua Becker's Blog, page 10

Clear Clutter, Create Change: Becoming Minimalist’s Life-Changing Courses

Whether you want to live a more minimalist life or you aspire to help others achieve that goal, I want to help.

This month, I am launching two online courses.

Uncluttered will help you declutter your home, while my Professional Training (Becker Method Certification) is designed to help those of you who want to get better at helping others own less.

Both are important and starting later this month—though they are designed to help different people.

Uncluttered: Your Step Towards a Clutterfree Home

Uncluttered is a comprehensive 12-week online course designed to guide you through decluttering the most lived-in areas of your home. But the course isn’t just about removing items from your home—it’s more than that. It’s about discovering a simpler, more intentional way of life focused on your greatest passions, both now and for the rest of your life.

What the Course Includes:

Weekly Videos: Every Monday, you’ll receive new content, including videos from me and interviews with thought leaders in the simplicity movement.Live Interactive Sessions: Participate in live webinars and weekly Q&A sessions to tackle specific clutter challenges.Engaged Community: Gain access to a private Facebook group for ongoing encouragement and accountability 24/7.Family Support: In the course, I provide resources for the whole family, including a children’s eBook, a webinar tailored for families, and a Couple’s Discussion Guide.

Who Should Join?

This course is ideal for anyone feeling overwhelmed by their possessions and unsure where to start. Whether you’re a busy parent, someone transitioning through a significant life change, or simply seeking to reclaim your space, Uncluttered provides the tools and support needed.

The best way for me to explain the goal of the course is this: If you can declutter your home by reading a book or watching a video, then you don’t need to sign up for Uncluttered. On the other hand, if you’ve read books and watched videos, but still need something more, Uncluttered was designed for you. It provides everything a book cannot: accountability, community, opportunity to ask questions, and specific weekly challenges.

Pricing and Registration:

The cost is $99 (USD). You can find a 25% discount code in my book, The Minimalist Home. The book is not required, but it’s usually cheaper to buy the book and use the code than pay full price. The choice is yours.

Registration is open now, but closes in just ten days (Sunday, April 28 at 11:59 PM PT). The 12-week course begins on Tuesday, April 30. There is no specific time/date each week that you need to be online to go through Uncluttered.

Join us here.

Becker Method Certified Professional Training: Become a Decluttering Leader

For professionals or aspiring experts in organizing and productivity, the Becker Method Certification equips you with the skills and credentials to stand out in your field. This six-week intensive, professional training course offers a deep dive into the experience and expertise I have learned over the last 15 years helping others own less.

My passion is to teach others how to help others own less—so that the movement can continue to grow and develop and change both individuals and the world. The training dives deep into advanced decluttering methods, techniques, and strategies to help others achieve a simpler lifestyle.

What the Course Includes:

Specialized Training: Learn the 7 Step Becker Method, detailed strategies for overcoming common decluttering challenges, answers to common questions and obstacles, and ways to help others maintain a clutter-free environment.Certification and Credibility: Earn a certification badge and get listed on the Becker Method Certified website to enhance your professional standing.Extensive Resources and Networking: Access all my digital resources designed for your specific use.Networking: Connect with like-minded professional passionate about helping others own less. Network during the 6-week training and all year long through the Quarterly Training Meetings.

Who Should Join?

This course is designed for Professional Organizers, Move Managers, Productivity Experts, or anyone passionate about helping others declutter. If you’re looking to elevate your career and expand your client base by receiving proven, effective guidance, this training is for you. It is also a wonderful training for anyone interested in getting into the industry—whether paid or unpaid.

Pricing and Registration:

The investment for this professional growth opportunity is $1,299 (USD). Registration is capped at 35 participants so that I am available to interact personally with each individual.

Registration ends on Sunday, April 28, and the course begins the next day, Monday, April 29.

You can learn more here.

Just to reiterate: Both courses are about embracing the freedom and better life than can be found by owning less, but they cater to distinctly different audiences.

Uncluttered is perfect for individuals or families wanting to start their own decluttering journey, while the Becker Method Certification is tailored for professionals seeking to enhance their career and impact others’ lives significantly.

Whether you’re looking to transform your personal space or help others in their desire for simplicity, these courses offer a proven path to achieving your goals. Let’s simplify life together—one space, one home, one community at a time.

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For more details or to register for either course, visit the Uncluttered Course page or Becker Method Certification page. Don’t miss this chance to redefine your surroundings and your career.

The post Clear Clutter, Create Change: Becoming Minimalist’s Life-Changing Courses appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

The 5 Most Important Areas of Life to Simplify (and the Stats to Prove It)

I’ve noticed an interesting fact about simplifying advice on the Internet: the amount of material online about simple living can itself become overwhelming. It’s an irony not lost on me.

I’ve been writing in this space for over 15 years. And during that time, I have seen countless other blogs and YouTube channels and social media accounts and podcasts and books and courses come and go.

To be fair, I think it’s wonderful. The more people writing about simplicity the better in my book! That’s why I take time every other week (Weekends Reads) to highlight articles that I want to promote. Let’s keep writing and promoting and helping and changing lives.

But still, the amount of material can be overwhelming. Especially when you read 2-3 different, helpful articles in consecutive days (or even weeks). Before one idea can get implemented in our lives, we’re being presented a new (sometimes equally helpful) idea.

Amidst this avalanche of advice, the most important step is to begin—to take a meaningful action towards positive life change.

Simplicity, at its core, is about removing the distractions that keep us from our values and most important pursuits. It’s about focusing on the essentials, making room for more of what matters, and less of what doesn’t. In that way, simplicity touches every aspect of our lives, from the tangible clutter in our homes to the intangible burdens on our time and energy.

To help cut through the noise, I’d like to offer you today the 5 most important areas of life to simplify. And I’ve got the stats to prove it.

If you are newly interested in simplifying life, but are unsure where to start, start with one of these five.

There is no need to tackle all at the same time—in fact, I’d recommend you didn’t. Choose the one that speaks most directly to your current season of life. Start there, and let the momentum of that first step propel you forward.

1. Possessions

The average American home has tripled in size in the last 50 years… and still 38% of us see a need to rent offsite storage.

The more stuff you own, the more your stuff owns you. Every additional item we acquire beyond our needs demands a piece of our attention, time, and energy—resources that could be better on more important things. Every possession takes up physical space in our home, and mental space in our mind.

Because of that, simplifying our possessions isn’t just about decluttering our physical space; it’s about reclaiming the freedom that comes from having less. It’s about focusing more of ourselves on our greatest passions and freeing ourselves to pursue those things in life that matter most.

You can begin by decluttering just one small area in your home. Read this article for inspiration. Or, if you’re looking for more focused help, join me for Uncluttered, a 12-week online course I will be starting later this week.

2. Spending

The average American spends almost $18,000 a year on nonessentials.

It is often said that our spending habits are a direct reflection of our priorities. And on some levels, that is true. But for most people, I believe, their spending is a direct result of an unintentional, unexamined life.

I don’t know a single person who values “wasting money on things they don’t need.” But I know a lot of people who do—without even realizing it.

Taking back control of our spending requires self-examination. But the result is that we better align our spending with our priorities. And there is great joy and contentment to be found in making that change.

To get started, print off your last two months of credit card statements and highlight or underline every line that was a nonessential purchase. Then use this guide to create an intentional Spending Plan for your family and income.

The hard part, of course, is living out your new plan into the future. But you can’t get moving in the right direction if you don’t know where you’re starting from.

3. Health (Diet/Exercise)

Only 28% of Americans get enough exercise.

When it comes to our physical health, simplicity can be a game-changer.

It seems every new day we are presented with a new fad diet, super-food concoction, popular workout craze, or advertisement to join a local gym on a great discount. On the same pages and networks, we are bombarded with commercials for sugary snacks, meals, and drinks.

Unfortunately, the prevalence of exercise advice and options doesn’t seem to be resulting in positive outcomes.

The best exercise routine is the one you enjoy and practice regularly. Equally so, the only eating plan with long-term benefits is the one you can stick to.

Forget the fads and newest trends, find the exercise you can enjoy regularly and lean into it.

For your diet, begin by identifying your favorite fruits and vegetables and add more of them into your meals. Then, remove some of the processed sugar from your diet by substituting other enjoyable snacks. And then, repeat.

4. Schedule

60% of Americans say they are too busy to enjoy life.

Our calendars reflect a culture obsessed with busyness. All of the modern gadgets and inventions meant to simplify our lives and free up time only seem to steal it from us. Add in the fact that many of us are prone to equate a packed scheduled with importance and success, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

People nowadays even wear “I’m busy” like a badge of honor seeking to elevate their importance in your eyes.

Now, this isn’t to say that there aren’t genuinely busy seasons of life with extra demands on our time (just ask any new mother), but when busy becomes the default state for our lives, without any introspection, we end up failing in life by succeeding at all the wrong things.

Simplifying your schedule isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing more of the things that matter. And providing some white space for when opportunities arise to help and serve others.

To begin, think again about the importance rest plays in our lives. Then find one hour next week to sit alone with your thoughts. Use the time to let your mind and soul run wherever it wants to take you. Likely, if this is the area of simplification that resonated with you, your mind will bring up thoughts on how/where you could be spending your time differently.

5. Work Life

Among full-time working professionals, 77% say they have experienced employee burnout at their current job.

This can be a complicated statistic with a variety of different factors. In fact, some researchers classify “not challenging enough” as an indication and contributor to burnout. So it would not be fair to say that over 3/4 of professionals are overworked in their job.

But the incredibly high percentage does reveal an important fact: There is something broken in how we approach our work.

And the reasons for this may vary: we view our work selfishly; we expect work to be easy; we accept too much work in exchange for financial gain; we have settled for work that does not bring us meaning.

Simplifying work is about rethinking the role it plays in our lives. I am not a writer who argues the benefits of removing ourselves from work. But I am a writer who encourages people to view the role of work differently. To find the joy and fulfillment that it offers us when we approach it with the correct motivation.

To begin bringing more simplicity into your work, I encourage you to read The One Thing, Essentialism, or Things That Matter. Pick the one whose description resonates most with you. Each, I believe, will challenge you to think differently about the responsibilities you choose for yourself and provide practical ideas on how to simplify work.

Let’s be clear on this. Embarking on a journey to simplify doesn’t mean overhauling your life overnight.

And my greatest fear would be that we’d look at this list above and become paralyzed because of it.

Instead, I have found in my life that intentionality in one area of life brings about intentionality in other areas.

If you know you need to simplify, choose just one area from the list above. And take one small step toward simplicity. The ripple effect will change your life in more ways than you expect.

The post The 5 Most Important Areas of Life to Simplify (and the Stats to Prove It) appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

The Prosperity Paradox

Our relationship with money, undoubtedly, serves as one of the most defining relationships of our lives.

Whether we hoard it, overspend it, worry about it, chase it, save it, or give it all away, the way we interact and think about money affects countless aspects of our lives.

Some consider money as merely a tool. And that is true, money is a tool.

But it is also much more than that. One must only look at the fact that 77% of people in the richest nation in the world remain anxious about their financial situation to see that money is treated differently in our mind and heart.

And considering that more than 70% of Americans report their desire for money influences their daily decisions, I would again argue stands as proof that money is no ordinary tool. How many people do you know base their daily decisions on passionately acquiring more tools?

Money has a much deeper impact on our lives and psyche than a tool. And we can see it all around us—and inside us.

Therefore, to understand ourselves better and conduct ourselves best, it is essential that we constantly evaluate the role and importance we place on money in our mind and in our heart.

To help, I want to introduce you to a phenomenon concerning money that plays out in a large majority of people’s lives—probably yours and almost certainly mine.

The phenomenon is what I call: The Prosperity Paradox.

This paradox about financial wealth can be summarized this way: The more money we accumulate, the more money we think we need.

And it’s one of the reasons 80% of Americans think they would be happier if they had more money.

Rather than providing happiness and security as many people think it will, money seems to have an opposite effect. The more we have, the more we think we need.

A bold statement, no doubt. One that you probably want to immediately disagree with. But this paradox is not merely a philosophical musing; it is underscored by compelling research and statistics. Let me offer you four studies that clearly display the prosperity paradox in action.

Individuals were recently asked how much money they believed they would need to retire comfortably. The average response was $1.46 million. Numerous articles were written about how that number has increased over recent years.

But read further into the study and you’ll discover a fascinating fact. According to the study, the higher your net worth, the more money you believe you need to retire. In fact, while the average American believes they need $1.46 million to retire comfortably, high-net-worth individuals (people with more than $1 million in investable assets) said they’ll need nearly $4 million to retire comfortably.

The Prosperity Paradox: The more money a person has, the more money they think they need to live a comfortable life.

Here’s another study less focused on the future and more focused on the here and now. Again, we see the same thing happening.

The financial services company, Empower, recently asked people, “How much does your annual salary need to be for you to feel happy or less stressed?”

The median answer to the question was “an additional $30,000/year would result in happiness.” But among the highest earners (those already making more than $200,000/year), they responded that they would need an additional $150,000/year to be happy!

The income brackets align exactly with what the Prosperity Paradox would predict. Across the income brackets, the more money a person makes, the higher the pay increase they said would result in happiness.

You can see the exact breakdown here:

We can also see the paradox in play as to how people define rich.

To many, a millionaire embodies the epitome of financial security. In fact, your specific answer to the question, “Is a millionaire wealthy?” likely reveals quite a bit about your current financial circumstance.

Is a millionaire wealthy?

Did you answer the question, “Yes”? If so, chances are, you don’t have a million dollars. Because the closer you get to that level of net worth, the less likely you are to consider it rich.

In fact, millionaires comprise about 8.8% of the American population. And yet, an astonishing 87% of millionaires do not view themselves as wealthy.

90% of those living in the top 10% of the wealthiest nation of the world do not consider themselves wealthy. How can this be?

Only when you understand the Prosperity Paradox does this self-identification begin to make sense. The more money a person has, the more money they require to feel wealthy. The goal posts of wealth just keep moving further and further away.

But it’s not necessary to only point fingers at millionaires. Did you know that if your net income is $65,000/year, you are among the top 20% of wage earners in the world today?

That’s right, $65,000/year earns you more money than 80% of the planet.

You can run your own numbers here: World Inequality Database.

Is that how you feel earning $65,000/year? Among the very wealthiest in the world? Probably not. Because the Prosperity Paradox rears its ugly head at nearly every income level.

No wonder John D. Rockefeller, the richest man in the world at that time, when asked by a reporter, “How much money is enough?” responded by saying, “Just a little bit more.”

That is the nature of money. It never satisfies. It never brings the happiness we believe it will. It never brings lasting security. Nor does it bring the contentment we desire.

“How much money is enough?” is a question very few people can answer. Except with the response, “Just a little bit more than I have now.”

Be aware. If that is your belief, you will never arrive.

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How to Live Well

“To live long is almost everyone’s wish, but to live well is the ambition of a few.” —John Hughes

Think for a moment about the people who’ve left a positive, lasting impact on you. Some may have lived long lives, others short. But without a doubt, almost all of them lived well.

Chances are, their lives were marked with characteristics you desire for your own. They were probably loving, selfless, warm, and a joy to be around. Maybe they were particularly gifted in a talent or skill—probably ones they worked hard to develop.

These individuals remind us that the fullness of life isn’t found in the number of years that we live, but how well we lived the years that we were given.

As Seneca once wrote, “Life is long if you know how to use it.”

It is important for all of us to realize that our legacy can be the same as those names and faces that came to your mind.

Those who influenced you positively, no doubt, came from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Some may have had financial means, others did not. Some were extroverted and the life of the party, others were quiet and reserved. Some loved attention, others preferred a more private life. Some were educated, others not. Some held a position in the world that people were envious of, others did not. Some were shaped by a life of trial and hardship, others seemed to live a semi-charmed life.

Those who lived life well, and impacted us positively as a result, are not tied together by any one specific characteristic or experience. Instead, they made the most of their days—and left a legacy worth following because of it. And that means we can do the same.

Why is it important that we realize our legacy can be both positive and lasting? Because there are people counting on us to accomplish that.

But how do we accomplish this? How do we shift our focus from merely adding years to our life to enriching the life in our years?

Better put: How do we live life well?

The exact path will vary from one person to another, but there are some universal principles to guide us in that pursuit. I would like to list them here:

1. Believe It Is Possible

Nobody accomplishes an important achievement without the belief that it is possible. I do not know what lies in your past. But I know what can lie in your future. No matter how many years have passed or mistakes have been committed, you can live the rest of your life well.

Believe in your potential—because only when we see the potential in our lives will we be motivated to fully discover it.

2. Define Your Purpose

A clearly defined purpose guides our decisions and gives our life direction. It’s what drives us to get up in the morning, fuels our passion for living, and becomes the legacy that we leave. That is why it is so important we take this step.

Find quiet and solitude to search your heart and define your purpose if you haven’t already. And don’t let the need for perfection sabotage progress. Even if all aspects of your purpose have not been fully defined, move in the direction of what you believe to be true and the rest will reveal itself to you.

3. Remain Intentional in Your Pursuit of Purpose

Intentionality is choosing to live according to what matters most. Remaining focused and intentional in the pursuit of our purpose means that we will not be blown off route by the changing winds and trends of culture.

There are times certainly when we lose focus and become distracted by other things, but when we keep our mind and eye on the chief goal of our lives, we will eventually adjust and recenter our life around purpose.

4. Love and Generously Share with Others

I am not here to tell you what your main purpose and goals in life must be. But I can tell you that every study ever conducted shows us the same thing: a life lived in love, generosity, and service always results in greater satisfaction, fulfillment, and joy at the end.

Almost certainly, those who left the greatest positive impact on your life lived selflessly caring for others. We would be wise to learn from their example.

5. Work Hard for What Matters

Dedicating ourselves to meaningful work—work that significantly impacts others—provides a sense of fulfillment that money cannot buy. Working hard for the sake of others doesn’t just result in providing for our financial needs, it results in meaning and satisfaction.

Don’t view work as something to be avoided or quit altogether, see it as an opportunity to love. And complete it diligently.

6. Make Every Day Count

See potential in every day, embracing both its challenges and joys. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Lost time is never found again.” Once you’ve wasted time, you can never get it back. And the choice must be made every morning. See each day as a gift and opportunity.

7. Take Care of Yourself

Gary Thomas once wrote, “Your physical body is the instrument through which you make a difference in the world.” If we are going to live well, it is important that we care for the physical body that we live in.

Exercise, eat well, care for your health. This practice has the potential to extend the number of days in your life. But more importantly, it will allow you to accomplish the most during the days you do have.

8. Embrace Life’s Lessons

Adversity is a great teacher. Facing hardships with resilience and learning from them shapes us into stronger, wiser men and women. Do not see failure as failure—see failure as an opportunity to learn.

Equally so, we should learn from our mistakes (and the mistakes of others) in order to continually improve each day. And when trials come into our lives that were not caused by us, we learn from them as well.

9. Choose Happiness

Happiness is a choice that can be made daily, regardless of circumstances. It comes from appreciating what we have and finding the joy around us each day. Waiting until the weekend to be happy (or waiting until circumstances change) will leave us waiting forever.

10. Practice Solitude

Spend time each day in meditation, devotion, or quiet reflection. These times of introspection help us become more present and aware, enhancing your appreciation of life’s moments.

11. Pursue Virtue

Choosing to live a life marked by virtue is not just about avoiding wrongs, but actively doing what’s right, embodying qualities like honesty, bravery, compassion, and integrity. In many ways, a virtuous life is its own reward, setting a foundation for peace, harmony, and a deep sense of fulfillment. But it also gets noticed by others (especially in a world that seeks to destroy it) and sets a powerful model for them of a life well-lived.

12. Stay Curious

Life is an endless opportunity for learning and growth. Remaining curious opens you up to new experiences, ideas, and perspectives. Everyone we meet has something to teach us. Becoming curious about their experiences and worldview allows our mind to grow and expand and become bigger than the one version of life we have lived.

13. Simplify Your Life

Simplicity allows you to focus on what truly matters. Eliminating clutter—from your home, your schedule, your mind—frees you to live more fully.

14. Prioritize Your Spiritual Well-being

We are made of mind, body, and soul. Just as we invest in physical fitness and mental acuity, dedicating time and energy to our spirituality is important. Do not neglect it. The practice will help you see the world bigger than yourself—and offer you rewards greater than the world can provide.

Living well is a gift to ourselves, a gift to those closest to us, and a gift to the world.

I might even go so far as to say the greatest accomplishment we can pursue is to live our lives to their fullest potential. May that be the life we seek.

The post How to Live Well appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

Fill your life with stories to tell, not stuff to show.

The simplicity/minimalism movement is a beautiful community. And I enjoy any opportunity to promote writing that encourages people to live more by owning less.

I invite you to fix yourself a nice warm cup of coffee or tea. Find a quiet moment this weekend. And enjoy some encouraging words to inspire more simplicity in your life today.

Shannen Doherty, who has stage 4 cancer, says she’s selling her belongings to fund more quality time with her mom | Business Insider by Amanda Goh. This is a tragically sad story and I debated including it here. But I think Shannen is trying to tell us something. And we’d be wise to listen.

What I Learned From My No-Spend Month | Gretchen Rubin by Gretchen Rubin. A brief period of deprivation can help us learn about ourselves and our patterns. It can re-set our tolerances, so that going forward, we indulge less.

Making Change: Consumerism | North Coast Journal by Jennifer Savage. Talk is cheap, buying nothing is spectacular.

Navigating Minimalism: A Guide for Those Struggling with Mental Health | No Sidebar by Miles Oliver. Minimalism is a state of mind that helps you refocus your attention on the things that really matter. This can be powerful if you’ve traditionally placed too much value on material things and spend your energy fretting about the state of your home.

51 Simple Ways to Overcome Consumerism in Your Life | Simple Money by Harper Bennett. I don’t think I’ve met a single person who, on some level, doesn’t want to break free from entirely consumeristic pressures. But breaking free is not easy—or more people would do it.

What Is Clutter Blindness? 6 Signs You Have It & 6 Tips To Stop It | Green With Less by Eva Astoul. Clutter blindness is when we get so used to having clutter in our home that we do not see it anymore.

Recently Released Inspiring Videos

Master Your Mornings: 7 Things to Do Before Bed | YouTube by Joshua Becker. For anyone wanting to optimize their morning and become a morning person, establishing a solid nighttime foundation is crucial. If you struggle to get going in the mornings, here are 7 habits to try before bed.

The Joy of Not Wanting Things | YouTube by Joshua Becker. If you find yourself overwhelmed with how much stuff you have, but seem to continually find yourself wanting the next new thing, here are some words of perspective to encourage you.

The post Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads. appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

The Challenge of Living an Honest Life in a World of Want

Benjamin Franklin wrote in his autobiography, “It is more difficult for a man in want to act always honestly.”

All those who desire to live an honest life should consider the weight of those words. In fact, read them again if you skipped over them quickly.

In its original context, Franklin was exhorting his readers to work industrially and live frugally. Because as he explained, it is “more difficult for a man in want to act always honestly.”

It is true. Working hard and living frugally does provide a freedom to live a more virtuous life. Of course, one can work hard, live frugally, and still live a selfish, dishonest life—but that is not the point being made.

But I have come to learn there is more wisdom to be found here than in an exhortation to care for our finances. The more we consider this important thought, the more places we see it play out in our lives.

The proverb speaks truth not just about honesty, but about many of the virtues we should desire, and the difficulty of actually living them out when we are never satisfied. When we live in a state of constant want, a virtuous life becomes harder to live.

Think of it this way, our virtues are tested in the arena of desires. And the greater our desire, the more fierce the battle.

A constant need for more, while seemingly innocent, can subtly coax us into compromising our character, integrity, and values. We may win out over the temptation to compromise some days—but more often than we’d like to admit, we lose the fight. And the greater the pull of want, the greater the temptation to compromise virtue.

Think about it, a man or woman who is never satisfied with the amount of money in their bank account, who constantly wants more and more of it, is more tempted to be dishonest in their pursuit of it than the man or woman who is satisfied with what they have.

The man or woman with a constant want for a bigger house, a grander vacation, a bigger wardrobe, or a more luxurious car is more often tempted with greed, selfishness, manipulation, impatience, and jealousy (just to name a few).

When we live in a state of constant want, it is more difficult to live an honest and virtuous life.

Which requires us to ask the question of ourselves, “Am I living in a constant state of wanting more than I have? And how does this desire for more war against the virtues I wish to be true of me?”

This question becomes even more important to internalize in an economy that runs on fanning the flames of desire in our hearts—always pushing and pulling us to want more and more and more. The less we are satisfied with our lives, the more they win. Without intentional effort, our culture slowly reshapes our heart into a desire for more and more.

Now, don’t misinterpret my thinking here. I am not saying that ambition is immoral. I am not saying that it is unwise to work hard and provide for our families. I’m not even saying that there aren’t times in life or circumstances in life when we should diligently pursue something better.

What I am saying is that when we are never satisfied with our lives—especially in terms of money, possessions, power, fame, and pleasure—it becomes more difficult to live an always honest life and we are more tempted to compromise. There is a direct relationship.

And that might explain why the virtues of honesty, patience, contentment, generosity, and humility come under siege in a culture that constantly whispers there is greater happiness to be found in more and there is always something else to acquire.

The challenge, therefore, is not merely in learning to pursue a life well-lived as our chief goal, but in resisting the temptation to want more when we already have enough.

Minimalism, in this broader context, emerges as a helpful philosophy. It invites us to redefine success, to treasure the invisible over the visible, to see the emptiness of pursuing possessions that can never satisfy, and to live a life more focused on purpose, virtue, values, and convictions.

Does minimalism mean that somebody automatically lives a more virtuous life? Of course not. I would never make that argument. Minimalism and living a virtuous life are not synonymous.

But it can remove at least one area of want from a person’s life and as a result, it can make the pathway to honesty a little bit easier to navigate.

Minimalism might not be the best word for what I am speaking of. Contentment is probably better. But minimalism, in many ways, helps pave the way for contentment.

Simplicity challenges us to confront society’s messaging that equates happiness with possessions. It invites us to craft a legacy defined not by what we accumulate, but by the lives that we live.

And when that is the goal, virtue comes a little bit easier.

The post The Challenge of Living an Honest Life in a World of Want appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

20 Reasons to Never Ever Part with Something You Own

Happy April 1st.

It is true, there are a lot of really good reasons to minimize our possessions. For example, when we own less, we are able to focus more of our life on things that matter.

Minimalism saves money, time, focus, and energy. Owning less means less stress and more freedom. And those are definitely wonderful things that everybody would benefit from!

But that’s not to say that there aren’t also reasons to keep all the stuff we don’t need.

In fact, here are 20 reasons to never ever part with an item you own:

1. It Was Expensive.

Sure, keeping that item around your home makes you feel continually bad about the purchase and the wasted money. But keeping the item around, hopefully with the price tag still on it, serves as a helpful reminder of your ability to make poor financial decisions.

2. You’re Going to Sell it Someday.

The more items you stockpile, the more successful that garage sale is going to be—you know, the one you’ve been planning for the past five years.

3. It’s a Spare for Your Spare’s Spare.

One can never have too many duplicates. On the off-chance you get holes in ten pairs of pants in the same week, you’ll be glad you had that 11th pair in the very back of your closet.

4. Somebody Bought It For You.

And that’s the thing about a gift, you’re required to keep it forever! No leeway.

5. It’s a Collector’s Item.

Those Beanie Babies, baseball cards, and Longaberger baskets were supposed to be worth a lot of money by now. And even though they aren’t, holding on to them is probably easier than admitting you were wrong.

6. You Might Need It Someday.

I mean, true, you don’t need it now and haven’t needed it for the last who-knows-how-many years. But maybe, just maybe, tomorrow will be that day (and there will be no other possible solutions available to you).

7. It Could Be Fixed.

Not by you, of course, or you would have already fixed it. But one day, you’ll definitely learn electronic repair, woodworking, and/or textile weaving. I mean, there must be some way to get it working again, right? Until then, your broken items are just potential projects.

8. You Might Fit Into It Again.

Those pants looked great on you in high school, no doubt. And it would be awesome to wear them again. Granted, that was before kids and 10 lbs. ago. Holding on to them is a testament to your optimism.

9. It’s Part of a Set.

Or, at least, it used to be.

10. It’s a Conversation Starter.

Because there’s no better way to kick off a party than with the sentence, “Did you know I still own over 100 DVDs?”

11. It’s Exercise Equipment.

Like that treadmill now serving as a high-end clothes rack. It’s the thought that counts.

12. You Don’t Know What It Does.

And if you’re not sure what that kitchen tool is supposed to be used for, what lock that key fits, or what electronic item that cord is for, you can bet you’ll know where to look when you need it.

13. Someone Else Can Do It For You.

There’s no need to go through your own attic, basement, or garage if someone else will happily do it when you’re gone. I’m sure that’s exactly the way they’ll want to spend their time immediately after you pass.

14. You Wore It Once.

And you might wear it again if invited to the exact same type of themed costume party.

15. It’s Your “Someday” Hobby Kit.

It’s been your dream for so many years. Why give up on it now? It’s clearly a hobby you’ll absolutely, definitely pick up someday.

16. Everyone Else Has One.

You know, of course, to be careful when following the masses because sometimes the “m” is silent. But not the things you’ve purchased over the years! You only followed the fads and trends that brought actual value into your life.

17. You Deserve It.

You worked hard, became successful, and earned the money to buy lots and lots of really nice things. Keep them all. You earned them.

18. It’s a Symbol From The Past.

Cling to that decade-old concert T-shirt because it’s your only proof you were once cool and those boxes of souvenirs represent all the trips you took. It’s your past experiences that made you who you are today, not the physical objects from that period in your life. But who wants to just display those experiences by the way you live when you can keep the relics in a box in the basement?

19. You’ve Got the Space.

Rooms are meant to be filled, aren’t they? If you’ve got room in the closet and it’s not hurting anybody, you should totally, definitely keep it.

20. It’s Part of Your Identity.

Without your vast collection of things, how will anyone know you’re the person who keeps everything?

Reflecting on all these reasons why we convince ourselves, over and over again, to keep everything, I can’t help but wonder if perhaps the real April Fools’ joke is on us.

Why have human beings become so accustomed to the rationalizations we tell ourselves to fill our spaces, acquire more, and then eventually search for even more places to store our stuff?

We’re better than that and life is more important than the things that we own.

Today, and each day forward, let’s choose to live counter-cultural, intentional lives—filling our lives with meaning, not things.

The post 20 Reasons to Never Ever Part with Something You Own appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

51 Simple Pleasures to Seek Out and Appreciate More Often

It’s easy to miss out on the simple pleasures that surround us each day. This is because they become routine and ordinary. Oftentimes, it is the good things around every day that we are first to forget. We forget to be thankful for them, we forget to appreciate them, and we forget to find pleasure in them.

But when we make an effort to focus on the simple pleasures around us each day, we become less inclined to chase happiness elsewhere. There is less need to go spend a lot of money on new possessions or fancy trips when we see happiness and joy everywhere we look.

To that end, it might be helpful to remind ourselves of some of the simple pleasures that cost nothing (or barely anything).

I want to encourage each of us, additionally, to not just notice these opportunities around us each day, but to seek them out and make time in each day to appreciate them even more.

Here’s a list of 51 simple pleasures available to each of us that cost almost nothing:

1. Watching the sunrise.

2. Looking up at the clouds.

3. A hot cup of fresh coffee.

4. Slow, deep breaths.

5. Getting up early and enjoying the quiet morning.

6. Cooking a new meal.

7. Fresh, clean bed sheets.

8. Laughing with a loved one.

9. Holding hands with someone you care about.

10. The refreshing taste of cold water.

11. A relaxing walk in nature.

12. Finding joy in a child’s smile.

13. Holding the door open for a stranger.

14. A comfy sweatshirt.

15. The simple calm of a tidy space.

16. Playing a game without screens.

17. Looking out a window.

18. Watching a squirrel or bird or fish.

19. Freshly brewed tea in the afternoon.

20. Looking closely at the leaves on a plant.

21. A quiet moment with a good book.

22. Crafting something by hand.

23. Writing a handwritten note or love letter.

24. Slowly savoring a piece of cheesecake.

25. A cool breeze on a warm day.

26. Sharing a slow meal with family or friends.

27. Listening to an old song.

28. Watching a movie with popcorn.

29. Listening to a loved one share a good story.

30. Donating things you don’t need to someone who does.

31. Baking cookies.

32. Watching a candle burn.

33. Accomplishing a chore that needs to get done.

34. The warmth of sunshine on your face.

35. Weekend brunch.

36. A warm bath or shower.

37. A fresh piece of fruit.

38. The challenge of a puzzle.

39. Playing with a child.

40. Gazing up at the moon and stars.

41. A short nap in the afternoon.

42. The joy of giving or receiving a compliment.

43. Smelling flowers.

44. Apple crisp.

45. The sound of silence after a busy day.

46. A warm hug.

47. Exercise.

48. A warm piece of bread.

49. Listening to the birds.

50. The smell of fresh cut grass.

51. The beauty of art.

As we go about our days, let’s make a conscious effort to make the ordinary extraordinary.

We live in a beautiful world full of beautiful people and beautiful opportunity. Sometimes, we just need to slow down and appreciate that more.

The post 51 Simple Pleasures to Seek Out and Appreciate More Often appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

Minimalism’s Missing Piece

Note: This is a guest post from Emily McDermott of Simple by Emmy.

“What do you want to drink?” I asked my youngest son over breakfast.

“Milk!”

I pour milk into the small glass in front of him, stopping at a groove about a quarter of the way up we call the “Sean line.”

I had learned many times that when I filled the glass to the brim without thinking, he never finished it all. 

I pick up my phone and take a picture of him smiling with a milk mustache, and am reminded of the disposable camera I brought to camp as a teen. 24 chances to capture the memories of the summer. I take ten photos of my son with a milk mustache with the small computer in my hands that can hold thousands of photos.

The boys ask if they can watch a show. “Mom, it’s the one with the dinosaur cops that live in the clouds. Remember?”

I don’t. “OK,” I reply. “What is it on? Netflix? Disney Plus? YouTube? Amazon Prime?” They shrug their shoulders and I sigh, preparing myself for the ten minutes I’ll spend finding the one show they want among all the streaming services.

When I started my minimalist journey almost a decade ago, I was in the midst of an infertility journey. I was stressed, overwhelmed, and desperately wanted to become a mom. When I learned about minimalism and simplicity, I slowly began to make the physical and emotional space to prepare for the children I dreamed would come.

Over the years, I developed my own personal definition of minimalism by learning from mentors I had never met, including The Minimalists, Joshua Becker, and Courtney Carver.

What I settled on: Minimalism is a lifestyle about making room for what matters most so I can live in alignment with my values and pursue my highest purpose.

Variations of this definition of minimalism, what I would call “values-based” minimalism, are very prevalent through the minimalism community. And while I agree with making decisions based upon my values and what matters most to me, I have recently learned that there is a missing piece to minimalism that is critical to the equation—living within our capacity.

When I work with overwhelmed moms to declutter their homes, I see rooms filled to their capacity. Overstuffed closets. Toys spilling out of bins. Papers strewn across every surface.

These moms think there’s something wrong with them. They tell themselves they just need to be better at organizing their stuff, so they buy more bins and wonder why it isn’t working. Or they wish for a bigger home, so they won’t feel the constant weight of all the stuff around them. 

Even if they make decluttering decisions based upon their values and what matters most to them and their families, their homes often fill up with stuff again. Why? We can always justify keeping something if we have the space for it.

But what if we made decisions about what to keep in our homes and on our calendars not by square footage or the number of hours in the day, but our ability to effectively manage our stuff and responsibilities?

What if we stopped exceeding our capacity and decided to live within it instead?

Unfortunately, similar to minimalism, living within our capacity is a countercultural idea. We constantly feel the pressure to have more and do more.  

And while the world speeds up and its technological capacity continues to increase rapidly, I would argue that our capacity as humans has not.

For the first ten years of my life, we had six TV channels. My children have thousands of choices on multiple streaming services. But is my capacity to manage this increase in choices more than my parents? I would say no. 

As a teen, I got my 24 photos from camp developed at the drug store. Now I can take thousands of photos on my phone a day. But has my capacity to manage photos increased dramatically now that I’m an adult? No, which is why so many moms I know are drowning in photos—but don’t feel like they are capturing any memories.

When my grandmother wanted to buy socks for her four kids, she went to the one local store and got the one brand of socks. I go to Amazon where hundreds of brands (and reviews) cause me to give up an hour later because of decision fatigue—with no socks to show for my time. 

The amount and speed of information has exponentially increased our choices, and it’s become so normal in our culture we are expected to easily and seamlessly manage it. But we were never meant to manage this much. 

So how do we live within our capacity in a “fill to the brim” culture? 

We have to create artificial boundaries based upon our capacity—and our desire—to manage that amount.

We have to look at a container—a room in our home, a day on our calendar, a glass on our counter—and find our “Sean line.”

We have to ask ourselves what is worth our precious time, energy, focus, and attention—and say no to anything that exceeds it.

Overwhelmed. Exhausted. Burnt out. Stretched thin. Defeated. These are words I hear from moms every day. But does this have to be our reality? 

When we build our lives around what matters most, and within our capacity to manage it—we can experience the fullness of joy and peace that minimalism offers. 

***

Emily McDermott is a wife, mother of two energetic boys, and simplicity seeker. She writes at Simple By Emmy and is also the host of the top 1% globally ranked podcast Moms Overcoming Overwhelm, where she helps moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts. Emily enjoys writing custom poetry, dancing, and eating peanut butter out of the jar.

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Imagine It’s Your Last Year: What Would You Do Differently?

There’s an old saying I think about quite a bit. It goes like this:

“The trouble is, you think you have time.”

The thought is one that routinely spurs me to action and helps me prioritize my life. Because it’s true. Our priorities often get misplaced specifically because we think we have more time than we actually do.

It’s easy to forget the value of every day—especially in a world of constant distraction.

What if we approached life each day fully committed to the reality that time is short? That nothing lasts forever? And tomorrow is promised to no one?

For example, if you knew this was your last year to live, how would you live differently?

I don’t ask this question as a downer, but as a clarifying lens to focus on what truly matters. Take some time to legitimately answer the question.

In our daily routine, it’s easy to get lost in the details and forget the larger picture. When we do, we spend time on and chase after things that, in the grand scheme of things, hold little significance.

That is why the question above can be so powerfully reframing and why our hearts and minds resonate with the question every time we hear it. It reshapes and refines our perspective almost immediately.

So I think it would be helpful for each of us to ask ourselves the question again today.

If this were your last year to live, would you concern yourself with material possessions, or would you focus on legacy, relationships, and meaningful experiences with the ones you love?

This is important because the reality is that life does fly by. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. Milestones come and go. Children grow up. People move. Jobs and careers end. Our bodies slow down. And before we know it, we’re all left wondering, “Have I lived well?”

My life will probably not end this year. It might, but it probably won’t. But you know what will end? One of the greatest and most important seasons of my life. In two months, our youngest daughter will graduate high school. In six months, both of my children will no longer live at home. And while I will always be their dad and Kim will always be their mom, parenting will look very different from here on.

Even if I don’t die this year, a season of my life will.

“The days are long, but the years are short,” as they like to say. And I’m left with only the question, “Did I live it well?”

The question above, “If you knew this was your last year to live, how would you live differently?” is a powerfully important one that we ought to ask ourselves frequently. Because it might be truer than you think. And it always helps us refine our pursuits and passions.

If This Were Your Last Year, Would You…

Redo Your Countertops?

Sure, keeping up with all the changing trends can be fun and redoing the kitchen might raise the resale value of your home, but if you had only one year to live, would the visual appeal of your home to a potential future buyer really be the thing you wanted to spend your time and money on?

Buy a Brand New Car?

Maybe you really would need a more reliable car to get you through your last year. But in making that choice, my guess is that you’d find great truth in Harvey Mackay’s words, “If you can afford a fancy car, you can make more of an impact driving an ordinary one.”

Binge Watch Another Series on Netflix?

Time spent playing mobile games or binge-watching shows would quickly become recognized as wasted time. You’d try to replace those hours with healthy conversation.

Spend More Time at the Office?

Hard work is commendable, but when it robs us of our health or time with family, it’s worth reassessing our priorities.

Chase After the Latest Gadgets?

In a world where technology is constantly evolving, it’s tempting to chase after the latest device or tech development. But if you had just one year left to live, I wonder how much we’d pursue human connection and interaction instead.

Obsess Over Social Media Status?

Social media can consume vast amounts of our time. And it is true that I’ve seen lots of people post on social media updating the final weeks of a loved one’s life, but I don’t recall any examples of people spending their final days on social media. Something tells me there are more important matters on the top of mind.

Engage in Unnecessary Arguments?

Disagreements and conflicts are part of life, but how many of them truly matter? If we had just one year to live, how many of those conflicts would be viewed as foolish or petty? Especially compared to unity, harmony, love, and understanding.

Put Off Apologies or Reconciliations?

Knowing our time is limited would underscore the importance of mending fences. Holding onto pride or resentment often seems pointless when faced with the finite nature of life.


Certainly, it is wise to consider the long-term. Saving for retirement, investing in career and personal growth, taking care of our health, strategizing long-term are all good and worthwhile endeavors. I’m certainly not trying to argue against wise decisions.

But the important reminder that life is short should encourage us to live each day with intention. The unpredictable nature of life is not a cause for fear—it is a call to action.

So how do we respond? Well, it starts with small, intentional choices. Removing our lives of distractions—whether they be physical possessions, trivial entertainment, unnecessary commitments, or the unquenchable pursuit of money—frees up space and energy to engage in the things that truly enrich our lives.

If this were your last year, you would likely prioritize relationships, pursue your passions, dedicate yourself to activity that brings meaning, and give generously by sharing your time, resources, and talents with those you desire to bless.

And those are all things we can do every day—regardless of how many days remain in our lives.

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