Joshua Becker's Blog, page 113

Celebrating Three Years of Simplify

“Practical and to the point. Half way through this book we began cleaning out our cars, then our dresser, and now our closets. Very motivating.” —Jane Mayer

Three years ago, we released Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life on the Amazon Kindle.

By the end of the day, it was the #1 Self-Help book on Amazon. Eventually, the book would sell over 60,000 copies. It has changed countless lives. Even today, it continues to inspire more and more people to live a better life by owning fewer possessions.

Simplify provides the motivation and practical help to encourage others to simplify their home and declutter their possessions. It argues we find more life by owning less. We can discover more time, energy, and finances to pursue our greatest passions. And we begin to experience a greater sense of freedom.

To celebrate the three-year anniversary of its release, we are offering Simplify for just $0.99 for the next 10 days.

This is a win-win situation. It allows you to own the book for the cheapest price it has ever been offered. And it helps us generate increased interest, sales, and reviews.

Simplify retells our story of finding minimalism and the most important lessons we learned during the journey. But more importantly, it provides the motivation and blueprint for you to begin your own journey towards a better life. It invites its readers to discover a new life-giving truth: There is more joy to be found in owning less than we can ever discover in pursuing more. And it will likely change the way you view possessions forever.

Leo Babauta called it “a must-read.”
Courtney Carver listed it as “one of her favorite books on the topic.“
The Albany Times Union said, “If you’re looking for specific advice on how to live well with less, this book is worth a look.”
Anna Reid wrote about the book, “Life-changing. I recommend it to anyone feeling overwhelmed in life.”

Purchase a copy today. It can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords for only $0.99.

After 10 days, it will return to its regular price of $2.99. Currently, Simplify is only available in digital formats.

Grow Someone Past You

“You can tell who the strong people are. They are the ones building one another up rather than tearing them down.”

Recently, I was hiking with a friend. By every measurable standard, he would be considered successful in business. Over the few years that I have known him, he has received numerous job promotions—each with increased responsibility, opportunity, and title. Sometimes I get the feeling that his company can’t promote him fast enough.

While we were walking, I began asking him about his philosophy at work. I know he successfully leads a number of teams in his organization. And I asked him what his secret was for hiring great people and building effective teams.

He said, “My formula is simple: I try to hire people I can mentor into job promotions off my team.”

His response surprised me. But then he continued, “I know that I will always be able to hire the best people for my teams if I offer personal growth and professional advancement. And I’d much rather have highly capable people on my team for a few years than substandard performers who never leave.”

He offered me great advice that day. Not just in business, but in life.

I have another friend. His name is Jeff Slobotski. And if you don’t know his name, he’s probably okay with that—even though you should. Jeff is one of the most influential entrepreneurs in the Midwest equipping start-ups to succeed.

Jeff is easily one of the greatest “connectors” I have ever known. He lives his life helping others grow by introducing them to people who can help.

I improve his life very little—other than a few influential blog posts and personal conversation over coffee every time I visit Omaha, I’m not exactly sure what I offer. But he has done so much for me I can hardly thank him enough.

He has taken the time to connect me with people who have changed my life in significant ways—both personally and professionally. Almost every day I benefit from the investment he has made into me. I am better at what I do because he has taken the time to help me grow.

Often times, there is a natural tendency within us to see the world as a competition with a set number of winners and losers. In this scenario, if somebody else succeeds, there is one less opportunity for me. We divide the world into winners and losers. And we do our best to make sure we are in the first group.

But I have come to realize the mindset of competition is based on a faulty premise. It assumes that success in another’s life equals one less opportunity for me. But quite frankly, this thinking is incorrect.

In fact, the opposite is true. Our greatest successes in life are often experienced when we choose to help others succeed.

Our most lasting and fulfilling achievements are earned by helping others fulfill theirs. (tweet that)

Grow yourself by investing into someone else’s life today. You may be surprised to discover you both come out on top.

Searching for Security

It is human nature to need and desire security.

We’ve just been looking for it in all the wrong places.

A sense of security can come either from material goods or from supportive relationships. In fact, researchers point out that people who do not feel loved and accepted by others tend to put a stronger emphasis on material possessions.

Margaret Clark, a professor of psychology at Yale, writes it this way:

Humans are social creatures with vulnerabilities. Close relationships afford protections. For example, infants wouldn’t survive without other people. But material possessions also afford protection and security. Humans need food, clothing and shelter to survive. It takes a mix of things to make you feel secure. But if you heighten one source of security, people feel less concerned about the others.

This finding was based on two unique research projects she and her colleagues conducted and published in the March 2011 issue of The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. The researchers conclude from the studies that those who do not feel internally secure in their personal relationships will often put a higher value on physical possessions.

This is an important reality for each of us to consider and understand.

Those supported in close relationships don’t place as much value on material goods.

In our society, too many of us believe security can be adequately found in the personal ownership of accumulated possessions. Now, there is some degree of truth to that statement. Certainly, food and water and clothing and shelter are essential for survival. But the list of possessions that we truly need for life is quite minimal.

Instead, we have confused needs with wants and security with luxury.

As a result, many of us pursue and collect large stockpiles of possessions in the name of security or happiness. We work long hours to purchase them. We build bigger houses to store them. And we spend more energy maintaining them.

The burden of accumulating and maintaining slowly becomes the main focus of our lives.

We spend our time and energy chasing things that are physical in nature. We dream of a future that includes larger paychecks and bigger houses. We plot and plan to acquire them. We go to great lengths to care for them and we become jealous when others have more of them. We seek security in the accumulation of finances and material acquisition.

But the security found in possessions is fragile and fleeting at best. (tweet that)

In our busy, hectic, run-run-run world, we are left with too little time or opportunity to develop deep interpersonal relationships. We are too distracted building our own personal kingdoms.

The research (and probably our own hearts) argue against this thinking. They call us to remember the importance of things that can not be seen with the naked eye or purchased with money: love, friendship, hope, integrity, trust, compassion. These are the things that bring substance, fulfillment, and lasting joy to our lives. These are the attributes that bring lasting security.

May we seek and pursue them. And may we provide a foundation of lasting security for our lives because of it.

Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

There’s more to life than buying stuff.

There are many wonderful people pursuing and promoting simplicity. Fortunately, some of them are gifted in communication and choose to encourage and inspire us with their words. I enjoy reading their unique perspective. I’m sure you will too.

So fix yourself a nice warm cup of coffee or tea on this beautiful weekend. Find a quiet moment. And enjoy some encouraging words about finding more simplicity in your life today.

15 Minimalist Hacks To Maximize Your Life | BuzzFeed by Morgan Shanahan. Less is more.

Kissing Your Socks Goodbye | The New York Times by Penelope Green. Home organization advice from Marie Kondo.

Dear World: Let’s Stop Giving Our Crap to the Poor | We Are That Family by Kristen Welch. Perhaps we should look a little deeper into our hearts and wallets when we can say, I don’t have money to give to the poor, but I have a lot of stuff. Maybe we need to buy less stuff so we have more to give?

The 10 Commandments of a Clutter-Free Life | Apartment Therapy by Nancy Mitchell. Freeing your space—and your life—from overwhelmingly huge amounts of stuff doesn’t take superhuman effort. All you need is a little commitment to some basic principles.

Happy Parenting Online Conference | Happy Parenting by Judith-Rose Max. Early next month, I will be presenting at this free webinar on Living Clutterfree with Kids. The conference welcomes some wonderfully talented experts. I am happy to be included among them. November 9-14.

The Downside of Influence

Influence is a worthwhile pursuit with the power to change individuals, organizations, communities, even entire civilizations.

It can, of course, be used for good or evil. And the allure of influence can be deceptive. But good people with an important message should still pursue it.

For example, I desire Becoming Minimalist to be an influential place where people are introduced to a better way of living—a way of life that removes the pursuit of material possessions and focuses on longer-lasting pursuits.

I desire to influence as many people as possible with this important truth.

Influence is a powerful, world-changing pursuit.

But it is important to be aware of its downsides.

Almost by default, influence carries the potential to change the holder. And because it does, those who possess it must regularly seek to keep their motivation in the proper place.

It is not an untold story. In fact, we know it well. A well-intentioned man or woman sets out with the purest of intentions: to make a difference and change their family, community, or world for good.

Then, something amazing happens. They actually succeed.

People are quickly impressed and attracted to their accomplishments. They begin to attract more influence. More influence begins to attract new opportunities—some healthy, some unhealthy. Temptations get stronger. And when internal motivation is not kept in alignment with healthy pursuits, trouble quickly follows.

Our motivation must be kept purely in check at all times. And all the more as our influence begins to grow.

We must constantly remind ourselves that we are not above temptation. We are just as susceptible to the pursuit of money or power or selfish desires as the next guy or gal. We are not above it. We are only human.

We must continually remind ourselves why we do what we do. Our longings are greater than money and possessions. We desire influence not as a means to achieve personal success or recognition. We desire influence motivated by love—love for others and love for a better way to live.

We must routinely evaluate our motives. This can be difficult. The slow growth of unhealthy motivation in our hearts and minds can be difficult to decipher. Often, the eyes of a friend or family member can notice them before our own. Humbly pursue the truth. Ask the hard questions of yourself and others. And remove your first defensive response to those answers.

May your influence continue to increase. May it bring about good in your homes, workplaces, and local communities. But as it does, may your motivations always be kept pure—not just for your own sake, but also for the sake of those we seek to reach.

2015: A Simple Year

“The course has been life changing.” —Carole, Simple Year 2014 Member

Throughout the 12 months of 2015, I will be teaming up with 7 of my favorite writers and simple-living advocates to offer A Simple Year: 12 Months of Guided Simplicity. I hope you will join us.

Whether you are just beginning your journey to simplicity or looking for extra inspiration and encouragement, A Simple Year is built to provide you with inspiration, accountability, and practical application steps to make 2015 your simplest year ever. You can register today for $149.

The Course

Simple Year members will receive a variety of resources specifically designed for the year-long course. Each month, participants will receive articles and information centered on one specific topic—complete with homework assignments and practical challenges. This allows focus, intentionally, and new habits to be established.

Along with the written content, each member receives accountability and direct access through a live component where each member can personally connect with the author, ask questions, and meet other people simplifying their lives.

Plus, we’ve got a whole bunch of surprises planned throughout the year such as free ebooks, audio recordings, and video messages from the authors.

The Topics

Here is a list of the topics being covered:

January: Clutter with Joshua Becker (Becoming Minimalist). Motivation and steps to get started removing the clutter from your own home and life.

February: Busyness with Courtney Carver (Be More with Less). A slow down guide for the chronically busy.

March: Travel with Colin Wright (Exile Lifestyle). Recalibrating your life to focus on passions. Packing (for travel or for life).

April: Kitchen with Jules Clancy (Stone Soup). The secret to a clutter-free kitchen.

May: Digital with Tammy Strobel (Rowdy Kittens). How to develop a healthy relationship with technology.

June: Work with Courtney Carver (Be More with Less). Simple ways to enjoy your work and develop a micro-business (even with a full-time job).

July: Money with Joshua Becker (Becoming Minimalist). Rethinking the purpose (and desire) for money.

August: Stay Simple with Brooke McAlary (Slow Your Home). Never-fail techniques to create a simpler home that works for you.

September: Fitness with Matt Frazier (No Meat Athlete). Keys to enjoying exercise and getting the most from your effort.

October: Food with Jules Clancy (Stone Soup). How to empower yourself to make the best food choices for your body.

November: Relationships with Tammy Strobel (Rowdy Kittens). Self-care and simplicity.

December: Gratitude with Rachel Macy Stafford (Hands Free Mama). Techniques for cultivating gratitude and changing your life’s perspective.

The Opportunity

The cost of A Simple Year: 12 Months of Guided Simplicity is $149 (less than $13/month). The helpful inspiration and interactive nature of the course make it well worth the cost.

Over 400 people participated in the program during 2014 and we received encouraging feedback:

“Signing up for and participating in “A Simple Year” has been one of the best things I did in 2014.” —Kathy
“The course has been life changing.” —Carole
“Simple Year has made an amazing difference in my life.” —Lynne
“A Simple Year should come with a warning: this course will change your life.”

Our goal is to help those who desire to make 2015 their simplest year ever. Each of us involved in the course have found great benefit in simplifying our lives and we believe you will too.

The course would make a great holiday gift for yourself or someone you love. Some have signed up for the course to fulfill continuing education requirements. And I believe the course would be helpful and productive for a variety of organizations and/or groups (if you are interested in group rates, please contact asimpleyear@gmail.com).

Registration

Early registration is available today until Friday, November 14th. In January, the registration will re-open at $199.

The Latte Factor: 8 Ways We Often Overspend

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Lama Farran, a Certified Money Coach at MaxWorth. After listening to her recent interview on CJAD, I asked her to share some of her experience with us.

Maybe the biggest misconception about building wealth is that it is a function of our income. In reality, it is much more a function of our spending habits.

But most people are simply unaware of how much money they spend—not so much in the large purchases, but in the small things we spend money on every day.

David Bach, a financial author, assigns a memorable phrase to this phenomenon. He describes the small amounts we spend here and there as the Latte Factor®. It comes from the notion that if we added up the cost of our daily lattes and saved it or invested it, we could build up wealth significantly faster.

As a certified money coach, I encourage my clients to build up a “rainy day” fund for events they could not have planned for: a car accident, a water leak, or even a sudden job loss. The most common objection I hear is, “Where will I find the money to save for this emergency fund?”

I always introduce them to the Latte Factor®. I challenge them to track every expenditure for one month. I can almost guarantee that those who complete the challenge will be surprised to discover where their money has been disappearing to.

I have used this tracking experiment with hundreds of people from all different socio-economic backgrounds.

Here are the 8 most common money leaks I have witnessed:

1. Eating out. Americans go out for lunch on average twice a week and eat 18.2 meals per month outside the home—this averages to spending $232 each month eating meals prepared outside the home. At first glance, this may sound high—surely we don’t spend as much as the average.

But we tend to disregard how quickly it adds up: quick lunches at the office cafeteria, business lunches with associates, little snacks from the vending machine, a bag of chips before we hop on the train, pizza takeout on the way home, a weekend date, or a night out with friends. We never make all these purchases in the same day, but over the course of 30 days, they definitely begin to add up.

2. Coffee. There is no question that coffee plays an important role in workplaces across the United States—even the Latte Factor® draws its name from the beverage. But rarely do we realize how much money we actually spend on it. The average American spends almost $15 a week on coffee or $1,100 annually.

This may seem like a significant amount of money to some or not much to others. But either way, it is money that could be directed toward paying down credit card debt, a student loan, or a burdensome car payment.

3. Books and magazines. Reading is important. I encourage people to do more of it. But if you are a prolific (or even regular) reader, you may not realize how much of your money is being spent on books and magazines. Book purchases are often small in nature, but if consistent, they add up. Frequently, readers who complete this tracking exercise are surprised how much of their income is spent there.

We are fortunate to live in a country where almost all communities have their own public libraries. Why not use them as much as possible? Another solution is to find a group of friends or family who regularly exchange and borrow books with one another.

4. Unused utility services. Paying our utility bills blindly often leads to overpaying for services. Are you watching all the cable channels you are currently paying for? When was the last time you used the 3-way calling or the call-forwarding options on your home phone? Taking a few minutes to review your bills and asking yourself if you really need these services could save you money every single month.

Call your service provider and ask what specials they currently have or what they can do to help decrease your bill. You may be pleasantly surprised how much a 10-minute phone call will save you.

5. Extra banking fees. When we don’t take the time to review our monthly bank statements, we often fall into the trap of blindly paying banking fees we could easily avoid—especially if you swipe your debit card more than your plan covers. Overdraft fees are another way your bank account gets hit or withdrawing cash from an ATM that is not associated with your bank.

You can quickly rack up $20 or more of additional fees each month if your banking plan is not the right fit, or if you consistently avoid walking one more block to withdraw money from your own bank’s ATM. Take the time to review your bank statement each month looking for inconsistencies. When you do, make a special note of Bank Charge line items.

6. iTunes. These days, most of us own a smartphone where our credit card is automatically linked to an online store. As might be expected, this arrangement makes it easy for us to press the “Buy it Now” button. One day, it’s a cool ringtone that “you really really want”; the next day, it’s a newly released single from your favorite artist; the day after, it’s a new app that seems so useful or entertaining.

And the cost is not just financial. While smartphone users spend $25 billion on mobile apps, we also spend over 2 hours every day using them.

7. Lottery tickets. When we are struggling financially, buying a lottery ticket becomes our glimpse of hope. For a few moments, when we are checking the numbers, we feel as if our life worries will suddenly vanish and our dream of living a debt-free life will finally come true. Through this small ticket, we see the light at the end of the tunnel.

But the truth is, it is simply an illusion. Hopes of a better life cannot be bought with $2 or $5. It’s something you consciously work towards, every day.

8. Amazon purchases. I spoke recently with a friend who ran his Amazon account history and was shocked to discover he had spent $11,000 over the past 4 years on Amazon. He noted that his history included one large purchase over $1,000 (a new laptop) and a few more items over $500. But the vast majority of his total bill had been spent purchasing items in the $10-$20 range.

These online purchases seemed small and insignificant individually. But over time, these impulse buys added up to a very significant number—the very definition of the Latter Factor®.

Some of the areas above are certainly more relevant to you than others. They merely represent the 8 most common money leaks I have witnessed.

The most effective way to discover our specific Latte Factor® is to track your spending. Try for 1 month, but 3 months is even better. It will then be much easier to pinpoint your weak areas and adjust your spending accordingly.

Paying attention to the small money leaks, while they are still leaks, will prevent them from becoming floods. More importantly, it will allow you to build your safety cushion to fall on when life happens.

***

Lama Farran is a passionate Certified Money Coach, living a debt-free life in Montreal-Canada. She is on a mission to increase people’s financial awareness. She helps families take control of their finances and budgets, without selling any financial products. You can find out more at MaxWorth.

Speak Your Dreams

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ―Eleanor Roosevelt

Recently, I had coffee with a friend. We talked about family and sports and the weather. At one point, he asked what exciting things were happening in my life.

I told him about my dream to build orphanages and become directly involved in orphan care around the world. I had mentioned the idea to a few close family members, but this was the first time I had told him specifically. He became immediately interested.

The topic soon became the focus of our conversation—though not at all like you might expect. In fact, he knew more about the subject than I did.

He asked dozens of questions. I answered most of them by saying, “I’m not sure. We’re still trying to figure that out. For now, it’s just a dream. I don’t know how I am going to get there.”

It’s not always easy to answer, “I don’t know.” But, in that moment, I was content with my response. I don’t have all the answers. For now, it is just a dream. It is definitely an important one for my wife and me; but still, right now, it is just a dream.

All dreams start as thoughts alone in our mind. And too many dreams end there—solitary thoughts that simply fade away.

The quickest and most effective first step to make dreams come true is to share them aloud. (tweet that)

Of course, this can also be one of the most difficult steps.

We often fear:

Ridicule. We fear somebody will call us crazy for dreaming. And the more specific we get, the more this fear grows. This can be particularly difficult to overcome if our lives are (or have been) surrounded by pessimistic, negative family or friends.
Exposure. Rarely do we have all the answers when we first begin. Sometimes, we don’t even know how we are going to get started. That’s okay. But this can be difficult to overcome if we are accustomed to being in control or knowledgeable.
Embarrassment. There are no guarantees that any dream will be fulfilled in the end. And it may seem the best protection plan against embarrassment is to never tell anyone ever about our desires.

But most of these fears are overblown in our mind. In fact, the benefits far outweigh the fears.

Consider how the simple act of telling our dreams to others helps make them reality. It helps us:

Gain resolve. Sharing our dreams helps remind us why we had them in the first place. We speak positively of the accomplishment we hope to achieve or realistically of the problem we seek to solve. This resolve encourages us to press forward.

Find clarity. By articulating our dreams aloud, we find clarity in understanding their uniqueness. Dawson Trotman once said, “Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through the lips and the fingertips.” Speaking your dreams brings greater clarity in your mind and the minds of those around you.

Articulate. Effective storytelling takes practice. Every time we share a story with others we get better at telling it. We learn what points resonate with others, what word pictures stir emotion, and which punchlines result in laughter. On some level, every dream worth accomplishing requires the support of others. Learning to articulate your story better is an essential part of its fulfillment.

Uncover help. People are generous, intelligent, connected. And almost all of them are cheering for you. Your friends and family want you to accomplish your dreams and are willing to help you get there. But they can’t help if they don’t know what you are trying to accomplish.

Recruit accountability. It is one thing to go on a diet and hope to lose 15 pounds. It is something completely different to go on a diet and tell your friends that you are hoping to lose 15 pounds. Suddenly, there is more incentive to follow through with your decision. The simple act of sharing with your friends has granted them permission to follow-up with conversations and provide accountability. This is scary, but this is important.

Inspire others. Your dreams (and subsequent action) have the power to invite others to chase their own dreams with greater urgency. To live and dream is to offer hope. Sometimes the only thing somebody else needs to get started chasing their own dreams is to see someone they love chasing theirs.

We are good people. We desire to live lives of lasting significance.

At the very least, we are a community in agreement that our lives are too valuable to waste chasing material possessions.

You are dreaming big dreams. Be bold this week. Take the next step and share them with someone you love.

Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision. It is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us.

The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration.

For that reason, I hope you will make an effort this weekend to find a quiet moment with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy some of these hand-picked articles to encourage more simplicity in your life.

Could you go a year without buying anything new? | Daily Life by Josefa Pete. Here’s how one woman is meeting that challenge.

Minimalism: I threw out more than 20,000 items | Daily Life by Brooke McAlary. Now we have enough. We have enough clothes, enough toys, enough space, enough light, enough throw cushions (which is to say, none at all).

Letting go of things. And history. | Medium by Louis Rosenfeld. What personal rubbish lurks under the stairs of your basement? Or in your mind? Let it go. And make your life awesome.

How I made $2,145 last month by decluttering | ChristianPF by Bob Lotich. A few months ago I began a journey towards minimalism.

The Most Important Lessons are the Lessons We Learn About Ourselves

Personal Journal Entry: Friday, October 10.

I flew home yesterday afternoon after being gone for eight days. I landed seven hours earlier than planned, but twenty-four hours late.

Last weekend, I attended, presented, and enjoyed the first-ever SimpleREV conference in Minneapolis, MN. I was excited to meet Patrick Rhone. I was challenged by Brooks Duncan, impressed by David Delp, and an instant fan of Chris and Sarah Wehkamp.

All credit to Joel Zaslofsky and Daniel Hayes for dreaming, organizing, and putting on the event. I hope there are more.

Following the conference, I attended a friend’s wedding in Duluth, MN. I love weddings and it was great to see some old friends.

On Sunday afternoon, I drove by myself to a friend’s cabin in the woods. I am working on a new book. And four days of distraction-free writing seemed like the perfect environment to get started on it.

But three days into my stay, I called my wife and told her I wanted to come home. The next morning, I called the airline to arrange an earlier flight. I landed seven hours earlier than planned, but twenty-four hours late.

I learned a lot about myself this week:

I love being alone. But I most enjoy being with people I love. The week was an experiment in extremes: the energy of SimpleREV, the significance of a wedding, followed immediately by the solitude of a cabin in the woods. I loved being alone… for about two days. After that, I couldn’t wait to get back home. The solitude was good. But getting home was even better.

I write best in limited quantities. While at the cabin I received a text from a friend that said, “I used to write at a cabin in Tahoe. I’d write for six hours, go for a run, and then write some more.” It became quickly apparent this would not be my experience. I write best in short spurts of 60-90 minutes followed by anything else. I need the distraction. This proves to be the best formula for me at home and alone in the wilderness.

I rely heavily on the Internet for progress. My cabin did not have Internet access. I was okay with that going in. In fact, the owner’s graciously offered to get it for me, but I declined. I wanted the environment to be distraction-free. That was probably a mistake. While it was marginally helpful to have the temptation eliminated, so many of my thoughts have been articulated online, I found myself often wanting to go find them. My inability to access information quickly became the distraction.

I am motivated by deadlines and the presence of others. On Tuesday afternoon, I drove to a local coffee shop. I needed the Internet to send out a newsletter and I wanted a change in environment. My two hours at the Chattering Squirrel Cafe turned out to be two of my most productive. Certainly this was, in part, due to a looming deadline. But additionally, I found myself uniquely pushed by the simple presence of others. I found motivation in their motivation.

My life is more than minimalism. I am passionate about what I write. I believe the message of owning less has power to change and improve the lives of all who hear it. The book is a long way from being complete and I am excited about the possibilities already. But I was reminded this week that I am more than minimalism. It guides my life but does not define it.

Experiments help us grow. In his book, Enough, Patrick Rhone writes about the value of experimentation and listening to our internal compass: Enough is a very personal metric. Like our center of gravity, each of us must find what is enough by swaying from less to more until a comfortable medium is found. I learned a lot about myself this past week. I learned things that never would have been discovered without the days alone.

I was richly blessed over the past eight days meeting new friends, reconnecting with old ones, and finding space to begin the writing process—even if I accomplished less than I had hoped.

But that’s okay with me. The most important lessons we learn are the lessons we learn about ourselves.