Joshua Becker's Blog, page 135

Becoming Minimalist Top Posts of 2012

“Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey.” – Barbara Hoffman

A special thanks to each of you for making 2012 another incredible year at Becoming Minimalist. This website continues to grow well beyond my craziest expectations year after year.

In 2012…

Monthly visitors to Becoming Minimalist grew from 95,000/month to over 150,000/month.
Facebook fans grew from 4,000 to 18,000.
Twitter followers increased from 4,400 to 8,600.
For the second time, Simplify became the #1 Self-Help book on Amazon.
Becoming Minimalist on Tumblr and Pinterest continue to grow as well.

It has indeed been an incredibly exciting year. The metrics listed above prove the point. It is very encouraging to see the life-giving message of minimalism and simplicity continue to gain momentum and reach new people every single day. May its influence continue to grow.

As determined by the readers, here are the Most Popular Posts from 2012.

Don’t Just Declutter, De-Own. Removing possessions begins to turn back our desire for more as we find freedom, happiness, and abundance in owning less. And removing ourselves from the all-consuming desire to own more creates opportunity for significant life change to take place.

7 Common Problems Solved by Owning Less. The intentional choice to live with fewer possessions has brought with it a great number of benefits. It has been the answer to much of the discontent we felt in our lives when we owned more.

The Simple Guide to a Clutter-Free Home. It is completely and entirely possible to live in a clutter-free home. With this simple guide, you’ll be well on your way.

The Man Who Quit Money: An Interview with Daniel Suelo. When I first heard the story of Daniel Suelo, I was immediately intrigued. After all, Daniel lives entirely without money and has done so for the past 12 years.

10 Creative Ways to Declutter Your Home. The decluttering journey doesn’t need to be as painful as some make it out to be. In fact, there are a variety of people who have come up with some pretty fun, creative ways to get started.

Here are some of the most Significant Celebrations during 2012.

In August, we launched our first book with a traditional publisher. Living with Less: An Unexpected Key to Happiness soon ranked among the Top 20 Christian-Living books on Amazon. We are thankful for Group Publishing’s support allowing us to share our message with a whole new audience (Christian young adults and teenagers).

The Becoming Minimalist Newsletter was launched in July. The newsletter contains links to popular, shareable posts from around the Internet. Readers are encouraged to share these stories and posts via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and heartfelt conversations over a cup of coffee. The goal? Take minimalism to the masses. And with over 3,000 subscribers, we are well on our way.

Public Speaking. I am grateful for the numerous opportunities I have had to bring minimalism to local communities through various speaking opportunities. You can find more information about bringing me to speak at your local event on our Speaking Page. We continue to offer this service for only the cost of travel.

Charity: Water. This past month, I donated my birthday to Charity:Water. In less than two weeks, the Becoming Minimalist community has raised over $4,000 to fund clean water projects in Ethopia. There are only a few days left on the campaign and I’d love your support to help us reach our goal.

Here are my personal favorite posts from the past year:

We’re All Trading Our Lives for Something. Trade Up. Our lives are, by definition, made up of finite resources. And every passing day presents an opportunity to trade our lives for something else.

Why Helping Others Succeed Can Be Your Greatest Success. Our lives are going to find lasting significance in how we choose to live them… and how we enable others to live theirs.

35 Things I Hope My Kids Will Say About Their Dad. Here are the 35 things I hope my kids will say about me. They represent the most important lessons I hope they will learn from my life.

Becoming Minimalist hosts a number of guest posts. Here are the Most Popular:

The Story of Enough: Giving Up (new) Clothes for One Year. Minimalism isn’t about winning. It’s about finding out what matters to you, and getting rid of the peripheral.

How to Negotiate Downsizing. No matter how small your accomplishments are, start celebrating them. Take a deep breath and admire the simplicity of your clutter free home.

Whether you have been reading Becoming Minimalist for one week, one month, one year or longer, thank you so much. This blog owes its success to the support of its readers. Thank you for reading. And thank you for sharing these posts with others.

As this blog goes forward into 2013, it will continue to evolve and be redefined. But, it will always stay true to its core message that there is more joy to be found in owning less than can be found in pursuing more. And we will continue to invite as many as possible to discover this truth in their own life as well.

12 Steps to Avoid Disappointment this Christmas

“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things – not the great occasions – give off the greatest glow of happiness.” - Bob Hope

Christmas can be a most wonderful time of year. The holiday season is often marked with family, tradition, and giving. And no matter our age, it stirs up fond memories and creates new ones. The holidays can indeed bring out the best in all of us.

But despite all the hope and preparation, often times, Christmas expectations go unmet. Meals don’t turn out right. Kids get crabby. Family members bicker. Gifts are not received as fondly as we expected. And before we know it, shades of disappointment begin to creep in as we realize Christmas will not measure up to the pictures we had in our mind.

As we enter this final weekend before the holiday, is it possible to avoid this disappointment during the Christmas season? Of course it is. But it often takes some intentional steps on our part. Consider these:

12 Steps to Avoid Disappointment this Christmas.
1. Identify your main thing.

From food and decoration to presents and parties, the Christmas season is full of opportunity. But there is a very fine line between opportunity and distraction. Determine the main thing you want Christmas to represent. It may be based on religion, family, or rest. Whatever you decide, keep your main thing in sharp focus first.

2. Slow down.

Peace is rarely found in adding commitments and errands. So cut a few—on purpose.

3. Realize perfection is not possible.

Travel gets disrupted. Houses get messy. Kids want more presents. Family members bicker. This is life. And unless you are part of a magazine photo shoot, perfection is simply not possible. Stop expecting it.

4. Don’t push your expectations on to others.

We all have different expectations of how Christmas should be. Often times, these expectations are based on childhood memories. But we all have different childhood memories… so don’t assume everyone expects Christmas to look the same as you do. I’m all for developing traditions. But I’m against thinking everyone expects my traditions to become theirs.

5. Make room for rest.

Take a nap, retire to bed early one evening, or find a morning to sleep in later than normal. Running ragged to make everything perfect rarely results in perfection. Instead, it results in snippy attitudes, short tempers, and runny noses.

6. Offer forgiveness quickly.

People make mistakes. Be quick to offer forgiveness and mend broken relationships—whether the offense occurs today or happened many years ago. Take the step. Because holding on to ill-feelings towards another is one of the greatest sources of disappointment in life (and the holidays).

7. Remember memories are made in the mistakes.

Some of my fondest Christmas memories center on the mishaps that have occurred over the years: getting left at a department store with my cousin, discovering a Christmas gift early, my grandmother wrapping the gifts but forgetting to mark who they were for. These mishaps make me smile even today… we should also learn to smile when they are unfolding right in front of us.

8. Realize the meaning is in the giving, not the gift.

You won’t get everything you want this Christmas and conversely, you will get some things you don’t want. Put less emphasis on the gift in the wrapping. And put more emphasis on the fact that somebody thought you were special this holiday season. The gift is not the gift. The true gift is the giving… and the giver.

9. Admit you can’t change others.

We can set bold examples. We can look for teachable moments. We can offer advice when appropriate. But we can’t make decisions for others. They are going to choose options for their life we wish they wouldn’t. In those moments, remind yourself that you weren’t called to live their life, you were called to live your own.

10.Know when to stop.

From over-eating to over-drinking, knowing when to stop quickly becomes a lost art during the holiday season. But too much of a good thing quickly turns into a bad thing with lasting consequences. In almost every regard, for maximum enjoyment, embrace moderation.

11. Stay within your budget.

Avoid holiday disappointment by celebrating it within your means. This pertains to the number and extravagance of gifts. But should also extend to travel, celebration, and entertainment.

12. Embrace spirituality.

Regardless of your religious (or non-religious) preference, there is much more to this world than the things we see. Embrace spirituality this holiday season by championing love, hope, forgiveness, and grace. Rather than losing yourself in the hustle and bustle, find intentionality in remembering the heart of Christmas and celebrating the soul of everything good.

And from my heart to yours, may your holidays this season be truly happy.
—

The Simple Guide to a Clutter-Free Kitchen Counter

“The kitchen is the castle. This is where we spend our happiest moments and find the joy of being family.” – Mario Batali

There is something entirely refreshing and life-giving about a clean, uncluttered kitchen counter. In fact, it is one of my favorite benefits of a minimalist lifestyle. It sets tone and culture for the home. It communicates calm and order. It promotes opportunity and possibility (who enjoys cooking in a cluttered kitchen?). It saves time and promotes cleanliness.

Yet it is one of the most difficult places in the home to keep uncluttered. There are, of course, several reasons for this challenge:

The kitchen is hard-wired as a natural gathering place for the family.
The kitchen is physically located in a high traffic area of the home.
The purpose of the room requires messes to be made during its use.
The kitchen is often used as a collection area for various odds and ends (mail, etc.).

While it is one of the most difficult places in the home to keep clutter-free, it is often one of the most desirable. It is also completely achievable. We have made it an important feature of our house and you can accomplish it in yours as well.

The Simple Guide to a Clutter-Free Kitchen Counter:
1. Remove the unnecessary.

One of the biggest causes of clutter in our homes is our tendency to put too much stuff in too little of a space. When we do, it becomes difficult to store things, find things, and access them. As a result, we dread putting things away and it becomes convenient to leave things on the counter.

Typically, the kitchen is full of this clutter. We have cupboards and shelves and drawers full of cooking utensils, gadgets, things we thought we needed, and items we purchased for a one-time use.

If keeping your kitchen counters uncluttered is a problem in your home, this is the most important step you can take. Remove completely any item you no longer use. And store items used less than 3 times/year elsewhere.

2. Relocate any thing that does not belong.

Kitchens are notorious for becoming collection areas for all various odds and ends. Unintentionally, they become the storing place for many of them: mail, kids’ homework, purses, keys, almost everything in your junk drawer.

Identify a new proper home for each. Then, change the culture in your home that allows them to stay there. Think of your kitchen as a Department Store Customer Service Area – items may enter there, but rarely stay. You can also extend this thinking to items you already store in your kitchen: televisions, radios, telephone books, etc.

3. Give every item a proper home.

One of the most essential steps in organization and keeping a home clutter-free is to find a proper home for every item. Designate drawers for silverware and cookware; cupboards for plates, containers, and small appliances; and closets/shelves for food and larger, less-used appliances. After taking steps #1 and #2, you’ll find this easier than you think.

4. Store daily use appliances out of sight.

If your counters are routinely cluttered, there is a good chance you are storing many daily-use items there (toasters, coffee makers, teapots, can openers, spice racks, etc.).They are often stored on countertops for convenience sake.

But in reality, these items spend far more time as clutter than they do as needed instruments for food preparation. For example, if you make toast every morning for breakfast, it’ll take roughly 3 minutes to toast your bread. After that, the toaster will sit unused for the next 23 hours and 57 minutes. You use it far less than you think you do.

Rather than allowing these appliances to take up counter space and cause distraction, find a home in an easily-accessed area. In our current home, we store the toaster, coffee-maker, and tea pot in a cupboard right next to the outlet. In our previous home, they were stored in an appliance garage.

5. Change your “counter is convenient” mentality.

The fallacy of convenience is a big reason our kitchen counters stay cluttered. We tend to keep things in plain sight because we believe it makes our kitchen more convenient. As a result, our counters fill up with baking ingredients, knife racks, cutting boards, and coffee mugs.

And while it may be more convenient to readily grab those items when needed, we rarely notice the other conveniences we are sacrificing by storing them there. We move them every time we wipe the counters. We sacrifice precious prep space when we cook. And they subtly fight for our attention whenever we enter the room.

6. Finish unfinished jobs completely.

When a counter is clear and tidy, it becomes motivation to put things away. But a cluttered counter attracts clutter… and unfinished jobs are clutter.

Granted, some projects take more time than others, but many kitchen jobs (washing the dishes, wiping the counters, returning used items, etc.) can be completed right away before ever leaving the kitchen in the first place. For best results, if a job can be finished in less than 2 minutes, do it. Finishing tasks will do wonders for your attitude the next time you walk in.

7. Reset each evening.

If you are lucky, your kitchen gets used every day. And any room that gets used daily will need to be reset daily. That’s why it has been on my evening checklist for a number of years.

We live our lives and often get too used to them. As a result, we get used to our cluttered kitchen counters and don’t realize how freeing it can be to keep them clear. We may be reminded when we walk into a friend’s house or see a photo of a simple kitchen, but we’ve become so accustomed to the current state of ours we forget we can change.

You don’t need to live with a cluttered kitchen countertop. The solution is indeed simpler than you think.

Image: Yasu’s Photo

10 Reasons Minimalism May Be Right For You

“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” – Wayne W. Dyer

Minimalism as a lifestyle is a movement that seeks to pare down possessions to only the essential. Because life can be lived richer and fuller when unnecessary possessions have been removed, it is a growing trend that includes more than just young, single, 20-somethings. Many families are embracing the lifestyle as well.

And more and more are being introduced to the lifestyle every day. Perhaps, even, this is your first introduction.

Some people get nervous when they hear the term “minimalist.” For them, it conjures up images of destitution, barren walls, and empty cupboards. Rightly so, they decide that is no way to enjoy life. Believe me, I agree – that is no way to enjoy life. And since deciding to become minimalist years ago, we have been on a journey to define what it means for us and how it fits into our unique lifestyle.

We live in the suburbs of Arizona. We have two small children. We are active in our community. We love to entertain and show hospitality. While not exceptional, our life is not identical to anybody else. It is our life – nobody else’s. Minimalism, for us, would have to be unique. It would require us to determine the most important pursuits in our life and remove everything that was distracting us from it. And in so doing, we would find a new way to live life that adds richness and fullness around life’s most essential elements.

To determine if minimalism may indeed be the right lifestyle for you consider some of these questions:

1. Do you spend too much time cleaning?

If you enjoy clean, tidy rooms but don’t like to clean, minimalism just may be your answer. After all, the easiest way to reduce your cleaning time is to simply own less things. It works every time.

2. Are you trying to get out of debt?

Debt holds our life in bondage and weighs heavily on our shoulders. Getting a handle on it by buying less things is one of the most life-giving actions you can take.

3. Is there too much stress in your life?

Physical clutter results in extra stress on our lives. Minimalism removes the clutter and limits the distraction that it causes. Minimalism may be just the breath of fresh air that your home needs to help you relax and unwind.

4. Would you like more time in your day?

Consider for just a moment the amount of time that our belongings drain from our life. Whether we are cleaning, organizing, maintaining, repairing, removing, or shopping, our possessions demand a large percentage of our time. Owning fewer of them results in less time spent maintaining them.

5. Are you environmentally conscious?

Minimalism reduces our impact on the environment by requiring less resources on the front end for production and reducing the amount of waste on the back end.

6. Are you frugal?

While becoming minimalist doesn’t mean that you have to spend less money, it certainly provides the opportunity. And because you are buying less things, you also have the option to make higher-quality purchases that last longer.

7. Do you enjoy financially supporting other causes?

Minimalism provides an opportunity to not just save money for the sake of keeping it, but for using it to further causes that we believe in. After all, once you become content with your belongings and have been rescued from the race of accumulating possessions, you have no need to hoard money. You find new freedom to support the causes that you hold most dear. Currently, the Becoming Minimalist community is raising $10,000 for Charity:Water.

8. Are there things you value more than material possessions?

Minimalism seeks to intentionally promote the things in life that we most value and remove anything that distracts us from it. It allows our life to center around our deepest heart desires rather than the items on sale at the department store.

9. Are you not afraid of change?

Minimalism is a counter-cultural lifestyle that will force changes in the way you spend your time, energy, and money. Of course, almost every change is for the better… so it’s definitely worth the effort.

10. Is your life too valuable to live like everyone else?

Our heart, soul, and passions makes us valuable and unique. Don’t sacrifice your important role in this world by settling for the same temporal possessions that everyone else in your neighborhood is chasing. Your life is far too important… and short.

Your particular practice of minimalism is going to look different from anyone else. It must! After all, you live a different life than anyone else. So find a style of minimalism that works for you. One that is not cumbersome, but freeing based on your values, desires, passions, and rational thinking.

Ultimately, you will begin to remove the unneeded things from your life. As a result, you will find space to intentionally promote the things you most value and remove anything that distracts you from it.

Image: hozinja

3 Reasons I’m Donating My Birthday to Charity: Water. And 1 Way You Can Help.

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” - Charles Dickens

Good morning from Peoria, AZ. I am currently writing this post on a beautiful Saturday morning from my kitchen table. Sitting next to me is a nice warm cup of coffee with Amaretto creamer—it’s always been my favorite. While I write, my kids are still snuggled in their beds and my wife is in the bathroom getting ready for the day. We don’t have much planned. I will probably play some tennis this afternoon and we might go out for dinner this evening. We haven’t really decided yet. But no matter what we decide, I’m reminded that I am a fortunate man. All my needs are met.

Next Tuesday is my birthday. I’ll turn 38. I’ve been asked a number of times over the recent week what I would like for my birthday. I’ve told them all the same thing, “I don’t need anything for my birthday. I’m donating it to Charity:Water.”

Charity:Water is one of the leading non-profit organizations in the world bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Currently 800 million people (1 out of every 9) drink water that is likely to make them sick. And diseases from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Safe, clean drinking water provides a community with health, sanitation, vegetation… opportunity. The need is great:

Charity:Water currently uses 100% of all public donations to directly fund water projects, and they prove every dollar using photos and GPS coordinates on a map. It is a pleasure to be donating my birthday to their efforts. They have worked hard to redefine charity. And they are very good at what they do.

3 Reasons I am Donating my Birthday to Charity:Water.

1. There is nothing that I need. Since becoming minimalist four years ago, my definition of need has changed dramatically. In fact, I rarely use the word… and cringe just a little bit when I hear others say it. Looking around my home this morning, I am reminded again that any use of that word in relation to my life is complete foolishness. With food in my kitchen, clean water in my cup, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and a family who supports me, I am not in need. My wife claims I need some new black sandals because mine are starting to stink… but if that’s on the top of the list, I’m well-provided for. There is truly nothing that I need for my birthday.

2. There are 800 million people in my world who won’t drink clean water today. Among the most basic needs of life, water tops the list (alongside air and nourishment). Yet, 1 out of every 9 people in our world don’t have it. And we cannot stand by and pretend the problem doesn’t exist. This is our world and our opportunity to change it. We only get one life to make a difference. We either leave this world better, unchanged, or worse off than when we arrived. And in a world where delivering clean water can eliminate more deaths than violence, asking for anything else seems unreasonable.

3. I hope to encourage you to do the same. This post will be read almost 20,000 times in the next 7 days. As a result, we’ll raise some money and deliver clean water where it’s needed most. But hopefully, this post will outlive my birthday… and some of you who also realize you already have everything you need will also donate your birthday to Charity:Water… and will inspire some of your friends to do the same… who will encourage some of theirs. As a result, this post will far outlive my birthday. And together, we can make our world a better place to live for everyone.

1 Way You Can Help.

1. For my birthday, you can donate to my personal Charity:Water page. You can donate $19.00, $38.00, $380.00, or any dollar amount you choose. I have selected $10,000 as a fundraising goal because it is enough to fully fund an entire water project for a village in Ethiopia. Once completed, we would receive photos and exact GPS coordinates of our completed project (how cool would that be?). The goal is high (maybe too high), but the need is great. The opportunity to make a difference is very real and the Becoming Minimalist community is among the most generous on the web today. Donate small or donate big. Just please don’t leave this post unchanged.

Additionally, you can support this goal by sharing this post on social media. You can also choose to donate your own birthday to Charity:Water. But the greatest gift you can give today is the needed funds to provide clean water to somebody who needs it. And as I turn 38 next week, somebody you will never meet thanks you for it.

Keeping Your Main Thing the Main Thing During the Holidays

“Focus is often a matter of deciding what things you’re not going to do.” – John Carmack

Growing up, my Christmas Eves were simple—and wonderful.

Because my grandfather was a pastor (and still is), every Christmas Eve, we would pile into our family car, drive through the South Dakota snow, and attend Candles and Carols at the church on Melgaard Road. Following the service, all the relatives would cram into my grandparent’s small house. We would eat. We would each open 1-2 presents. And make some of the most beautiful memories of my childhood.

Our Christmas was simple and wonderful. I wouldn’t change anything about it. In fact, I think it was wonderful because it was simple. It kept our main thing the main focus of the holiday.

Church came first. Always. Everything else came afterwards… and only as there was room for it. The less important was secondary and never allowed to press out the most important reason of our season.

There is a growing debate over how to fix Christmas. I’m not sure society is at a tipping point quite yet (retail numbers would seem to indicate otherwise). But as holiday displays show up in stores earlier and earlier, as more and more Black Friday sales begin on Thursday, and as consumers sink deeper and deeper into debt, the world is beginning to recognize that our holiday season is broken, expectations have become too high, the perfect Christmas is beginning to appear unattainable, and the less important is beginning to crowd out the most important.

But the perfect holiday season is not as difficult to find as most think. The perfect holiday season is found in simplicity, keeping your main thing the main thing, and not allowing anything less important to take its place.

Holiday gifts are fine… just don’t let them distract from the most important.
Seasonal decorations are fine… just don’t let them distract from the most important.
Christmas cookies are fine… just don’t let them distract from the most important.
Large, delicious meals are fine… just don’t let distract from the most important.
A busier schedule is manageable… just don’t let it distract from the most important.

Surely, each of us will define our holiday most important differently. Many will seek spiritual renewal. Some will celebrate family. Some will refocus on giving to others. Some will seek rest. Some will set aside this year to remember the passing of a loved one. Others will consider the opportunity to evaluate the passing year and refocus on the next. Many will choose a combination of the above.

But your most important step is to define your main thing this holiday season. When you do, you’ll surely have space to include some of the holiday trimmings. But once you feel the less important beginning to push out the most important, it’s time to refocus, cut-back, and simplify.

This may mean fewer gifts, fewer lights, fewer decorations, fewer cookies, fewer side dishes, and fewer commitments. But that’s okay. Your Christmas can still be simple—and wonderful. I know mine was.

***

As I mentioned, spirituality has always been important to me. As a result, I’ve begun posting some of my spiritual writings on The Unitive. If you are interested in reading more, you can find me there. But Becoming Minimalist will keep its current focus on inspiring all people to find more life by owning less.

10 Minutes to a Clutter-Free Morning

“The first hour is the rudder of the day.” - Henry Ward Beecher

Let’s face it. Mornings can be tough. In many homes, they are famous for containing too much to do and too little time.

But mornings set the mood for the rest of our day. They have the potential to energize us or drain us. They have the opportunity to lift our spirits or drag us down. They can start us on the right foot or the wrong foot.

Given the fact that mornings are so important, it’s wise to spend a few minutes each night preparing your house for tomorrow’s sunrise. After all, a clutter-free house in the morning means less stress, less anxiety, and less time getting prepared for the day. And that benefits everyone in the home!

Contrary to popular misconception, you don’t need to spend hours each night cleaning the house to accomplish a clutter-free morning. Instead, simply stay ahead of the clutter by tackling these ten 60-second decluttering projects before you go to bed each night.

1. Return shoes/coats to closets. In the winter, add gloves, hats, and scarves to the routine.

2. Recycle junk mail and newspapers. A new day brings new mail and new news. Keep your table or counter space clutter-free in the morning by removing today’s.

3. Put away articles of clothing. Some go in the laundry. Some go back in the closet. But none should be left on the floor.

4. Store media out of sight. Put back all dvd’s, cd’s, video games, and remote controls that were used during the day. The first time you walk into that room tomorrow, you’ll be glad you did.

5. Process coins and receipts. I’m sure it was your husband who left the contents of his pockets on your dresser, but either way, it’ll take you only 60 seconds to put those items where they actually belong.

6. Clear all bathroom surfaces. The first place you’ll go in the morning is the bathroom. It’s also a surprisingly easy room to keep clutter free. Invest the 60 seconds every night to make it happen.

7. Clean-up homework. Get your kids into the habit of putting away their schoolwork each night before bed rather than scrambling around each morning to find it.

8. Put kitchen items away. Granted, I’m assuming you’ve done some cleaning up already after dinner. And if you have, it’ll only take you another 60 seconds to tidy up anything that got left out.

9. Put back toys. Realistically, life doesn’t allow a clean toy room every evening. But if you have a toy room apart from your living room, spend 60 seconds returning toys to the room where they belong. Or better yet, get your kids into the practice of doing it themselves.

10. File paperwork. Stay on top of paper and office clutter by handling it the day it arrives.

If you are not in the habit of doing these things, it’ll definitely take longer than 10 minutes the first time. But once you get a handle on each area, the entire project will take you less than 10 minutes… and your morning you will thank you!

Image: BeatPlusMelody

Experiencing Happiness in Helping Others

“Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters. This is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Many people view life as a pyramid with those on the bottom serving those above them. They envy the people at the top believing joy and happiness is obtained by being served. And thus, they strive. They passionately seek the top of the world’s imaginary pyramid. They reach desperately for the money, fame, or power that would seat them higher in the world’s affections. Unfortunately, they often don‘t realize their pursuits are misplaced until they have already sacrificed countless good gifts and simple joys along the way.

Life is actually more fulfilling down below.

Choosing intentionally to help others flips life upside-down. In helping others rather then seeking our own gain, we find great freedom. Service to others results in liberty. We are able to say no to modern culture‘s games of promotion and authority. We live lives of less stress, less anxiety, and less frustration. We begin to feel more fulfilled, more complete, more alive. Living for others completely abolishes our need for a pecking order. It becomes a great weight off our shoulders when we no longer seek power and mastery over others. Real joy is found not in being served, but in choosing to serve.

And experiencing this unexpected happiness and freedom is not as hard as some might think:

1. Open your eyes to the needs around you. People who need your help exist all around you—in your home, your neighborhood, and your work place. The first, most important step is to simply notice them.

2. Do something to move them forward. Even if you don‘t have all the answers or facts, jump in and help as best you know how. Refuse to use the excuse, “But I don‘t know what to do” or “I can help tomorrow.” Assess their need, offer some help, and follow through right away.

3. Joyfully pay the price. Service to others always costs something—sometimes money, sometimes time, sometimes reputation, and almost always energy. See the price. Pay it anyway. And enjoy the return on investment.

4. Do not expect something in return. Remove the what’s-in-it-for-me question that motivates so many people today. Help with no expectation of repayment. And you will be repaid with joy and fulfillment in countless other ways.

Those who constantly strive for the top have misplaced their pursuits. But we don’t have to. We can rush today to experience the lasting happiness of helping others.

Image: Nicholas T

The Helpful Guide to Simple Christmas Links

“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things – not the great occasions – give off the greatest glow of happiness.” – Bob Hope

I am often asked for thoughts and advice on celebrating Christmas. And when I am, there are a number of helpful resources I send out in reply.

Personally, I have written my Christmas thoughts elsewhere: I respect gift-giving as a love language and do not rob my family members of that simple joy. But I prefer quality over quantity, needs over wants, experiences over products, and provide gift wish-lists whenever possible. For the kids, we reevaluate toy boxes and closet space a few months after the holidays to determine if there are items (new or old) to remove. The philosophy is simple, straight-forward, and easy to manage.

But I am not the first to write about enjoying a simpler Christmas. In fact, as I mentioned earlier, there are countless posts/articles/guides on experiencing a simple, stress-free Christmas. And in an effort to create a valuable resource for myself and others, here is a comprehensive list of the best links in one handy, thorough, shareable guide.

The Helpful Link Guide to a Simpler Christmas
Rethinking Christmas.

The Case Against Buying Christmas Presents | Zen Habits - I love Christmas, but the shopping has got to go. Here’s why.

1 Simple Strategy to Save $2,000 this Holiday and Make Everyone Love You Forever | Far Beyond the Stars - You’ve been bombarded by advertising since the day you were born telling you that the only way Christmas would be a success was if you spent somewhere around $1,000 on gifts for people.

35 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget | Becoming Minimalist - I have countless holiday memories. Most of them center around faith, family, and traditions. But very few childhood memories actually include the gifts I received.

Gift-Giving Guides.

The Ultimate Clutter-Free Gift Guide | Slow Your Home - The ultimate list of awesome clutter-free gifts that will impress your family and friends.

One Less Gift – A Holiday Gift Exemption Certificate | Miss Minimalist - Tired of holiday consumerism? Give a “One Less Gift” Certificate to someone special.

A Non-Consumer Christmas: Simple Gifts for Kids and Grown-Ups | Get Rich Slowly - Not sure what to buy for your loved ones this year? Consider buying nothing at all.

5 Powerful Ways to Share an Experience This Holiday Season | Simple Marriage - Instead of going through the motions and cruising into the New Year with nothing but a few new possession, why not focus on sharing experiences with your spouse?

Simple, Practical Guides.

The Top of Your Holiday To-Do List: Breathe. | Simple Mom - Your holiday preparation assignment today? Breathe. Relax your shoulders. And do the following.

Three Steps to a Simplified Holiday | Be More With Less - For far too long, Western culture has convinced us that the best types of holiday celebrations involve more – more decorations, more presents, more time commitments, more stuff.

Beyond the Tension: Having Christmas with Joy | Small Notebook - After sampling both sides, I choose to do those things that reflect joy in my activities and attitude.

Holiday Printable Guides.

Christmas Budget Worksheet | Life Your Way

Christmas Gift List | Life Your Way

More Christmas Printables | Life Your Way

Emotional Needs.

How to Survive (and Thrive) During the Holidays When You Feel Alone | Zen Habits - There may be some of you who are going through these holidays without family, without anyone perhaps, and I know that can be extremely rough. This post is for you.

This Christmas, Give Peace | Becoming Minimalist - Family relationships can cause conflict, turmoil, and stress at any time, but the tensions are often heightened during the holidays – that is what makes the Christmas season so difficult for many.

Finding Happiness in the Midst of Grief | Zen Habits - Pay attention to the people in your life because relationships are the only true wealth.

Gratitude. It Matters.

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” - Thornton Wilder

Today, in America, we celebrate Thanksgiving. It is an annual holiday set aside after the harvest season to celebrate life, nourishment, and the blessings we possess. It is a day where gratitude is to be intentionally expressed. And I’ve always liked the holiday. But I’ve come to appreciate it even more recently.

Over the past several years of learning to live a new life focused on the things most important to me, I’m surprised how often I have relied upon the action (and attitude) of gratitude to serve me in this journey. It is a theme that continues to resurface over and over again in my mind and in my writings. And as a result, I have begun to recognize the truly life-changing effects of gratitude.

Consider how gratitude…

breeds contentment.
helps us overcome selfishness.
brings attentiveness and intentionality.
develops generosity.
helps us focus our resources.
contributes to making the most of every day.
redeems us from the empty cycle of comparison.
impacts how we spend money.
changes how we are remembered.
shifts the focus of attention from ourselves to others.
attracts generous people and faithful friends.
results in better physical health and mental awareness.
heightens enjoyment of the good seasons of life.
and provides strength to make it through the difficult seasons.
chooses joy.
opens the door for both simplicity and minimalism.

With an attitude so powerful for life-change and life-improvement, may this day—and the 364 others—be intentionally filled with thanksgiving. Because I have been learning more and more each day that gratitude matters.

Image: mRio