Joshua Becker's Blog, page 56

The Person You Want to Be Won’t Happen By Accident

There are times, in our lives, when everything seems to fall into place, almost magically. An unexpected romance approaches us at a party, a phone call from an old acquaintance results in an exciting job offer, we stumble into a new hobby we uniquely excel in, or the lottery ticket we picked up at the convenience store hits every number.

But for the most part, that is not how life works. Instead, the good things in life we achieve and become are the result of intentional effort pursuing those things.

The person we want to be doesn’t just happen by accident—it doesn’t unexpectedly approach us at a party.

Even in the examples above, as has often been repeated, “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” So maybe those rare moments in life when everything seems to fall into place were actually the result of innumerable intentional actions taken in the past.

The second law of thermodynamics states that “as one goes forward in time, the degree of disorder of any system will always increase (or at least stay the same).” In other words, without constant attention and reordering, our lives will trend towards chaos, rather than order.

That is why it is so important that each of us live intentional lives—focused, discerning, disciplined—each and every day.

The person we want to be won’t happen by accident. We need to take steps toward it.

If you want to be healthy and eat well, that doesn’t just happen by accident. It requires discipline in our diet and physical fitness.If you want a successful marriage, it requires work and effort and patience and faithfulness.If you want to be an intentional parent, that requires constant attention and selflessness.If you want to get out of debt, that requires a budget and sacrifice and moderation.If you want to live a minimalist life focused on the things that matter most, that doesn’t just happen by accident. It requires focus and the ability to live different than society around us.

Who do you want to be ten years from now? However you choose to answer that question, you will only arrive there if you take action to make it a reality.

Now, what specific steps must be taken in order to achieve that? That can be tough to answer, certainly.

But we do know one thing: It won’t happen by accident. It will require action.

And there are different approaches to achieve that:

—James Clear will encourage you to get 1% better each day.

—Kendra Adachi would advise you to repeat ridiculously small steps.

—Gretchen Rubin thinks looking back at your past will help you formulate a plan for the future.

—Leo Babauta encourages you to find a trigger event each day to help form a habit.

—Emily Freeman says just do the next right thing.

As for me? I’d encourage you to pick three healthy habits and accomplish them each day and remind you that the best thing you can do is decide to show up in your own life.

There are countless books and articles that can be read about forming habits and self-improvement (this blog included). But none of them help until we realize their importance in our lives.

So let me ask again: Who do you want to be ten years from now?

And what are the chances that is just going to happen by accident?

You need to act to make your future you a reality. And I’d recommend starting today.

Your future you will be here before you realize it—might as well be the one you want it to be.

The Power of Ridiculously Small Steps

Note: This is a guest post from Kendra Adachi, author of The Lazy Genius Way.

I’m high-strung and inflexible (both mentally and physically), so yoga is a no-brainer for my aching back and caffeinated squirrel brain.

For most of my thirties, I worked hard to make yoga a regular habit in my life. So often we build habits to support things we think should matter and actually don’t, but in this case, my reasons for the habit were rooted in what mattered: mindfulness and a body that doesn’t hurt all the time.

All I had to do was make it happen.

I attempted the whole “I’m going to do yoga for thirty minutes four times a week” thing and built a big system to support it. I downloaded apps. I bought the best mat, the best blocks, and the best workout top. I had checklists and phone alarms. I even bought a pass for ten hot yoga classes “for accountability.”

Side note: if you want to feel like you have no control over your life, start your Yoga Habit Journey at hot yoga class where you sweat like a linebacker for ninety minutes and then can’t drive home because your legs feel like they might be broken. It’s super fun.

Despite the system, I never once made it all four days.

Nothing was working, and it was beyond frustrating. I wanted to learn yoga! My reason really mattered! No one was forcing me! Why was this so hard?

Because it was too big.

Even if you’re trying to develop habits that support a life you deeply, authentically want, small steps are still your best bet because then you’ll actually move. If instead you put too much pressure on yourself with a big system, you’ll spend more time tending to its maintenance than developing the habit itself.

My Ridiculously Small Step

On January 1 last year, I did what many folks do at the start of a year and thought about my goals. I still wanted to build a yoga habit but knew my approach had to be different this time. If I wanted to practice yoga on a regular basis, I had to start so small it was embarrassing.

My commitment? One down dog pose a day.

Just one.

If you’re unfamiliar with yoga, a down dog is a pose where your hands and feet are both (ideally) placed flat on the ground and your butt is in the air. It’s how you’d make the letter A with your body in a game of charades. And with the exception of corpse pose (where you literally lie on the ground like a dead person), it’s about the easiest yoga pose there is.

Every day, I did one down dog. I bent over, put my hands on the ground and my butt in the air, held the pose for a couple of deep breaths, and then stood up again. Done for the day.

Obviously, I felt like a moron going on this laughably low-stakes exercise adventure, but I was determined to stick it out to see if this approach might actually do something. Going big hadn’t worked to develop the habit, so maybe going small would.

For a while, the answer—at least from a results perspective—was a resounding no. I didn’t automatically become more flexible, and I was not at all what you’d call Zen. Still, my habit was too small to quit, so I didn’t. I kept it up for weeks.

Huge win on its own.

I did my pose in the morning or before bed if I’d forgotten to do it earlier, and sometimes I’d do both. Occasionally, I’d do an entire sun salutation (a connection of a dozen poses that includes a down dog), which still took no more than fifteen seconds.

After about four months, I had gradually built upon that first small step and was now doing yoga maybe thirty seconds a day.

I repeat: thirty seconds a day.

Sure, on paper the whole thing felt foolish. What a joke to think thirty seconds of yoga meant anything, but the joke was on me because I had developed a daily habit of yoga. And even though it lasted only as long as a beer commercial, I was really proud. I was moving in the direction of something I had always wanted, and ridiculously small steps had been my road to get there. Almost two years later, I still practice yoga every single day, even if it’s just the one pose.

Here’s the thing about habits: you might think that if you don’t build a big system to support them, it won’t work, but I believe the opposite is true.

When you start big, you give up before you even begin, but the smaller the step, the more likely you’ll do it. The more you do it, the more you’ll keep doing it, making it a meaningful part of your daily rhythm which is the entire point.

Embrace the power of small steps. They matter, they count, and they’re the best way to create habits around what actually matters to you. 

***

Kendra Adachi is known as The Lazy Genius, passionately and candidly sharing how to stop doing it all for the sake of doing what matters. Her new book, The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn’t, and Get Stuff Done is available everywhere tomorrow.

Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

F ill 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.

So 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.

How Quarantine Decluttering Can Increase Productivity, Lower Stress and Save You Money | The Washington Post by Nicole Anzia. August is a good time to get your house in order. This can empower you and your family to take control of your immediate surroundings; ideally, it will increase productivity, lower stress levels and save money.

Your Belongings Should Help You Live in the Present | Nourishing Minimalism by Rachel Jones. Many times we make decisions on what to keep based on the past or the future, without considering too much the effect our things have on our present life.

The Case For Digital Minimalism In A Quarantining Age | Study Breaks by Juliana Fujii. While tech can be healthy and helpful in moderation, it’s a misconception to think that our time online becomes more valuable in quarantine.

You Are Not Defined By Your Possessions | No Sidebar by Somrita Sen. The five most important lessons about minimalism I learned pursuing it.

How to Have a Healthier Body Image | Joshua Becker on YouTube

The Underappreciated Joy of Keeping Your Tastes Simple

As far back as I can remember, my father came home for lunch. I’m sure it wasn’t every day, but in my mind it was.

He worked at a bank and did quite well, slowly but surely climbing the ladder in the industry. And yet, as best I remember, most days he came home for lunch, sitting on a stool at our counter.

Most days, he ate a sandwich with a few slices of deli meat, plain potato chips, and French Onion dip. Or, on occasion, he’d eat a hot dog on a slice of bread.

Again, these are just my memories. My dad, recently retired, might tell a different story of his lunch menu variety, but this is the endearing image I have of my father as he came home for lunch each day.

He grew up on a family farm in South Dakota where most lunches were no different than the ones he continues to eat even today. His family upbringing clearly shaped his expectations for lunch.

I, my father’s son after all, have strayed very little from the model he set for me. My lunch, almost every day, are the leftovers from yesterday’s dinner. If there are no leftovers, I will sometimes have a bowl of soup or a tuna fish sandwich.

My tastes, overall, are quite simple. I own a 2005 Honda Accord, I wear a black V-neck t-shirt purchased at the local outlet mall, my tennis racket is 20 years old, I order black coffee at coffee shops, and my hair products (a topic of much conversation on YouTube) are bought off the shelf at Target.

I appreciate a fancy dinner when I have one… a luxurious hotel should I find myself there… or fine art when I view it. But for everyday living, I am content with simple tastes.

Simple tastes, in my opinion, get a bad rap.

Some may think I am unrefined for eating leftovers every day for lunch or missing out on the joy of living by not booking expensive accommodations when I travel, but I disagree entirely.

There are many benefits that accompany having simple tastes. Let me list a few of them for you.

Underappreciated joys of simple tastes:



1. Enjoyment is easy to find.

When your tastes are simple, it is easy to find things you enjoy. I can be just as happy eating leftovers for lunch as I would be sitting down at a fancy restaurant. One is just more achievable on a regular basis.

2. Easier to entertain.

I’m easy to entertain. If you wanted to treat me for dinner, you should feel no pressure in what you prepare. Truly, serve me homemade tacos and I’d be just as happy as if you served me prime rib. Or pick any restaurant for dinner, I’ll be happy.

Again, don’t mishear me on this. I LOVE prime rib, but my tastes are simple. Ground beef tacos make me just as happy.

3. Living within your means.

As I’ve written previously, there are benefits to living within your means that go even beyond the subject matter of this article— freedom, peace, and opportunity (for example). When your tastes are simple, life costs less and living within your means is easier than you might have thought.

4. Less lifestyle inflation.

Lifestyle inflation refers to an increase in spending when an individual’s income goes up. It is why many are never able to get ahead financially—personal expenses simply rise with personal income. When your tastes are simple, there is less opportunity for lifestyle inflation to take over.

5. More gratitude.

We are faced with two choices every day: 1) We can be grateful for the things we have; or 2) We can focus on all the things we wish we had.

When you are able to find joy and contentment in the simplest of things, gratitude is an easier choice to make.

6. Less influenced by trends, labels, and advertising.

Too often, people pay a premium just for the privilege of becoming a walking billboard. Personally, I am not impressed by fancy or expensive brands just for the sake of being able to show off the logo.

Same with advertising and changing trends. As Nate Berkus says, “Trends exist to make people feel badly about what they don’t have.” When your tastes are simple, you are less likely to be influenced by them.

7. More opportunity to splurge when necessary.

There is another benefit of having simple tastes that I should mention. If you are not spending routinely on expensive things, there is more money available to spend when the splurge is truly desired.

While my wife and I have always lived on a modest income, every five years we take a trip to celebrate a milestone anniversary (10, 15, 20…). Because our tastes are not extravagant on a day-to-day basis, that is something we have always been able to afford.

8. Easier to make decisions. Less time wasted.

There is a direct correlation, in very practical ways, between simple tastes and time. For example, it is easier to make decisions when traveling, shopping, or even planning tomorrow’s lunch at the office.

Again, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying it is wrong to enjoy nice things at times. But when you are satisfied with simple things on a daily basis, time (and money) is saved.

9. More opportunity for impact.

I’m going to make a bold statement here, take it or leave it.

Maybe it’s because of my upbringing, but when I think of the people I most want to emulate in my life, rarely do I think of the flashy types. I suppose, in the moment, there is something seductive about the person with the expensive car, outfit, or drink.

But in the long run, it is those who have learned to become content with the simple things in life that inspire the most. It seems to me their simpler tastes have provided more opportunity for impact in other ways.

There are, of course, some people who pursue minimalism because of their fancy tastes. Owning fewer items allows them to have higher quality, more expensive things. I understand that fully.

But for me, I have a certain level of joy and contentment in keeping my tastes simple, I think you will too.

12 Things To Become Famous For

Fame is a terrible master.

There are some who will do anything to achieve fame—just watch any number of reality television shows. And there are others who will do everything they can to stay out of the spotlight entirely.

In its most simple definition, famous means to be widely known.

Of course, fame, just like wealth, is entirely relative. “Widely” can mean lots of different things:

After all, there is world-famous, internet-famous, and barely-famous. Hollywood has A-List, B-List, C-List, and even D-List.

There are people who are famous in your industry, famous in your town, or famous in your church. One time, I was even introduced to a man behind his grill as, “the man who is famous for his BBQ grilled chicken.”  As best I could tell, he’s only cooked for his immediate family.

“Fame” clearly means something different to different people.

To be famous is to be known for something among a group of people.

Given that understanding, might I suggest we all aim for fame.

Not fame for wrong reasons, but fame for all the right reasons.

The reality is we are all going to be remembered for something—that cannot be avoided. So we might as well aim to be known, among those who know us best, for all the right reasons.

12 things we should all strive to become famous for:

1. Kindness. I have a good friend that I once introduced to a neighbor. Shortly after their first meeting, my neighbor said to me, “Bob may be the kindest man I have ever met in my entire life.” What an amazing compliment. Kindness… that is something I want to be known for.

2. Generosity. Many are drawn to riches, but few are drawn to generosity. But generosity makes our world a better place. It improves the life of the receiver and the giver. And yet, it is still too rare in our world today.

3. Perseverance. At some point, everybody gets knocked down by life. Staying upright through it all is not the final measure of a person. Getting back up and remaining persistent in the face of trial, that is perseverance. Now that is a trait worth being known for!

4. Faithfulness. To be known at the end of my life for being faithful to my wife, my kids, and my obligations is among my loftiest pursuits. I may be known for many things, but I’d trade them all to keep this reputation.

5. Empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. And being known for empathy lays the foundation for countless good deeds in the lives of others.

6. Intentionality. Our lives and resources are limited. To be intentional with our time, our money, and our responsibilities is an important pursuit. And those who discover it are highly regarded.

7. Cheerfulness. If you are known as the person who lights up a room and spreads genuine joy wherever you go, you have reached an important level of fame.

8. Selfless. There is more than one way to achieve many of the items on this list (kind, empathetic, generous)—some may even be achieved for selfish gain. But the only way to be known for selflessness, in the long run, is to be genuinely selfless.

9. Encouraging. An encourager, by default, cheers for the other person. They are not interested in winning at every cost. Quite the opposite in fact. They want to see everyone win and work toward that end. As a result, they are beloved by many.

10. Contentment. A contented life is enjoyable, desirable, and admirable. Those who don’t have it, desire it. And are impressed with those who do have achieved it.

11. Peacemaking. If we need anything in this world today, we need more peacemakers. Blessed are you if you become one.

12. Loving. As the old saying goes, “but the greatest of these is love.” Become famous for loving others and you’ll never regret it.

Fame, as defined by society, is fleeting. It is a terrible master.

But there is still the reality that when our lives are over, we will be remembered for something. So make it something worth being famous for.

A Loving Nudge Toward Healthier Habits

I find conversations about the current global pandemic to be difficult on this platform. On any typical week, this blog reaches over 200 different countries. Can you believe it? I mean, over 80 people from Zimbabwe in the last week alone. Crazy.

As the pandemic evolves and expands and contracts across the globe, a blog post appropriate for one country may not be appropriate for another. As a result, I’ve been left wondering a bit on how to talk about it.

But there is a conversation I feel burdened in my heart to share with you. My guess is that the subject matter will resonate with many of you. But if it does not, maybe there is still something worthwhile you can pull from it. I hope that is the case.

I’m noticing an important trend, at least in America—the increase of unhealthy habits during this crisis.

For example:

Television viewing has increased to 41 hours/week on average (up almost 30%).Americans spend twice as much money online shopping since the pandemic began. For 8 consecutive weeks, beer sales have topped $1B—the highest ever. Cigarette smoking has made a comeback during the pandemic. Video game usage has increased 50%.Unhealthy sleep patterns have emerged for 67% of Americans.And 76% of Americans have gained weight from mid-March—up to 16 pounds so far.

Catherine Price, author of How to Break Up With Your Phone and contributor to Simplify Magazine, made an important observation in a recent interview for Freedom. Speaking about the current pandemic, she said this:

It’s hard to focus when your anxiety is high—and this is a time of high anxiety. Physiologically speaking, this is partially due to the effects that stress has on our brains—namely, the part of our brain that is responsible for rational decision-making tends to be less active when we are stressed out (it sort of hides under a rock), leaving us less able to resist our impulses (for example, to check the news again and again and again when we are supposed to be working).”

Catherine was speaking, in this context, about why it is hard to focus during times of high anxiety. But the connection can also be made to healthy habits, which typically require focus and intentionality.

I have learned that when we are not intentional with our time and focus, unhealthy habits emerge. In fact, I have seen them emerge in my own life over the last several months. My guess, based on some of the statistics above, I am not alone.

This is a period of high anxiety for all of us. And as a result, unhealthy habits are beginning to emerge and take root in our lives. It is wise for us to notice that, and begin nudging ourselves toward healthier ones.

How then, do we keep healthy habits part of our lives? Especially as the anxiety continues to loom.

How to Keep Healthy Habits Active



1. Remember that your life is valuable.

The crisis that surrounds us, at times, reminds us of our smallness—there is little that most of us can do to stop the anxiety on a global scale.

However, that should not detract from the inherent value of your individual life. You are unique and special and bring a joy into the world that only you can bring.

Remind yourself how important you are to the people around you and allow that fact to motivate you to make the most of every day and every hour.

2. Count every day precious.

The days for you may be long or short, extra busy or extra lonely. Or maybe they all run together so that you hardly remember what day of the week it is.

Regardless, every day is still precious. Every sunrise is a gift and opportunity to make the most of your day ahead. Remind yourself to not waste any of them.

3. Be firm with yourself.

Do take note, on regular occasion, how you are going to be responsible with your days and energy and focus.

At some point, we need to step outside ourselves and evaluate if we are allowing unhealthy habits to take root in our lives. If so, we must be firm with ourselves in identifying those unhealthy habits and committing to be intentional in removing them.

4. Be patient with yourself.

The times, indeed, are new. And as Catherine point outs above, there are very real physiological changes taking place in our body because of the increased stress levels. So it is smart to be patient with ourselves as we seek to remove any unhealthy habits that have emerged in our lives.

5. Embrace a 3-item to-do list for healthy habits.

I discovered the 3-Item To-Do List several years ago and have loved it ever since.

In a workplace, the 3-item to-do list seeks to recognize the 3 most important tasks to complete each day. The 3 tasks, when completed, allow you to feel accomplished about your day.

In the same way, trending toward healthy habits can be encouraged by applying the 3-item to-do list approach. What are the three actions (or non-actions) you most want to incorporate into your day?

For example: 1) Read 30 minutes; 2) Call one friend; 3) Eat two servings of vegetables. Three items, three habits, to incorporate each day to keep your life trending toward healthy habits.

I recommend a daily routine that includes a physical habit (exercise), a mental habit (reading, mind puzzles), and a social habit.

6. Look for opportunities to control what you can.

When the world feels out of control is when it is most important to take back control wherever you can.

You have little control over a virus outbreak on the other side of the world, but you do have control over what time you go to bed, what time you wake up, and whether you take a shower in the morning.

To help overcome anxiety and regain rational decision-making, control what you can. You may discover it is more than you think.

7. Ask for help.

Community and accountability are important, especially in a time of increased isolation. And many of your friends are struggling to keep healthy habits as well, so include them in your nudge.

Challenge your friend to exercise when you do, become your pen pal, or trade some healthy recipe ideas. When you share your journey and plans with others, you become more accountable to accomplish them. And you end up encouraging others to live their best life too.

I am noticing in my life, the longer the abnormal nature of life persists, the more difficult it is to stay healthy and focused on my habits.

However, despite the pandemic, tomorrow is no less valuable than a day last year. And your one life is no less important to the world than it was before. So keep living your best one.

Consider this just a loving nudge toward healthy habits in your life.

Two Keys for Living Slowly and Connected

Note: This is a guest post from Danae Smith of This Wondrous Life.

It was my lunch break in the summer of 2014. I was sitting by a fountain in Washington, D.C., when I realized how I was simply existing, but not fully engaging with my life.

I was working a job I needed, but didn’t love. I’d bought into the glorification of hustling and busyness. I was mentally and emotionally exhausted.

The idea to choose to live simply, slowly, and connected felt elusive and unproductive. But, I knew it was a path I needed to take for me to fully show up wholeheartedly to the world before me. So, I began this pursuit to live a more slow and simple life.

It didn’t happen overnight. It’s a daily journey of choosing to lean into each moment before me. There are two keys that have helped me on this journey that I hope can help you:

Key 1: Being Present

Our attention is constantly pulled. Whether it’s the daily responsibilities and tasks we manage or mindless scrolling through social media, our attention is always being wooed from one thing to the next.

When starting to live slow, I knew I needed to learn to be present.

Being present requires intentionality and effort. It also doesn’t look one way. For me, it has looked like taking the extra effort to make full eye contact when a loved one is sharing with me rather than multitasking on my phone. However, it can look like putting your phone on do-not-disturb during dinner; or it can look like being acutely aware of your surroundings and the sensations you may see, feel, hear, or even taste, taking mental notes of them.

I have found in being present, there is so much color to the mundanity of daily life. There is beauty and purpose in every moment and encounter.

Key 2: Getting Grounded

Develop and build a daily ritual or routine that allows you to connect with yourself.

It can be 5 minutes or 30 minutes. Do what feels natural for you. It’s not about quantity versus quality. 

The goal of a daily ritual or routine isn’t to do more stuff, but to do what matters. It’s dedicating time to catch your breath, to ground yourself in gratitude and mindfulness.

While building your daily routine, fill it with things that help you stay connected and centered. For me, it often looks like making a cup of coffee first thing and enjoying it. But for you, it could be stretching or running. It could be getting up before everyone else and sitting in silence.

Whatever it may be, having a set time each day where you ground and center yourself helps in this journey of living slowly and connected.

As you choose a journey of slow and simple living, I encourage you to be gracious with yourself.

Life is a process and nothing happens overnight. There are valleys and mountaintops; twists and turns. Choosing to live slowly and connected goes against the grain of culture and society. Some days will be easy breezy. Other days will prove more difficult.

Nevertheless, keep choosing slowness. Keep choosing simplicity and connection; and be gracious with yourself and your process.

***

Danae Smith is the founder of This Wondrous Life, a lifestyle blog, rooted in pursuing a life lived simply, slowly, and with community. Her words are beautiful. You can also find her on Instagram.

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 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.

The Fast Fashion Fix: 20 ways to stop buying new clothes for ever | The Guardian by Lauren Bravo. Here are20 ways to ditch fast fashion for a slower, fairer style.

Let Each Task Fill Up Your World | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. Every now and then, I have to remind myself to do one thing at a time.

The Gift of Being Normal | Lauren Fortenberry by Lauren Fortenberry. Normal is becoming my favorite place. 

5 Ways You Can Declutter Your Home | Womens Fitness Magazine by Women Fitness Magazine. Clutter is often a habit, one that can be broken by taking small steps which lead to larger steps to declutter your home.

Feel Guilty Getting Rid of Stuff? Don’t. | Becoming Minimalist on YouTube

The Becoming Minimalist Promise

A lot can change in seven years—so I think this blog post is overdue.

I also think, in this crazy, hectic world that seems to change from one day to the next, this promise to you is overdue.

So, if you don’t mind, allow me the opportunity to take a look back, share what has changed, and commit to you what will never change, here at Becoming Minimalist.

12 Years Ago

In 2008, Becoming Minimalist was started. My goal was simple. I had just been introduced to the lifestyle of minimalism and this blog would be my journal—a place to share what we were removing, the decisions we were making, and the lessons we learned.

The blog grew quickly, reaching more and more people. Living with less became a passion for me.

Soon, a new passion began to emerge. A desire to spread the message of minimalism as best I could to a world bound to consumerism. To not just share my story, but to invite others into the joy of owning less and to offer any help I could along the way.

Becoming Minimalist began to change. The focus became less on my story, and more on helping others. The blog continued to grow—doubling from month to month over and over again.

7 Years Ago

In 2013, a hobby became a career. As I announced here on Becoming Minimalist, I transitioned from my role as full-time pastor to full-time blogger. As I said at the time, “My greatest opportunity for impact is to promote living with less in a world that has bought into the lie that pursuing possessions is a worthy endeavor.”

And so, for the last seven years, Becoming Minimalist has been my full-time job. And I couldn’t be happier.

A lot has changed since that announcement:

I wrote Clutterfree with Kids to help parents navigate the most common areas of clutter in their child’s life.

I developed and began teaching the Uncluttered Course, a 12-week online course that has now helped over 50,000 families around the world own less stuff and live more life.I wrote The More of Less, introducing minimalism to the world.

I founded and formed The Hope Effect, a nonprofit organization changing how the world cares for orphans. The nonprofit organization was initially funded by the book advance proceeds for my books on minimalism.

I created Simplify Magazine, a digital, entirely ad-free magazine published quarterly. Each issue features 8-10 experts focusing on one topic. We’ve published 13 separate issues since 2017.

I took over No Sidebar, a website that promotes simple and distraction-free living by highlighting new and talented writers in the simple living world.

By popular demand, I wrote The Minimalist Home detailing my minimizing philosophy and providing a room-by-room approach for anyone who wants to love the home they live in.

I launched a YouTube channel hoping to reach a new audience, through video, with the life-giving benefits of minimalism. The channel just passed 100,00 subscribers—so it’s definitely working.

I created Simple Money Magazine. A digital, quarterly magazine that complements Simplify Magazine by focusing exclusively on simple, practical financial advice.

I developed and launched an app called Clutterfree. Clutterfree is the first app on the market to provide a unique and personalized roadmap to declutter your home. It is based on my philosophy and provides everything you need, in the palm of your hand, to declutter your home.

Like I said, a lot can change in seven years.

Today

As you might expect, Becoming Minimalist has become much bigger than I ever anticipated with more resources to help people own less than I ever dreamt possible.

The Becoming Minimalist team has grown to 9 active employees who help me create videos, edit articles, manage magazines, stay active on social media, bookkeeping, and provide customer support. Even both of my kids, now 17 & 14, are involved with the company.

We are reaching new people, in new ways, every single day.

The Becoming Minimalist Promise

With that history as the backdrop, and the current upheaval of the world surrounding us, I want to take a moment and offer a promise to you about this blog. Because there are some things that will not change.

Becoming Minimalist exists to invite people to own less and live more.

That was our mission 12 years ago and will be our mission going forward. We will not waver from it.

Regardless of what changes happen in the future, my focus will remain the same. I wake up every morning, excited to work, trying to answer this question, “How can I help people own less today?”

That passion (and this platform) have led to some wonderful opportunities. But the question I ask about new ideas is always the same, “Will this help people own less?” And that will remain my question going forward.

My promise to you is this:

No matter what happens around us, Becoming Minimalist will remain true to its purpose. We will help people own less and live more.

That you can always count on.

Whether you have been reading Becoming Minimalist for 12 years or 12 minutes, if you recognize that your life is too valuable to waste chasing material possessions, you have come to the right place. Whether you are looking for consistent inspiration to own less or practical ideas to get you there, or just curious about the lifestyle, you have come to the right place.

Stick around awhile.

10 Reasons to Travel While Your Kids Are Young

My family just returned from a 2-week trip to the Midwest. We spent time in Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota before heading back to warm and sunny Phoenix.

The trip, as you might imagine, has been tentative for the last 6 months—even changing 3 times before finally happening.

But with my son beginning his senior year in high school next month and my daughter also entering high school, it was important for us to go. Not just so we could visit extended family, but for us to spend time together.

I should mention that my current job allows us the flexibility to travel—I can, after all, blog from anywhere there is a wireless connection. But it is equally important to note that minimalism has increased our ability to travel as well.

Because we buy less stuff and spend less money on things like mortgage and upkeep, travel has become something we can afford. In fact, the first thing we chose to do with our increased financial flexibility from minimalism was take a trip—a short drive to the New Hampshire beach for an overnight with our kids.

Since then, “trips” have become even more important to us. Sometimes they are extended, and require considerable effort saving money. But other times, they are short—even staying a night at an affordable hotel in our city of Phoenix.

Regardless of the specific trip, I haven’t regretted any of them. Here are the reasons why:

10 Reasons to Travel While Your Kids Are Young



1. New Experiences.

Trips away from the ordinary naturally result in new experiences: new foods, new sights, new places, new smells, sometimes even new languages. Realizing that new ideas come from making new connections in our brain, the more new experiences our kids gather, and the sooner they collect them, the better their ideas and creativity in the future.

And the same is true for us as adults.

2. Lasting Memories.

I can’t even begin to count the number of conversations around our dinner table that have begun with the phrase, “Do you remember the time we…” Trips together always result in lasting memories.

Again, let me repeat, you don’t need to travel the world for a month in Europe for these memories to form. They can happen taking trips in your own backyard. But we will, undoubtedly, talk about some of these experiences for the rest of our lives.

3. Family Bonding.

This is our principal motivation for travel. Taking trips together as a family forces each of us out of our normal routine and into new levels of trust and relationship. We talk more, we make decisions together, and we experience new things together.

Pressure to act a certain way around friends is removed and our kids are able to be themselves. In the end, we grow closer together as a family—and when our trips are spent with extended relatives, those relationships are strengthened.

4. Trips are fun.

I recently heard a life-changing quote put out by The Hope Effect. It went like this, “If you make children happy now, you make them happy twenty years hence by the memory of it.” —Sydney Smith.

This idea is relevant to this conversation about taking trips with our kids while they are young. The fun we have together is not just lived once, but through their memories, experienced throughout their lives.

5. We Don’t Have Them Forever.

Life consists of seasons: childhood, young adult, young married, raising kids, empty nesters, etc. One key to making the most of life is to fully embrace the season you live in. For us, that is parenting two children who still live at home, but that season is ending soon for us.

We only get 18 summers with our children and it’s important to make the most of each of them. Taking trips together has made that possible.

6. Introductions to New Cultures and Ways of Living.

Through my work with The Hope Effect, some of the trips we have taken as a family involve visiting areas of the world where far fewer financial resources are available than where we call home. As a high school and college student, these trips in my life were highly influential in my understanding of how most of the world lives. And it has forever shaped my understanding of money and possessions.

I know not every trip we take (or can take) involves seeing the need around the world, but I think those trips are important if you can expose your children to other ways of living than your own neighborhood.

7. Teach Experiences Over Possessions.

Our trips continue to communicate to our children that experiences are better than possessions. Possessions fade, break, get stolen, and lose their luster. Experiences, on the other hand, remain with us throughout our lives.

8. New Opportunities for Responsibility.

Getting kids out of their normal routine provides new opportunity for responsibilities to emerge. Even something as simple as, “You are responsible to pack your own suitcase and make sure it gets in the trunk of the car,” fosters ownership for kids.

Other requests such as, “Get us through the airport,” or “Pick a place for us to eat dinner,” can bolster their decision-making skills. I even had one friend, for a home-school assignment, ask her children to plan almost their whole trip overseas—even calling hotels to compare prices and make reservations.

9. Travel Helps Break the Technology Addiction.

I want to be careful here, don’t mishear me. Going on a trip doesn’t mean our kids don’t bring their cellphones and it doesn’t mean they don’t use them—they still spend plenty of time on their phones during car rides and flights.

But, I have found that technology is less of an addiction when surroundings are new. When we are in a new place and there are new things to see and do, the pull of technology is, at least a little, less than when we are home. And believe me, I think anytime we can show our kids there is a whole world awaiting them off their screens, we are doing a wonderful thing.

10. Show Them It’s Possible.

I realize not everyone likes traveling to new places and not everyone enjoys trips as a family. But I do know there are many people who want to travel, but never do. For any number of reasons, travel is more of a dream than reality. Because we have taken trips together as a family, my kids know it is possible and how to go about planning and making it a reality in their lives.

I don’t know for sure if they intend to take their own families on trips when they are parents. But if they do, they will know it’s entirely possible.

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I know in this crazy world lots of things about travel are changing—and almost daily. And in some circumstances, going on a trip may not even be possible (or wise) for you and your family.

But if it is possible (as it was for us the last couple weeks), I highly recommend it—for the reasons listed above and countless others.