Joshua Becker's Blog, page 78

Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because 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.

Stop the Stuff Stream | Smallish Blog by Evelyn Rennich. The problem with the ‘stuff stream’ is that most of the time we don’t even notice that it is sweeping clutter into our homes.

I Reached A Minimalist Plateau & This Advice Got Me Through It | Mind Body Green by Emma Loewe. Two writers offered up the same analogy—and it’s completely changed the way I view my surroundings.

What Growing Up “Poor” Taught Me About Minimalism | No Sidebar by Cheryl Smith. The nuggets of wisdom I gleaned from being raised in a low-income family are countless, and I wouldn’t trade those life lessons for anything. Here are ten of them.

Lessons Learned From Luggage Lost | NPR by Bill Harley. “What you need to do is make it through the day.”

Becoming Minimalist. Now on YouTube.

How I Became a Minimalist

I have recorded a series of videos about minimalism to post on my YouTube channel.

The best place to begin is by sharing my story of how I found minimalism. Here is how I tell it:

To catch all of the upcoming videos in the series, subscribe on YouTube.

How to Do More Single-Tasking

You may think you are a good multi-tasker, but science is showing that even if you are better at it than average, multi-taskers are more likely to be stressed than their single-tasking friends.

Besides, none of us are actually very good at it. Our brains are not designed to do more than one thing at a time.

Stress is hard on the body and leads to a worse memory, digestive problems, heart disease, sleep disruption. It also leads to concentration impairment.

Getting into the zone to complete an important project at work or at home takes time. As a result, doing two things at once or rapidly jumping between tasks decreases your performance at both.

Meanwhile, the benefits of single-tasking are abundant—from better health to better productivity.

And while we may know the benefits of single-tasking, putting it into practice regularly can be challenging.

In this post, Leo Babauta reminds us that single-tasking is something we must train ourselves to do—especially in a world intentionally designed to grab our attention and distract us.

Here’s How to Train Yourself for Single-Tasking

1. Start with small bursts. Just like an athlete would train themselves with manageable exercises first, begin with easier rather than daunting tasks.

2. Break down large projects into smaller chunks. Build a plan for achieving large goals with less stress. This helps keep the completion point in sight. It is also a good practice for preventing procrastination by the way.

3. Every evening or morning, choose the most important things you need to complete that day. Start with your most important task, and work from there. For best results, accomplish most with a 3-Item To Do List.

4. Work in bursts, setting a timer if necessary, and slowly increasing the blocks of time in which you’ll single-task. Take breaks for mental recovery in between. That’s known as the Pomodoro Technique.

5. Have only the tools you need for the task available. Clear your desk. Close out open computer tabs. Silence your phone. Clear the clutter.

6. Set unrealistic personal deadlines. Peter Bregman at Harvard Business Review suggests the tactic of forcing single-tasking by giving yourself only a third of the time you think you need to accomplish something. The tighter deadline will keep you more focused, more productive, and less stressed.

7. Save internet research until the end. If you are anything like me, a quick hop on the Internet to look up one little fact often becomes 15 minutes of mindless scrolling. Eliminate the distraction by making a quick note in your work to look up the fact after you’re finished.

8. Enjoy the sensation of completing the time or the task. Notice your gratitude as you cross another item off the list. Use that sense of accomplishment to carry you forward.

9. Remember that sometimes the goal isn’t perfection, it’s progress. Don’t expect to be perfect the first time you try… or even the hundredth time. The goal is to get better, not to get perfect.

If you train yourself to make single-tasking an ingrained habit in your life, you’ll begin accomplishing your goals much faster than you anticipate.

12 Reasons I Like Owning Less

There are many reasons people live a minimalist life. Sometimes it is forced upon them: a low wage, a lost job, or a broken relationship. Others embrace the lifestyle reluctantly, for any number of reasons.

But that is not my story.

My story is that I intentionally chose to own less. It was a decision I made years ago when I stood face-to-face with the emptiness and burden of unneeded physical possessions. And it is a decision that I continue to choose every single day: to own less rather than more.

Why do I choose to live a minimalist life?

I live a minimalist life because I like owning fewer things. Not only do I love minimalism, I genuinely enjoy it.

Here are 12 Reasons I Like Owning Less

1. More Money.

I’ve lived my entire life with enough money to provide, but never too much. As a result, financial considerations have always played a significant role in my decision making. Owning less has freed up money for me and my family. And I kinda like that.

2. Fewer Chores.

I love having less work to do around my house when I am home. When I go to work, I work hard. So when I come home, I like to rest and be with my family. Owning less (and living in a smaller home) means I have fewer household chore demands on my time every evening—and every weekend.

3. More Free Time.

Owning fewer things (and shopping less I might add) has freed up my time to a greater degree than I ever imagined. More free time means more opportunity and more potential for my life.

4. Better Example for my Kids.

Living a minimalist life has modeled for my kids that personal belongings are not the key to happiness, that security is found in their character, and that the pursuit of happiness runs a different road than the pursuit of possessions. These are valuable life lessons.

5. More Intentionality in Life.

I started living a minimalist life because I was discontented with the focus of my life’s energy. But among its greatest gifts, owning less brought me intentionality—not just in the things that I chose to own, but in my pursuit of wellness, values, and spirituality. And for that, I couldn’t possibly be more thankful.

6. Aligns with my Faith.

I dive deeper into my personal faith in my book, The More of Less, than I choose to do here on Becoming Minimalist. But minimalism has been a spiritual journey for me. It has not only brought new understanding to my faith, it has brought greater depth of practice. That alignment is something I cherish.

7. Better Relationships with Others.

Owning less has allowed me opportunity to be a better friend. I should be careful here, I wouldn’t say that minimalism automatically makes somebody a better friend and/or person. But it does provide extra margin in life for somebody to become that.

8. Less Comparison.

There is no joy to be found in comparison—and so many of the comparisons we make in our mind have to do with material possessions. It’s a shame really, those things shouldn’t impress us. But when I choose to intentionally own less, I also choose to no longer compare what I have with others.

9. More Opportunity to Contribute.

It seems to me either we’re living for ourselves or we’re living for others. And while I understand there is a proper time for both, too many people (and for too much of life) spend too much of their energy focused on selfish living. As I reject the empty notion of always desiring more and more for myself, I free myself to live selflessly for others.

10. Better Self-Understanding.

Minimalism forces questions of values onto a person. It caused me to question assumptions about my purpose, passion, and inward motivations. The journey inward is not always easy, but it is always important. And choosing to own less prompted that for me.

11. Own Higher Quality Things.

When I buy fewer things, I open up my life to the opportunity of owning nicer things. I will admit this benefit of minimalism came unexpected to me. For some reason, I didn’t connect owning fewer things and owning nicer things. But the truth is, they go hand-in-hand and are directly related.

12. More Appreciation for the Things I Do Own.

Sometimes, the easiest way to feel more satisfaction in life is to appreciate what we already have. And it is impossible to appreciate the things you have if you’re constantly obsessing over the things you don’t. As I intentionally own less, I develop a greater appreciation for the things I have chosen to keep.

Minimalist living is countercultural. It is contrary to every advertisement we have ever seen because we live in a society that prides itself on the accumulation of possessions. But for me? I like owning less. I enjoy living a countercultural life. The reasons for it are life-giving.

How to Declutter Large, Overwhelming Spaces

When people ask for advice on how to begin their journey toward minimalism, I always offer the same approach: move through the rooms in your home easiest to hardest, starting with the most lived-in spaces. That approach forms the foundation for the Uncluttered Course and my new book, The Minimalist Home.

After completing the first spaces in a home, anybody who has lived in their home for more than a few years can attest that there usually exists at least one large, overwhelming space that needs to be decluttered of possessions no longer needed. Think: basement, attic, garage, or storage shed.

These larger, more overwhelming spaces can present unique challenges. But countless people have found victory over them, and so can you.

Here is the best formula for decluttering large, overwhelming spaces:

1. Remove the easiest things first.

Scan the entire area and fill several bags/boxes of items you can get rid of quickly and easily. No difficult decisions at this point, just grab the low-hanging fruit. Don’t even bother opening boxes. You’re looking for quick, easy decisions at this point. Grab the things already in plain view that you know you don’t want anymore.

2. Discard larger items next.

Look for big items that take up lots of physical space, remove them next. Things such as cardboard boxes, furniture, large tools, anything that stores awkward. I realize sometimes these larger items can be more difficult to dispose of, but starting here is important. By removing the largest items at the very beginning, you will see quick progress in decluttering the space. This visible victory of cleared spaces will provide motivation as you continue.

3. Donate items instead of selling them.

If you don’t desperately need the money, you should always donate to a local charity whose mission you believe in. The only exceptions are valuable items or large items you are unable to transport yourself. Following this rule is particularly important in large spaces that are going to be time-consuming, don’t add to the burden by trying to resell everything.

4. Break your large space into smaller bite-size challenges.

After removing the easy and large items, you will begin the process of working methodically through your space. Use natural physical boundaries to break your project into smaller pieces: one shelf, one drawer, one side of the room, or even one box at a time. Don’t think about the whole project at once. Just start with one small area.

5. Work until your bite-size piece is completed.

Almost certainly you will not complete this large space in one day—especially if you have years of items. But you can still feel a sense of accomplishment by completing a smaller-sized challenge each time (a shelf, a drawer, etc.) as outlined in the previous step. See each smaller chunk all the way to completion before taking a break or quitting for the day. There is joy to be found in completing these smaller goals.

6. Physically touch each item and sort into keep, remove, or relocate.

It’s important to touch each item in a space when decluttering because the action forces a decision. Work hard to put as many things as possible into the “remove” pile. You need much less than you think you need. If an item has sat untouched for years in your attic, there is very little chance you will need it in the future.

7. Organize what’s left.

Don’t stop decluttering until your space looks spacious and manageable. When you’re done, neatly organize the remaining things so the space stays clean, manageable, and useful.

Large, cluttered spaces take focused effort and time. But you can do it. You’ll be glad you did.

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Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

Never underestimate the importance of removing stuff you don’t need.

Encouragement provides us with motivation to persevere. It invites us to dream dreams of significance for our lives. And it begs us to work diligently with optimism and promise.

Overcoming the pull of consumerism is a difficult challenge regardless of our stage in life. Simplicity requires encouragement. To that end, I hope you will find motivation in these articles below.

Each post was intentionally chosen to inspire simplicity in your life. For maximum effect, find a quiet moment this weekend and enjoy them with a fresh cup of coffee or tea.

5 Things I’ve Learned About Simple Living | Jen Rao by Jen Rao. There’s a sweet spot between denying yourself nice things and being extravagant and wasteful where simple living can be just enough.

When One Person’s ‘Gift’ is Another’s Junk | Globe and Mail by David Eddie. My sister-in-law always expects a hostess gift. Am I obligated to keep bringing her junk?

The Most Relaxing Vacation You Can Take is Going Nowhere at All | Quartzy by Ephrat Livni. The only kind of break that doesn’t require a follow-up vacation is the type you should consider in the first place—the staycation.

I Used to Be Knickknack Obsessed—and Then I Moved Into a Van | Architectural Digest by Britany Robinson. My van is my weekend escape vehicle, but it’s already taught me some important lessons about simple living and the very small amount of crap that I need to be comfortable.

The Calm of Everything as it Should Be

Note: This is a guest post from Lisa Avellan of Simple and Soul.

There is nothing quite like the calm of everything as it should be. It’s something I’m more familiar with now that life is simpler, but still the calm never gets old.

The calm comes when the beds are made, dishes are washed, and the counters are clear. When space, exposed and bare, welcomes me home as if offering a place to lay down my anxiety, the unfinished tasks of the day, and all the ways I feel unproductive or small.

When the exterior of my life reflects the intentions of my internal life, only then am I able to escape the hustle of worthiness and allow the calm to change the atmosphere. I find myself whole, complete and content.

The calm of everything as it should be, as elusive as it may be at times, feels natural to my soul. It’s a nurturing habitat that requires little beyond the few essentials for living, my loved ones close, and a great cup of coffee.

Trouble comes when things—like our possessions, busyness, or unexpected circumstances—throw the calm into disorder. When clutter creeps in under our distracted noses, a busy week turns into a season of hustle, or the unfortunate diagnosis or job loss disrupts the flow of life, the calm becomes an indulgent treat we crave rather than the standard by which we live.

Cultivating Calm

Calm as a standard is pretty far-fetched, though. I mean, who do you know that describes their life as calm? And if they do, it’s rarely positive. Calm implies boring, uninspired, attention severing. Let’s be honest, we are in competition for people’s attention. They’ve got email and push notifications blowing up their phones, birthday parties to attend, and committees to chair. Not many people have time for calm.

In a culture that celebrates busy, excess, and extroversion as the measure of a good life, where is there space in our homes and lives for calm, quiet, and simple? For things to be as they should be?

And what does should even mean? What is it that my things should be doing?

I think the answer, at least in part, is in this quote by William Morris, “Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

The things we own (or do) should be useful, having purpose in our regular way of life, or they should be beautiful, life-giving external joys that reflect our internal peace and calm. It is the natural state of our souls, to be and surrounded by the useful and the beautiful.

Of course, looking at a home full of stuff we’ve spent good money on or at one time had need for, calm can seem an unlikely hope. But, just because it’s not obvious doesn’t mean some of your things can’t, or shouldn’t, emit calm and joy and love.

To begin, it can be helpful to separate the useful and beautiful things from those that aren’t. Here are four simple guidelines for achieving calm at home:

Everything has a home

Many things in our space contribute to stress, but just the right amount of the right things effect a calming atmosphere. By designating a specific place for each of our possessions, and diligently returning it when we are finished using it, our things require less energy and create less stress.

When everything has a home, we are more purposeful about what we own—if it doesn’t have a home, maybe its purpose no longer serves us.

Everything has a purpose

Usefulness is essential to creating calm. Possessions that have outlived their usefulness contribute to stress, clutter, and decision fatigue—a condition where calm cannot survive. By owning only what we use, and eliminating what no longer serves us, we create a home free of excess and a mind free of regret.

Everything has a grace

The calm of purposeful ownership nurtures the condition of gratitude. We pour thanksgiving over the dishes that we serve food on, the blankets that keep us warm, and the car that gets us to work. We value doing things with our hands—like hand washing dishes or hanging laundry to dry—and choose to give away a bit more rather than keep just in case.

Gratitude calms the ache of want with enough.

Everything has an end

Our things will not last forever. Their purpose will expire, their parts will break, and their meaningfulness will dull.  It seems, the more we amass in our homes the less we appreciate the value of the lifespan of what we own.

This is particularly true with sentimental items. We overvalue the lifespan of the item and undervalue the emotional effect of holding on to it. The calm of things as they should be is often on the other side of letting go, because some of our things should be let go.

The calm of things as they should be is where our souls come alive. When we design an external life of calm by making beds or clearing counters or letting go, we awaken something deeper—the internal life of contentment.

—

Lisa Avellan writes at Simple & Soul, helping you simplify life so you can uncover your soul and live joyfully just as you are. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram for more simple living inspiration.

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What We’re Accomplishing Through The Hope Effect

In a few short months, we’ll celebrate the three-year anniversary of The Hope Effect—the nonprofit organization we launched in November 2015 with the help of the Becoming Minimalist community.

The Hope Effect’s mission is to change how the world cares for orphans.

My wife Kim and I, along with a few other individuals, founded this organization because we’re passionate about orphan care. As a newborn, my wife was left by her birth mother at a hospital in South Dakota. She was immediately adopted by a young couple and experienced firsthand the importance of being raised in a loving, supportive family.

Here is more of her story:

Unfortunately, not all orphaned children around the world are raised in a loving family. In fact, less than 1% of orphans are ever adopted. Something needs to be done—The Hope Effect is making a difference.

The Hope Effect is improving orphan care solutions in developing countries around the world. Traditional, institutional orphan care often has damaging effects on children, such as stunted development and delayed learning abilities. Many orphanages simply aren’t aware of the negative impact institutional care has on kids. But there is a better way.

The Hope Effect is changing how the world cares for orphans by providing family-based solutions that offer opportunities for children to flourish and thrive.

Instead of placing children in institutional group homes (orphanages), we build smaller homes, each made up of two parents and 6-8 children. Children get more individual care and attention, along with stability and security, setting them up for future success.

Because this community has been so supportive of our cause, we’d like to update you on what we’ve accomplished and what we’re working on now. Since our founding in 2015, we’ve raised more than $550,000 for orphan care. We built a family-style home in Siguatepeque, Honduras, and recently formed a new partnership in Santa Rosa, Honduras—we look forward to bringing our innovative orphan care solutions to a new city.

For much of the last year, we’ve been working in San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico, located on the U.S.-Mexico border. The Hope Effect opened its first international office in San Luis last summer, and we are the first organization to seek government approval for family-based care in the State of Sonora, Mexico.

During the long approval process, we’ve been building strategic relationships with organizations and individuals in the city of San Luis. We’ve worked closely with the San Luis DIF (Mexico’s version of Child Protective Services) and have been showing love to the children currently in government care.

Last December, The Hope Effect hosted a Christmas party for the children in the DIF facility.

Thanks to your generosity, more than 89 kids received gifts of new shoes, socks, underwear, and other essential items. A few months later, we built beds for the children after finding out many of them were sleeping on the cold floors. We’ve continued to visit and interact with those children since then, showing care and meeting needs as they arise.

Once we receive approval from the Mexican government, we will immediately begin the process of constructing homes for family-based care in San Luis. Once this project is initiated, we can begin looking forward to additional locations, continuing to influence the orphan care community with this sustainable model.

I am incredibly grateful that the Becoming Minimalist community has embraced this important work. If you’d like to make a difference in the lives of orphaned children around the world, you can so do with a one-time gift or a recurring monthly donation—each gift has such a tremendous impact.

One thing that is unique about The Hope Effect is that 100% of donations received are used directly for orphan care work around the world.

The Hope Effect is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is tax-deductible within the U.S. And if you have additional questions about the organization, send us an email. We’re happy to answer them for you.

Together, we are changing how the world cares for orphans.

7 Helpful Ideas to Declutter on a Busy Schedule

For every minute spent minimizing possessions, an hour is earned.

People live busy lives—sometimes by choice, sometimes by circumstance. Nevertheless, it is a reality of the world we live in.

As a result, there are many who wish to minimize their possessions, but can’t find the margin to do so. If that’s you, this blog post is for you. First, to provide encouragement. Second, to issue a challenge. And third, to offer practical ideas on some ways to find time for decluttering your stuff and enjoying more of the benefits of owning less.

First, some encouragement:

As you declutter, you will almost magically find more time in your schedule. Our possessions are more of a distraction and drain on our time and lives than most people realize. As you move through lived-in spaces, removing items you no longer need, you’ll be surprised how quickly time seems to come back to you.

Your effort is an investment. Accomplish a minute of work, receive an hour of freedom on the other side. Minimalism always woks that way.

Time spent removing possessions is never wasted. (tweet that)

But there is an important reality I need to issue here as a challenge:

Each person needs to make minimalism a priority in their own lives. Possessions won’t remove themselves. We need to find the time to push through the initial investment that is required to accomplish this in our homes and lives.

There is an oft-cited proverb that goes like this, “A person being too busy is a myth. People will always make time for the things that are really important to them.” There is truth in that statement. Any busy person who wants to declutter their home, must be willing to make it a priority.

How then, can we find the time to experience these benefits?

Here are 7 Ways to Declutter on a Busy Schedule:

Find one or two that work for you.

1. Wake up early / Stay up late.

When I first started minimizing, there was a two-week stretch when I woke up every morning at 5am, accomplishing 45 minutes of decluttering before my day even started. I didn’t necessarily like getting up early. But I knew, for a short period of time, I could do it—especially for such an important cause. If you are more of a night-person, choosing to stay up later for a period of time is also an option.

2. Turn off the television / Internet browsing.

The statistics concerning our screen time are really quite unbelievable: nearly 10 hours/day. Reclaim control over your life and home by choosing to set aside your electronic device for just 45 minutes/day. Again, this doesn’t need to be a permanent change (though you may like it more than you think). But for a period of time, it can provide the extra time needed to declutter your home on a busy schedule.

3. Make it “family-time.”

One reason finding time to minimize our possessions can be difficult is because we value the time we spend with family—after being away all-day, spending time with our loved ones is important to us and them. Rather than seeing the minimizing of a room as isolating yourself, bring them along and do it together. I realize, of course, this may be easier said than done. But don’t you think these are important skills you want to pass on to your children (and maybe spouse)?

4. Postpone one hobby.

Hobbies are important. They energize us, educate us, and provide a valuable distraction that allows us to re-engage our responsibilities with a fresh mind and body. Make minimalism your hobby. This does not mean you have to give up painting, reading, gardening, mountain-biking, golfing, quilting, baking, or woodworking forever. It simply means you are postponing that hobby briefly… to craft a new life where you can enjoy them more in the future.

5. Take a staycation.

Rather than leaving town for your next week (or long-weekend) vacation, decide you are going to stay home and minimize instead. You’ll save money—in more ways than one. You’ll be able to almost entirely reinvent your life. You can still enjoy fun and unique outings in your own hometown. And most importantly, it may be the most life-changing vacation you ever take.

6. Send the kids away for a short time.

Removing the day-to-day parenting responsibilities for a period of time will likely supply you with the needed hours to accomplish much toward minimalism. On a grand scale, see if the grandparents would be willing to host the grandkids. Or, coordinate summer camps. If neither of those options are possible, don’t discount the amount of work you can accomplish by sending the kids out for an evening alone with your husband/wife.

7. Pass off one responsibility.

This is not always possible in every situation or relationship, but it may be in yours. If you and your partner are in-sync about your need to own less and take back control of your lives, passing off one responsibility for a period of time is something to consider. Could your spouse commit for a few weeks to handle the meals, the laundry, the bedtime routine, the mowing, or cleaning up the kitchen in the evening? Just be sure to use your newfound time efficiently and wisely if he or she agrees :).

Minimalism is not an easy change to make. If you’ve been accumulating possessions in your home for the last several decades, it’s going to take more than one evening to remove them. But as you progress, you will find caring for your home becomes much easier and less time-consuming—resulting in more space in your schedule to minimize other places.

For tips on getting started, begin your journey with easy steps, focusing on the most lived-in rooms in your home. You’ll notice the results and experience the life-giving benefits quicker.

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Becoming Minimalist: Should You Donate Or Sell Your Unneeded Possessions?

Almost everybody, at one point or another on their journey to become minimalist, ask themselves a difficult question: What should I do with all the excess possessions I am removing from my home and life?

Should I sell them or donate them?

While each person will ultimately make that decision for themselves, here is a general guideline I have followed and recommended:

If you don’t desperately need the money, you should always donate to a local charity whose mission you believe in. The only exceptions are valuable items or large items you are unable to transport yourself.

This is the solution that benefits the most amount of people: both you and the world around you.

Consider these three reasons why it is better to donate your unneeded possessions rather than sell them:

1. Trying to resell your old, unused items only adds time, effort, and stress to an already burdensome process.

Let’s face it, the process of becoming minimalist for most people is not a simple journey. If you’ve spent the first several decades of your life accumulating as much stuff as you can, getting rid of it is not going to be an overnight process. It’s going to take hard work and intentional focus.

Unfortunately, the process of reselling items you hope to remove from your home takes additional effort: snapping pictures, posting online, answering questions, bartering price, meeting buyers…

To make matters even worse, the amount of money we think we’re going to get for each item rarely materializes. Again, I think exceptions should be made for particularly expensive items, but for the most part, the effort is rarely worth the financial return.

2. Donating your unused possessions provides benefit to others. 

Our excess can become a blessing to other people. The items in our closets, our drawers, our basement, or even in the back of our cupboard—almost anything that is still usable—can be used by somebody else. Even if you have no need for an item anymore, almost always somebody in your immediate community can be using it.

I am more convinced than ever that most people want to be generous. If you were to ask a roomful of people, “How many of you want to be known as generous?” 99.9% of hands go up. It’s a pretty small percentage of people who don’t want to be generous. This is something we all want to be true of us.

The problem is, for many people, they just can’t seem to find the margin to become generous. But at the same time, our homes are filled with things we don’t need, items we’ve collected, possessions we’ve accumulated that are unneeded by us. Those items can become the very margin we need to become more generous—and in very specific ways, they can bring help to people and causes in our community.

3. Generosity is not just the byproduct of minimalism, it is also the lifeblood of it.

As we minimize our possessions, we find margin for generosity—not just while we are removing possessions, but as our lives change in the future. Generosity is a byproduct of minimalism.

But I’ve discovered that generosity is not just the byproduct of minimalism, it can also become the very motivating factor that helps us declutter and minimize our possessions as well.

A woman shared her story with me several years ago. She began,

“Look, I’ve been trying to declutter for several months and I’ve actually done a pretty good job of it. I’ve been through many of the rooms in my home. But my closet and my wardrobe, was always going to be the toughest space for me. I love clothes. I love fashion. I knew even before I started I was going to have a hard time getting rid of clothes.

She continued,

Until now, I have not tackled it in any way. However, just last week, everything changed. I was driving downtown, and I happened to drive by our city’s battered women’s shelter. I don’t think I had ever noticed it before. But on that day, I began thinking about the building. I thought about the women living inside, many of whom escaped in the middle of the night from an abusive relationship, with nothing but the clothes on their back and their children in their arms. I saw them leaving, maybe even running, until they found this safe space.

As I thought of the women in the shelter, my mind raced back to my closet—full of beautiful clothes that I hardly ever wear. It occurred to me how much dignity, and how much beauty, and how much honor those clothes could bestow upon those women.

And that thought changed everything for me! I went home, grabbed a bag, and couldn’t fill it fast enough. I found another bag and filled it immediately. The next day, I took several bags of my finest clothes to this women’s shelter, knowing that they needed them more than me. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. They needed them more than I did.

If you have recently discovered the joy of owning less and are beginning the process of becoming minimalist, might I make a suggestion: If you don’t desperately need the money, donate the possessions you are discarding. Find a local charity that you believe in, and donate there.

You will benefit yourself, you will find motivation in the act, and you will bring a positive change to the world around you. What could be better than that?

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