Sixteen years ago, we made a decision to remove the unneeded physical possessions from our lives. At the time, this decision stemmed from two emerging realities: first, the financial strain of sustaining our lifestyle, and second, the growing realization of how much time and energy our possessions consumed. Although I would not have been able […] The post Unlock a Richer Life by Embracing Your Limits appeared first on Becoming Minimalist ..read more

“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” —Seneca From the time we are young, it seems we have a tendency to compare ourselves to others. Even as kids, we compare our grades, our speed, our clothes, our toys, even the size of the house owned by our parents. As we grow older, the comparisons might shift but the habit remains the same. We start comparing careers, talents, homes, vacations, even the successes of our children. In fact, according to some studies, 10 percent of our thoughts involve comparisons of some kind. It has been argued by some psychol ..read more

Create a home that restores your energy, not one that drains it. There is a wonderful calm and peace that comes from organizing our belongings. It feels good to know where things are stored and how to easily access them. But let’s be honest, organizing is always, only a temporary fix. We sort, organize, label, and find storage solutions today, only to find ourselves repeating the same process tomorrow. The problem isn’t that we’re not good at organizing. The problem is that we just own too much stuff. However, when we take the permanent step of removing the possessions we don’t need from our ..read more

“You can’t take it with you when you go.” “You’ll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse.” “No one is going to stand up at your funeral and say, ‘She had a really expensive couch and great shoes.'” “He who dies with the most toys, still dies.” These are all phrases we’ve heard. When we do, rather than arguing with the sentiment, we nod our head in agreement because we know they are true. And then we go on gathering toys and shoes, furniture and wealth. We agree in our hearts that there are more worthy pursuits for our one life than material possessions. But all too often, we head right back into ..read more

Last week, Experian asked a question on X: How can adopting a minimalist lifestyle contribute to achieving financial freedom and long-term wealth growth? Many financial advisors and experts chimed in with answers: A minimalist lifestyle helps you enjoy the present–without all the clutter–and save money for the future. —Beverly Herzog There’s a clear correlation between intentional living and financial stability. By focusing on your personal values and what makes you happy, you can prioritize your spending, hold yourself accountable to your goals, and simplify your life. —Chloé Moore Adop ..read more

Have you ever noticed how half-done projects seem to hang out in your brain more than those you’ve completed? When we finish a task, whether it’s big or small, it quickly leaves our thoughts. But when we leave something unfinished—like a phone call laundry, dirty dishes, or even a puzzle on the kitchen table—it continues to occupy space in our minds, even as we move on to other activities. There is a name for this. It is called The Zeigarnik Effect. The Zeigarnik Effect, named after the Russian psychologist who first noticed it, Bluma Zeigarnik, explains that the human brain tends to remember ..read more

Your home is your sanctuary. Let’s keep it that way. Simplicity is about creating space in your life for what matters most. It’s about clearing the clutter from our homes and hearts so we can live with intention and purpose.  As the world gets busier and noisier, embracing simplicity and minimalism becomes even more important. But we all need inspiration to keep us going. That’s why I carefully selected these articles for you. I hope they inspire you to continue on this beautiful journey towards a simpler life.  Find a cozy spot, prepare your favorite drink, and immerse yourself in ..read more

I’ll never forget the day I discovered minimalism. It was an otherwise typical Saturday morning. I was outside cleaning our garage while my young son played in the yard. My wife, Kim, was cleaning indoors while keeping an eye on our two-year old daughter. We had decided to spend the day Spring Cleaning, hoping to bring some order to our chaotic home. Both projects—inside and out—ended up taking much longer than we had anticipated. My neighbor, June, happened to be outside working in her yard while I plugged away at my garage. She noticed my frustration and struck up a chat. After listening to ..read more

My writing career at Becoming Minimalist has fallen into two different stages: 2008—2013 and 2013—2024. Today, begins a new one and I want to tell you about it. 2008 – 2013 For the first five years of Becoming Minimalist, I held a full-time job as pastor at a local church (one in VT, the other in AZ). The church paid my salary and writing was my hobby. I carried no responsibility to create an income through my writing. It was a beautiful season in my life where I was free to write without worry. However, as Becoming Minimalist grew and opportunities and time commitments expanded, it became cl ..read more

I have written over two million words published on the Internet. During the last 16 years, I’ve written over 2,000 articles, launched multiple websites (Becoming Minimalist, Simplify Magazine, Simple Money Magazine, Focus on Faith), posted consistently for over a decade on social media, and have also produced hundreds of videos on YouTube. All that to say, I’ve been around for awhile and I’m proud of the work I’ve put in. I hope it is resulting in a positive difference. Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of changes and a lot of websites and writers come and go. Along the way, I’ve learned a few ..read more