We live in a society that has taught us that happiness lies in more, while in reality the opposite may be true. Having too many things distracts us and does not allow us to fully enjoy the few things in life that we really love. Minimalism helps clear your mind, frees up time to do what you love and is tremendously liberating.
Advice from Masters – Quotes on Benefits of Minimalism
MINIMALISM: the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from them
Focus on what matters: Our excessive possessions are not making us happy. Even worse, they are taking us away from the things that do. Once we let go of the things that don’t matter, we are free to pursue all the things that really do matter. People who give away possessions hold their remaining possessions in higher esteem. People who give their time make better use of their remaining time.
Maybe the life you’ve always wanted is buried under everything you own!
Purposefully owning less begins to take us out of the unwinnable game of comparison.
Often it is those who live quietly, modestly, and contentedly with a simple life who are the happiest.
Joshua Becker – Author – The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own
I finally figured it out. Instead of working so hard to make ends meet, work on having fewer ends.
As I became more and more me and started experiencing the world from this new stuff-less place, I realized that diamonds are not this girl’s best friend. My best friend is a magical rooftop sunrise. My best friend is the ocean. My best friend is a hike in the mountains. My best friend is a peaceful afternoon. My best friend is a really good book. My best friend is laughter. My best friend is seeing the world. My best friend is time with people I love. Diamonds have nothing on my best friends.
After a while, I wasn’t saying no because I was so busy, I was saying no because I didn’t want to be so busy anymore.
Courtney Carver – Author – Soulful Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Much More
Top 5 Books on the Benefits of a Minimalist Lifestyle
Less is the new More! These books explain how.
Status Anxiety
Authors: Alain de Botton,
Alain de Botton reveals the reason why you worry about your reputation as a winner or a loser. He argues that the cause of this kind of anxiety is that people treat you based on your social class. In this book, he eliminates this practice and helps you overcome the fear that the society might deem you worthless.
The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own
Authors: Joshua Becker,
Based on first-hand experience, Joshua Becker reveals the power of minimalism. He reveals the flip-side of accumulating wealth and possessions — the unceasing desire for more. And he shows you a way out of this, so you can lead a simple life where the things that truly matter (such as the relationships and mental health) will play a more significant role.
The Power Of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential
Authors: Leo Babauta,
Leo Babauta trains you to limit your resources, find your focus and the maximize on what you already have. His practical approaches will make the path to success easier and more realistic. He also shows you how you can achieve goals by breaking them down, become more efficient and increase your productivity.
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
Authors: Jen Hatmaker,
7 is the story of Jen Hatmaker’s life-transforming experience of reducing consumption, after being called “rich” by a poor child she met. The changes she observed in her life were life-transforming. She and her family grew to be more grateful, less indulgent and more generous to the world.
Soulful Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Much More
Authors: Courtney Carver,
Courtney Carver was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and had no choice but to learn to filter out the stressors in her life. In this book, she shares the tips that worked for her and helps you take a break from a life that is always asking for more. Soulful Simplicity will help you realize what life is really all about.
Other concepts on Minimalism
Letting Go
We often place much greater importance to things, than they really deserve. By practicing the art of letting go, we gain a great degree of freedom from thoughts, emotions and things that prevent us from realizing our true selves.
Paradox of Choice
Do more choices make us happier by helping us find the ‘perfect’ choice, or only leave us more confused. Understand why too many choices can lead to buyer paralysis and buyer remorse, and how when it comes to choices, less may in fact be more.