Embracing “Involuntary Simplicity”
Five years ago, I discovered minimalism when my husband and I were struggling with infertility and starting our treatment journey. I knew that in order to prepare for a baby, I needed to make space: physical space in our home, white space on my calendar, and emotional space in my overwhelmed mind and spirit. The […]
5 Questions Minimalists Ask (Plus 45 More!)
Minimalism encourages constant self-inquiry. This self-inquiry can take many forms, but usually boils down to one question: “Why?” Minimalists examine their motivations before making a decision to ensure their actions align with their values. They also look at past decisions to see how they have impacted their present thoughts, habits, and environment. These decisions include […]
What Do You Need to Offload?
When Apple designed the iPhone, they paid special attention to one detail that is excellent at getting the attention of their users – notification bubbles. They could have used a calming blue, a pretty pink, or a nature-inspired green for the notification color. But no, they chose a bright, alarming red. I don’t get many […]
5 Ways Minimalism Helps You Maintain Healthy Habits
There is a reason that most New Year’s resolutions fail. Behavioral change is hard. In fact, the book Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts–Becoming the Person You Want to Be describes it this way: “Adult behavioral change is the most difficult thing for sentient human beings to accomplish.” Yet every January, like clockwork, we tell ourselves that […]
Why I Did My Own Death Cleaning at 39
What do you want to be to the people that you love? A loyal friend? A trusted advisor? An empathetic listener? An inspiration to live a life aligned with purpose? Depending on the relationship, any or all of these may be true. I think, however, everyone can agree on one thing we do not want […]
Living My Legacy
Minimalism has allowed me to loosen my grip on possessions, relationships, and behaviors that no longer serve me and embrace a life that supports my values and bring me joy. Each time I let go, it makes it easier to do next time. The continual practice of letting go has made me think more about […]
Live a Low(er)-Tox Life: Five Areas Where I Made Changes
As a minimalist, I clear my closets of excess stuff and my calendar of excess commitments. When overwhelmed with negative thoughts or stress, I detox my mind with meditation and prayer. I remove toxic relationships from my life. But what about the toxic load I carry with me every day? I was first introduced to […]
The Dangers of “Should” and “Someday”
Aspiring to be a “better” person in areas of our lives such as finances, health, and relationships is admirable. Oftentimes, however, we purchase items in the name of improving in these areas and don’t follow through. A common example of this is the treadmill purchased with the intent of walking or running on it every […]