Imagine a life with more freedom, more impact, more time, more creativity and less stress.
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In this episode you’ll learn how to:
- Achieve more of what you want
- Reach your goals with less stress
- Begin to remove the things in life you don’t need
- Inspire others to succeed through your own success
“Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it.” —Joshua Becker
Best-selling author of Simplify and Clutter Free With Kids, Joshua Becker, reaches 350,000 readers every month through his blog, Becoming Minimalist.
Whether you enjoy the idea of a life that embraces simplicity or not, in this replay of Joshua’s story, insights and simple strategies can help you to learn how he has benefited from a life less cluttered.
Own less, achieve more.
Click here to listen to the original episode (005)
Items mentioned in this episode (quick access):
[00:51] Introducing this episode in simplicity and minimalism.
[02:38] Introducing Joshua Becker.
Childhood and becoming minimalist
[03:50] Joshua describes his passion for sports, creativity, and growing up. Joshua’s passion for writing began with a book about an elephant. Joshua never thought he would be a writer.
[05:05] Joshua describes his writing practise.
[06:15] Reflecting on living a typical suburban life, Joshua tells the story of a beautiful memorial day in Vermont where he had a conversation with a neighbour who introduced him to minimalism.
Change
[04:45] Joshua describes how his wife and son were very supportive of their lifestyle change.
[08:12] Deciding to own less.
“Don’t start with your kids stuff…get rid of your things first” – Joshua Becker
[08:37] Joshua encourages explaining to kids what you’re planning to do. Discussing the benefits and the time it takes to become minimalist and how the process is an inward journey of self exploration.
“Any half-awake materialist well knows, that which you hold, holds you.” – Tom Robbins
Owning too much
[11:21] The benefits of owning less.
[11:30] How it feels to lead a minimalist lifestyle.
[13:15] Joshua defines what minimalism means to him.
[13:05] Why Joshua believes we own so much stuff.
“Owning less is great, wanting less is even better” – Joshua Becker
Mindset
[16:43] Rob and Joshua discuss how a simplicity mindset can help with productivity. Ultimately about removing the things we don’t need so that we can pursue the things that we want in life.
[18:47] Discussing mindfulness and awareness; how minimalism can help you to become less stuck. Joshua talks about rest and episodes of greater creativity. Joshua describes how more stuff is about chasing fulfilment in all the wrong places.
Love people not things
[20:15] Shiny object syndrome.
[21:25] Being a rational minimalist. Joshua expresses his fondness for his local community.
[22:39] Joshua describes how minimalism forces questions of value, passions and purpose. Rob asks Joshua about his quote “If you don’t fit in, you’re probably doing the right thing.”
“It doesn’t matter what everyone else is wearing or eating or watching or buying. Be yourself.” – Joshua Becker
Thoughtfulness and consideration
[21:45] Joshua shares how he has never given up on a relationship for his pursuit of a more miminalist lifestyle. A process of thoughtfulness and consideration.
[25:33] Temptation is still a part of Joshua’s life. Joshua discusses how applying more thoughtfulness to consumerism can be helpful.
[26:16] Joshua discusses how minimalism is “an intentionally pursued and applied world view.” There are more important things than owning a lot of stuff.
A recipe for success
[27:10] The quickest way to succeed is to help someone with their own success. Joshua describes how by sharing, linking and referring to other people’s work contributes to his own success.
[29:00] Competition is often money related. How Joshua’s greatest goal in life is to make a difference and help other people rather than a lot of money.
[30:12] Joshua mentions Zig Ziggler who states that money won’t make you happy but everyone wants to find out for themselves.
Tackling spiritual and physical clutter
[32:20] Rob asks Joshua for advice on how to approach creativity with minimalism in mind.
[33:50] Joshua asks are we doing things that are the most beneficial to us
[35:05] Minimalism is a journey.
“Security is found in community. Security is found in relationships” – Joshua Becker
Exchanging possessions for deeper relationship
[35:50] Security is found in relationships.
[36:52] Exchanging possessions for deeper relationships. Joshua describes a conversation with a college student about gardening tools. If we were all about minimalism we could live in much tighter communities.
[37:20] Bringing communities together.
[38:41] Joshua describes what’s inspired him recently.
[40:20] What Joshua is grateful for.
[41:00] Where you can connect with Joshua.
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
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