Posts tagged with “less”
How Doing Less Can Help You Have More of What Matters
“Clarity about what matters provides clarity about what does not.” ~Cal Newport
Our culture celebrates the image of being able to get it all done. Having it all. Juggling work and life, while being a massive success at both. Having the big house, the shiny new car, the wife or husband, kids, and pets waiting for us with big smiles at the end of each and every day. Always being happy. Feeling constantly fulfilled. Living a life packed full of sunshine, light, and adventure in every single moment.
It’s a nice image. It’s pretty intoxicating. It’s also largely a myth. …
When Too Much Stuff Gets in the Way of All the Good Stuff
“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” ~Socrates
When Hans and I relocated from Chicago to Ann Arbor, we wanted to live in a house with a big yard so we could plant flowers and get a dog.
There were two backstories feeding these wants. I grew up on a farm and we always had a dog or two. And having lived in Chicago three-flats for a decade, I was ready for some green grass.
There were other things on our wish list, including enough space (to …
The Joy of Doing Less: 3 Ways to Reclaim Your Time
“Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s your masterpiece after all.” ~Nathan W. Morris
I began 2015 by cleaning out my closet. I sold and donated and trashed the pieces that weren’t serving me anymore. Embarrassingly enough, I purged nearly 100 items. It felt great. Getting rid of stuff and seeing beauty behind the clutter was incredible. But this story isn’t really about my closet.
It’s also not about my desk drawers, my linen closet, or my kitchen, which all came next. As it turns out, getting rid of clutter and extra things was just the tip of the iceberg. …
Getting More Out of Life When You Have Less Money
“The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all your money.” ~Unknown
When we find ourselves not having “enough,” times may be rough; however, this is only our first glance, our perceived perception.
Not all who have little are poor. None who live simply fit into the status quo. And none of us deserves to be judged for what we do or do not own.
Poverty lines are a general measure of separating the classes, but they fail to feel emotions, see our genuine qualities, or tell the stories of our lives.
They …
Where True Happiness Comes From: How We Gain by Having Less
“The things you own end up owning you. It’s only after you lose everything that you’re free to do anything.” ~Chuck Palahniuk
Small is the new big. That is to say, minimalism and living with less is becoming a growing movement in America and it’s starting to catch on over here in the UK too.
With the global economic crisis and changes in social attitudes, people are starting to realize that the more stuff we have, the more miserable and trapped we become. After all, stuff leads to debt, stress, and even increases our carbon footprint.
Plus, living in …
3 Ways to Redesign Your Life by Shedding the Excess
“Don’t let your happiness depend on something you may lose.” ~C.S. Lewis
For as long as I can remember, “more” has always been better, but the word “more” is no longer what it used to be.
Five years ago, I started exercising for the first time in my life. At first, I counted down the minutes until my workout was over. As I got stronger, though, I started staying at the gym longer and longer.
For a while, I burned more calories than I consumed during meals. It didn’t matter. I worked out as much as I could because I …
A Few Less Steps to Bliss
“Don’t use a lot where a little will do.” ~Proverb
My fears around becoming a mother for the first time were validated. Giving birth did hurt, though in an empowering, “hear me roar” kind of way.
There is stiff competition now for my husband’s attention, but mine is captivated as well. And our spontaneous, hedonistic, freewheeling lifestyle is permanently cramped—but into this cozy fetal position of child-friendly rhythm and routine.
Though we have been pacified into a relatively mundane existence, my morphing into a mama bear that’s hell bent on protecting her cubs from excess has helped keep things spicy. …
Need Less, Have More: Life Expands When We Eliminate the Excess
“Knowledge is learning something new every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day” ~Zen Saying
Simplicity, at its heart, comes down to eliminating the excess in our lives.
Excess needs, wants, possessions. The list goes on.
Society tries to sell us on the idea that having more in our lives should be the goal and is the answer. But is more really improving the quality of our lives?
Do more possessions beyond a certain point really add value to our lives?
Do more commitments in our diaries really help us feel less stressed and rushed?
Does always wanting …
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