“In space cometh grace”—it’s one of my favorite quotes from the companion journal to my book (The Joy of Less Journal: Clear Your Inner Clutter).
As you may have discovered by now, minimalism isn’t just about having less stuff. You might start out by streamlining your socks, but the ultimate effect on your life can be nothing short of magical.
When we take control of our stuff, we gain the strength and confidence to take control of our lives. We’re able to let go of commitments, emotions, distractions, and situations that are weighing us down. Most importantly, we gain some glorious space—not just in our homes, but in our schedules, our minds, our hearts, our souls.
When we make space in our homes, we have less chaos and more calm. We have more room to relax with our families and pursue the activities we love. We stop wishing for a bigger house, and might even consider a smaller one.
When we make space in our schedules, we don’t let trivial to-do’s take over our lives. We focus on what’s important, so our efforts have impact. We stop rushing through life, and build in some time to appreciate the wonder of it.
When we make space in our minds, we free ourselves from fixed beliefs and embrace new perspectives. We dial back the distractions and think more clearly. To paraphrase Mary Oliver, we can ponder what we want to do with our one wild and precious life.
When we make space in our hearts, we open ourselves to others. We have more affection, empathy, and compassion for those around us. We recognize when special people cross our paths, and delight in the opportunity to make a deeper connection or a new friendship.
When we make space in our souls, we realize how wondrous it is to walk this earth. No matter what our religion, we realize we’re part of something greater. We feel more at peace with our fellow humans and more in harmony with the universe.
It’s pretty magnificent what a little decluttering can do.
So, I’d love to know: what has decluttering done for you?
If you’ve been with me on this blog for the long haul (9 years!), you know my story. My minimalist lifestyle enabled me to move to England, live in a tiny flat, travel the world, welcome a sweet baby girl, become a full-time writer, and move to the PNW.
And minimalism continues to serve me well. I’ve faced some personal challenges over the past year, and this philosophy gave me the clarity of mind to make difficult decisions, find the support I needed, and get through things as gracefully as I could.
I hope you’ll consider sharing your story in the Comments. In fact, let’s make it a giveaway—we haven’t done one of those in a while. And I owe you, my darling readers, for being so patient and understanding while I unplugged last summer and posted sporadically over the winter. I promise I haven’t been entirely unproductive—I’ve been writing the manuscript for my new book, due for release next year. :)
Leave a Comment below, and I’ll randomly choose two winners to receive The Joy of Less Journal. Tell me: how has minimalism given you more space, grace, or otherwise changed your life? Has it helped you pursue a passion? Move to a new home? Make a career change? Meet someone wonderful? I can’t wait to find out!
{Details: the giveaway will close at the end of Sunday, April 29. Please be sure to use a legitimate email address, so that I can contact you to obtain your mailing information. International readers: I love you and hope you’ll comment, but for legal reasons the giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.}
Minimalism for me is being in control of things, not the other way around. It is a carefully curated set of things that have happy memories, serve a purpose, and/or allow me to express who I am. My goal (not achieved, yet) would be to be able to pack all my important things into my car, if the situation ever warranted.
My perspective has changed as I work towards my goal. I’ve managed to remove many “fantasy lives” and define achievable goals for my life. In the process, I was able to get rid of the things that went along with those fantasies. Now I can focus on what I really want to do. As I have fewer things cluttering my life, I also have more peace, and time to relax. Imagine the joy of reading a book, instead of reorganizing stuff … because your house isn’t the mess it once was!
I really like what you said about removing your “fantasy lives.” I’m going to remember that! Thx!
I’ve had minimalism tendencies since I was a child. I guess it’s in my DNA. When I tried to be more mainstream and conform to consumerist styles of my friends and acquaintances, I felt overwhelmed and left so many things unfinished. Mostly, though, I was spending way too much money. Then I made the decision to be true to me and declutter not just my things but my activities. Now I am in better control of my days. I’m able to plan and execute projects and reach out to others in need rather than being stuck in my own head. And I definitely have a better relationship with money. Minimalism has been a blessing in my life.
Minimalism is something I adore, but I can tell my commitment to it ebbs and flows with my mindset. When I’m feeling whole and full of light, I can let go of nearly everything without a second thought… But when insecurity and doubt creep back in, I tend to cling to material possessions. I kick myself for letting that happen because then I just end up getting rid of everything again, but I feel so much better when I have less. When I am in possession of fewer “things”, it makes me more gracious, more grateful, and less weighed down mentally. I really wish I could get my fiance to let go of his junk (I say that literally… Old mail and broken things from up to 15 years ago that are shoved in every possible book and cranny). He’s a hoarder, I’m a purger. Do you have any ideas of how I can help him see how fantastic it feels to let go of things do he can embrace a more minimal lifestyle as well?
Ah, the perennial question facing minimalists with families: how do I get my hubby/wifey-poo/kiddos on board with minimalism? Miss Minimalist goes into detail in he book, and also in quite a few pots on her site. I suggest declaring some space of yours in your home as clutter-free, by your definition of clutter. Let him see how useful it is to have, say, a table always ready to use for meals, or how much time you save with a clutter-free room, half a bedroom, bathroom, or even just a cabinet. Rigorously enforce the boundaries of the clutter-free zone, as we all know that clutter has a way of sneaking back in as a part of daily life. Hopefully, over time, perhaps your sig other will see the benefits of “clutter-free living” through your example. There’s no guarantees, of course, but with luck, your fianceé will come around. I feel lucky in that my sig other came on board and is not getting rid of nearly as much stuff as I am! I should ask them tonight what brought them into minimalism.
Minimalism has changed my life over the last 6 months. I left my job and am now a freelance marketer and writer. In the beginning I was able to disconnect my attachment to possessions. It’s caused me to donate, sell, or trash 75% of what I owned. In three weeks I am moving out of New York for the first time in my life. The world’s adventure awaits, and I couldn’t be more excited to see where life takes me!
Minimalism has helped me become more grateful for the things I do have in my life and to stop yearning for more. I have enough.The best things in life are the people we love.
Minimalism has helped me be in a position to pick up and move to a new city for a temporary, but wonderful, job. I maintain two households, with minimal possessions in each, and I have the peace of mind and freedom to do so. In addition, if I hadn’t gotten my financial life in order first — which was a direct outgrowth of simplifying my life in other areas — I would not have been able to take advantage of this opportunity.
Simplifying the stuff seemed to awaken me from my reverie. I found I had been in the cultural current speeding down the river of life grabbing everything as I went- whatever sparkled from the banks of the river I was reaching out for…being involved in every good activity and event, enjoying beautiful home decor (and more and more), if 100 books were good- 200 were even better…..it was like I was asleep and adrift. The purging and letting go shook me awake to what I already knew in my spirit- this life isn’t about stuff or any temporal thing and my sleepwalking was causing me to miss out on all of the very special “someones” in my life and I was losing sight of investing my life in what lasts….I love that we can fully enjoy life and all of God’s creation and leave it for the next soul to fully enjoy…. there’s more than enough beauty and joy and love to go around!
Sleepwalking through life had become my normal way of day to day. After opening myself to the idea and realization that I needed so much less than the world told me, I learned through living with less that I was enriched. Now I am planning my future where I will live full time in a small RV and travel the country, taking my home with me. I shall be houseless but not homeless. Minimalism has taught me that wisdom.
It has allowed me to enjoy my second child’s childhood in ways that I could not if my life was cluttered with too much ‘stuff’, too many commitments, and too much stress. I hope I win as one of my daughter’s friends was telling me last night that she is becoming interested in minimalism and I could share your book with her (and reread it myself as I no longer have the initial copy I read).
Francine–You and I have been internet friends for 10-13 years, so you know my story. Here it is in a paragraph for your readers. Minimalism allowed me to provide for my four children, including some of their college costs, as a single mother, working as a nurse. It allowed me to sell my home, retire and move to another state to help care for my mom. It has allowed me to remain undistracted by dramas that are not meaningful and focus my efforts on environmental issues. There is not one portion of my life that has not been improved by the practical and reflective aspects of minimalism.
I have found that the less I own, the less stress I feel. I want my home to be a sanctuary of calm, and be easy to clean. Minimalism leaves me more time to pursue the things in life that bring me joy. I have no desire for a large home with lots of stuff in it. Getting rid of things I don’t need makes me feel freer. With every item I remove from my life. I wonder how much freer can I feel?! Life is full of possibilities now!
Hi! I continue to be inspired by you 5 years later. I have a love/ hate relationship with my things. One of the most important things you have taught me is that it’s okay to fail. Just try again & keep trying. My ultimate goal is a small cabin in the woods, letting nature be my clutter.
Minimal using has allowed me to navigate the changing season of parenthood to empty nest by giving me space to breath and see beauty. I’ve had the opportunity to reclaim my creativity by slowly saying goodbye to the remnants of homeschooling, parenting, sports, and memorabilia and find me, myself and I as an individual. Respectfully sorting through drawers and closets gave me permission to enjoy memories, let go of past intentions and stop living in the state of “just in case”! I was surprised how quickly it simplified my day and reduced that mental list of “shoulds”. Each step I take reaps space in mind and body which encourages me to go on to the next step. Circumstances this past year slowed my progress but the minimizing I’d accomplished helped life remain manageable. I’ve been so grateful for less during a period of great emotional stress. Now that I’m on the other side of it I’ve got my sights on the next area in my home to bring some purpose and freedom to it. Your book and blog have always inspired me to go at my pace and my values BUT to keep going!!
Would I be disqualified if I said that the more I tried to minimalize, the more I resisted ordering my life. But I am more than willing to give it another try.
My partner has always lived on or near the water, and when we became a couple I knew water was in my future. Fast forward to retirement age, we bought our ocean-going home and we now live full-time onboard our 43ft sailboat, Denali Rose. This meant we were selling the land-home, and massive downsizing had to occur. I was shocked at how many possessions we sold, gave away, and threw away. I was constantly thinking, “why do I have so much stuff!” I guess I would qualify to write a guest article for this blog… :-) Every purchase today has to have a thoughtful reason, or something else has to leave in order to fit it in. I love the small living space, everything in it’s place, and how convenient to bring your household with you when travel to distant shores!
Minimalism inspired me to move to a smaller house. I realized we didn’t need empty rooms and we were spending extra money on furnishing and heating those extra spaces. And lots of extra stuff to fill the space. But when we moved, it all went away. Our new space might be smaller, but I feel like we have so much more.
Minimalism allowed me to sell my house, save/invest the sale money, and move much closer to work (my commute is only 7 minutes each way). Everything I own fits into the back seat of my car, so I can pick up and move easily. And as I consider my future career opportunities, I will be able to easily relocate if I choose to do so. Oh, and I also save A LOT more money, and I could semi-retire now if I wanted. The freedom minimalism gives me is very empowering.
Minimalism helps me every day, and I still have a long way to go. It helps me run my household (of non-minimalists). It simplifies and brings joy to my life.
As the minimalist running a household of a bunch of “maximalists” – minimalism helps me immeasurably every day.
Minimalism has allowed my family of 5, that has moved 29 times in 26 years, to not be drowning in stuff every time we move. I know there’s at least a couple more moves in our future. We currently live in a 1,000 square foot 2 bedroom apartment as one child is grown now. We’re not crowded at all in there! We do plan on getting smaller, lighter furniture next move because giant solid wood pieces are no fun to move up apartment stairs. It took carrying that heavy stuff up stairs to convince my hubby to let go. I do need another decluttering session as I have been on a buying spree in the kitchen & my clothes the past year. Still not much compared to most homes, but for me it’s a lot. I also need to minimize the photo albums—something I’ve put off for years now. I’ve started making use of the fact that my apartment complex picks up trash 3 days a week & I make sure I find at least a couple things to toss each time.
Decluttering my life has helped me become more focused on what I really want to do with my life. I want to travel to the places on my bucket list while I still can and can enjoy them. I am currently trying to write my first story/novel (not sure if it is publishable or not but, it is a story in my head that will not go away no matter how many days pass and I havent written a word.) It has helped me to be a better friend and mom to my now nine year old daughter. It has also helped with moving. The less stuff I have to pack up the happier and less stressed I am.
Minimalism has helped me see who I really am, what kind of mother I want to be and see more clearly what I value. Beyond all that, it has given me a new passion to see Americans lighten up their lives and share the message of less. :)
It’s been 19 months since my minimalist story was published on Miss Minimalist. My life has just changed dramatically as I have just submitted my retirement application. Lisa Avellan from SimpleandSoul.com nails it: “Then, there will come a day when you realize what you hoped for has come. Depending on your why, it might creep up without flash or celebration or it might be a specific event or thing that finally arrives in all its glory, leaving you breathless with gratitude.” This is true for me!
People have been asking me about my future plans. My response is, “I have no idea. I know I am not to be distracted; I am to stay focused on my work until my last day.” I firmly believe God will reveal my next step as needed, just as He has before. I do, however, have good friends who have retired and have advised me to “just be retired, making no firm commitments for about a year.”
I am both excited and a little disconcerted about this new chapter in my life. I am excited that this is even an option. I am disconcerted because I’ve worked since I was 18 years old, like so many other people. Simplicity was my path to freedom on this earth. I am now free to pursue other venues that fit my values: living with love with family/friends, health, contribution, and travel/growth. I do have a few projects to do around our home, but nothing that is pressing. I’ll be happy to have time to dive deeper into simplifying our home. I’ve just read a post from Lisa Avellan at Simple & Soul. She says,
“Simplicity, when you allow it to sink deep into your soul is how you become your best self. It’s how you discover your passions, your first loves, and your gifts. Life is renewed, restored to it’s purpose.”
I’m sure that this new phase of my life will find me sinking deeper into who I am and what I value!
Minimalism has given me the freedom to let go – let go of my possessions, let go of commitments that drained and exhausted me , let go of unhealthy relationships, let go of pressures to buy whatever others have so I could feel like I “fit” in, and because of all that, minimalism brought me my favorite reason of them all: more time with my husband and kids.
Recently, I had to make a big change at work. It was a sacrifice and I had to downsize from a huge office to a tiny corner. In the process, I had to declutter 50% (or more) of my work supplies, products, and basically everything I used to create and build the business. I couldn’t have accomplished this downsizing without my past 5 years of experience decluttering and gaining knowledge from Miss Minimalist. Now, I’m actually very happy with my corner space and less stuff. Plus, I see the end in sight and look forward to getting rid of more and eventually turning the reigns over to someone else. Thank you, Miss Minimalist!
Having a minimal lifestyle has given me more time to just LIVE. No more time wasted deciding what to wear that day; I only have 2 outfits to choose from. Purging all of my “I’ll get to that someday” projects has helped relieve a lot of stress I didn’t even realize I had until it was gone. It’s so freeing to not have to decide which of something to use because you only have one. It’s easier to keep things clean and organized, and if I’m going on a trip I can be packed in a few minutes with just a backpack regardless of my destination.
I have your other books and would love your new one. Thanks!
Betty
I feel like a minimalism flunky. I have tried a spending freeze, the project 333 and decluttering and have done them all halfway. Hearing everyone else’s stories though keep inspiring me to come back and keep trying. Trying to be role model for my girls and living my life with purpose are what keep me going. Thanks for all your inspiration!
Minimalism saves me money which gives me peace of mind to know I have enough and some to share.
I came across decluttering first, that too through a You-tube video of a You-tube make up guru, at least 4+ years ago. Seeing her get rid of all her excess make up and shoes and clothes, got me soooo inspired. Minimalism came second. 2 years ago when I was pregnant with my first, I vowed to myself to keep baby gear to an absolute minimum, and I am happy to say that I have. Now that I am pregnant with my second, I have not bought a single item yet, and I don’t plan to either.
Minimalism and conscious spending has given our little family such a financial freedom that its amazing. The three of us live in a one bedroom 700 sq ft rental apartment. We have one fully paid used car. We have no loans or debts. Our utilities are paired down as much as possible.
Minimalism has given me the ability to breathe and not sigh (if you know what I mean).
Becoming a minimalist has allowed me to travel much more frequently and easily. I have a basic capsule wardrobe now, and I’m always “ready” for travel by using my hanging toiletries bag in everyday life and always keeping it stocked, so it’s ready to grab and go. I’ve also deeply purged my bookshelves (which in the past would have felt like sacrilege LOL). Clearing out books and papers helped me get rid of a ton of mental clutter and it gave me the space to learn more about who I really am versus who I always thought I “needed” to be. Your blog and your story have been a big inspiration along the way.
For me, minimalism means I have room to think. I still live at home and the rest of my family is not minimalistic so I have to focus on only my belongings and spaces or else I drive them and myself crazy. Trust me, I learned the hard way. But when I give myself sanctuary spots(ex. My room, my half of the bathroom, my desk at work), I find that I function far better, even with a low tolerance for stress at a fast-paced job, and at home where everyone is always busy, trying to “get caught up”. I have a running to-do list, not to cause myself stress, but to get my stuff done in an orderly manner rather than have half-finished tasks everywhere. When something has been on my list for too long, I strongly consider removing it (the negotiable, if-I-get-time stuff) without completing it, because I obviously don’t place much importance on it. Minimalism saves me money, too.I have fewer clothing items but I enjoy wearing the ones I have. When the time comes to get rid of a belonging, it doesn’t cause me grief or hardship. In fact, it’s far easier to let go that to hold on. All in all, I definitely believe minimalism is something that will be valuable all my life. It has helped me live a more peaceful life, even when the pace of people around me is nearly break-neck.
I am getting ready to move cross country, from the Midwest to the Southwest. I have gone back and forth between selling everything (except some books, rugs and cushions) and renting a U-Haul to move furniture, books, dishes, shoes, tools… I am back to sell everything except what I can fit in a van. Part of me is sad because I own some nice things and part of me remembers moving into this apartment a year ago and moving just some floor seating and rugs and artwork before the moving truck got there. For a few days, there were just rugs and cushions on the floor and a few pieces of original art. I lounged on the floor and remembered what it felt like to be 25 again and free of all the weight that comes with 50 years. Mimimalism allows me to feel weightless. It allows me the space to meditate on emptiness, which opens up the possibility of everything, and then I can see how spacious life is when I can get past all of the ideas and memories that stuff represents. It’s not that I want to forget my life and where I’ve been, it’s just that I want to be here now. I want to change and keep on moving forward.
Minimalism came to me a point of great philosophical change in my life, and I found that it neatly dovetailed with the other concurrent shifts in my thinking. Years ago, I had rediscovered the joy of bicycling, and I’ve found it to be one the true passions in my life. I’ve been using a bicycle as my primary means of transport for over 5 years. My sig other and I do still have a car, and they use it for daily commuting. More recently, I became increasingly aware of the ethical and environmental dilemmas involved in eating and using animal products, and I had been eating a meat-light diet when I formally discovered minimalism. A few months later, my sig other and I made the switch to vegetarian, and in the time since I’ve been sliding my way over to a vegan diet.
Now, I don’t believe that one needs to be a dedicated bicycle rider, nor a committed veg(etari)an, to be a minimalist. It’s how things worked out for me given my pre-existing passions and how minimalism helped to devote more time and energy to those passions.
Minimalism has helped me feel calmer. I suffer from anxiety and minimalism has helped me truly be able to relax in my own home.
Making the changes to live a more minimal life has brought more joy to my marriage. I was raised by a hoarding father and I took after him. My husband is a great example of a minimalist and my hoarding was a major struggle for him. We have a huge storage area under our house. I called it the dump. I could gather up trash bags full of stuff, open the door and throw them down there. Never to be seen again. We fought about it for years. He finally gave up. I thought I had won. My home always looked nice and orderly but I knew it wasn’t. The dump weighed on my heart and conscience. I read your book and something finally clicked. My husband went on a trip and I spent 5 days and nights throwing away, donating, cleaning and organizing. That experience was hard, painful and humbling but so worth it. The change was dramatic and was the catalyst to take on the rest of my home. I want to live a minimal life. Never again will I let things hurt my marriage.
Minimalism is coming home. While I feel like a minimalist failure often, I seem to always know exactly what needs to be done to restore a peaceful balance in my life. Right now, this means quitting a mentally taxing job so that I can be more present in my kids’ lives and be 100% there when I am with them. And by not living out lives to accumulate more stuff, we have the flexibility to not worry about loss of income.
The Joy of Less was not my first decluttering book but it is my last. This is THE book. I now have a better understanding of what it takes to achieve my ultimate minimalist goal. I have made so much progress it astounds me. My stress level is way down. My priorities are clear and the I have so much more free time and money. This book helped me realize why I spent my money on things. Now I spend money and time on experiences.
Minimalism has given me so much more space! My home feels spacious, tidy, and inviting. I am continually reevaluating what I allow myself to bring into the home and trying to spend less. It’s a continuous journey.
I did a major downsizing in 2001 when preparing to quit my job and move to Italy. It took months to rid myself of the clutter, family heirlooms, clothing, documents, miscellany. But oh, how cathartic! I have not looked at stuff the same way since. That’s not to say it doesn’t creep back in when I’m not looking. I’ve repatriated and we have a son now, and children bring a whole new level of stuff to manage. I keep an eye on it though and keep a box for donations in my laundry room/garage. Taking my extra things to Goodwill feels so good! And having the empty space back is so calming.
I am a baby-minimalist! My husband and I just began our journey this year toward a more mindful, “less is more” way of living. We have purged over half of our belongings and are actively looking to downsize from our 1800 sq dtr home into something much smaller. We are finding more peace in our lives as we say “no” to stuff, clutter, and unnecessary commitments! I no longer have issues with anxiety… who knew it was from all the accumulated clutter in my life!? This move toward minimalism has even given my husband the motivation to pursue is passion for drawing again and is currently transitioning toward that career path. We are embracing simplicity to the fullest. I just discovered your book this past week and cannot wait to read it, but our library doesn’t carry it! (The audacity! Lol) Looks like I will have to give myself permission to bring something new into my home because this book sounds amazing!
Minimalism has improved my life in so many ways.
Last night I was editing my purse (my tiny tiny purse), revising my diary and I found two lists I pass from diary to diary each year, I hadn’t seen them for a while, these two work for me like vision boards: one of them is a list of things I want to do, so I crossed out the ones I had already accomplished and added new ones; the second one is a wish list, things I want, or need, I had crossed out dark jeans and black flats, and still have “perfect black bag” on it, so I started thinking if there was something else I could add to it, something else that I wanted… and I couldn’t think of anything! I don’t desire things anymore, I’m content with what I have!
I started on this path freeing myself from all the clutter (physical and emotional) I had and it cleared my mind and uncovered the real me, the happy simple me.
The me who has less than 40 things in my wardrobe, the me who has a clear schedule, the me who values spending time with my people over anything.
Being more minimal has made life less stressful..more “quiet”..I know where everything is..what I have and need ..calming !
Being a minimalist has helped us to save more money, have less stress and just to be happier overall.
mysticbutterfly37 at yahoo.com
Becoming more minimal saves me money – I buy only when I actually need something, not when I want things. And I know what I have, so I no longer accidentally buy duplicates. Becoming more minimal has helped me clear space in my home so it is a calmer, visually pleasing place I want to spend time in. Most importantly, becoming more minimal helps me make better decisions – where will I put that if I bring it home? Can I fit that event or activity into my schedule? Do I even want to? Do I really need to keep that? Will that _____ add value to my life or help me achieve my long term goals? As a result, I am calmer, more intentional, and better able to deal with life’s challenges. Becoming more minimal is definitely a work in progress for me, but is well worth my daily effort.
Minimalism allows me to live according to my values.
I need this in my life. There is so much stuff I need to purge but I’m not sure how to start. This journal would be a big help….:)
I haven’t yet read your book, but I’m looking forward to it!! I’ve known for years that excess stuff is detrimental to my well being and when I do clear the clutter and get rid of things, I feel as if the weight of the world has been lifted. Why can’t I stick with it?? I have a real mental battle that takes place – guilt for having so much, guilt for getting rid of it – and hope that one day I’ll be able to conquer that beast!! Until then, I still dream about the day when my life AND mind will be clutter free.
Minimalism for me is making sure that I don’t let material things stress me out or cause me undo stress. The less items you have the less you have to deal with and it truly makes such an impact on my ability to be able to fully unwind and relax.
Minimalism has allowed me to prioritize what is important and what is unnecessary. Clutter- having too much stuff- feels like a burden……not a blessing. I feel better psychologically- and spiritually- when my home is in order.