The Minimalists

I’ve recently come across an amazing website called ‘The Minimalists‘ created by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus. The website has inspired me in more ways than one.

I have been reading a lot about ‘minimalism’ lately – it seems to be the new buzz word. But it’s not just some fad. So many of us watch our lives flash before our eyes without actually doing what we love. We’re driven by money, by possessions, and by always wanting more. But no matter how many possessions we acquire, no matter how many houses we buy, or how many pieces of clothing fill our wardrobes, no possession can make us happy. We are all searching for meaning in our lives – we all want to have a purpose and to leave our mark on this world. But so many of us get lost along the way. We live the way society tells us to live – buy a house, get a great job, buy a car – and we’re built to always want more. But none of it actually means anything if it doesn’t bring us satisfaction – and I’m not talking about that instant satisfaction that we get when buying something new – because that satisfaction is temporary. An hour, a day, or even a week – but it wears off, and then we search for the next thing to buy to give us that instant hit of happiness.

Ryan and Joshua are two extremely inspiring and interesting individuals. They were both very successful businessmen with luxury cars and huge houses. But they weren’t happy. They didn’t have time to really enjoy their lives and live with meaning. They both realized they needed a change. And in 2010, they did a complete 180, and transformed their lives. They started the website, and for seven years, have helped people transform their lives.

For them, “minimalists don’t focus on having less, less, less; rather, we focus on making room for more: more time, more passion, more experiences, more growth, more contribution, more contentment. More freedom. Clearing the clutter from life’s path helps us make that room. Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things so we can make room for life’s important things—which actually aren’t things at all.”

Their website is filled with really interesting articles, perspectives and podcasts. I highly recommend having a squander and seeing what you think!

Doing a complete 180 and changing your life takes guts. It’s saying “screw you” to society and everything that it teaches us. It’s scary – hell maybe it’s even terrifying. But for Joshua and Ryan, it has paid off. They are now living lives that give them meaning and fulfillment. They are helping people. They have time to do what they enjoy. Their homes are not filled with things they don’t need. They’ve just ‘got it.’

Maybe I’m not ready to do a full 180, but I’m certainly ready to make some changes and put some of their theories into practice. I’m going to clean out my wardrobe, declutter the house, try not to bring my work home with me, avoid negative people and situations, and really invest time in the things I love doing, and the people I love. And of course, get excited about the little things – the things that matter. Yes, these are small steps, but Rome wasn’t built in a day.

What are your favorite minimalist websites and blogs? And how have you, or how do you plan, to declutter your life and live minimalistically?