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Did you know we have some 50,000 storage facilities in the U.S.? That’s more than the number of Starbucks and McDonald’s locations combined.
One estimate cites the number of items inside the average American home at 300,000. But what purpose does all of this “stuff” serve?
Joshua Becker believes that a large amount of our stuff serves absolutely no purpose—and in fact, detracts from our well being instead of adding to it.
A former pastor and the founder and editor of Becoming Minimalist—with two books on the subject and an online course that 35,000 people have taken to date—he empowers readers to adopt a form of minimalism that works for them—in effect, optimizing our values.
Because minimalism, he says, isn’t about living in a white room with zero belongings, but about intentionally promoting what we most value by removing anything that distracts from it. And in return, we can find more time, more money and less stress.
Joshua is on the Do Gooders Podcast to talk about this purposed-focused journey, which he says comes down to a simple question: What do I want my life to be about?
It’s not: What do I need to get rid of? But what can I add to my life? And he shares plenty of practical advice along the way.
Show highlights include:
- Current state of stuff? Average American home has tripled in size, but 10 percent of us still rent off-site storage.
- Heart of advertisements: Element of confusing consumerism with happiness.
- Joshua’s journey to minimalism: Spending too much time cleaning and organizing stuff, instead of spending time with his son.
- Benefits of minimalism? Almost everything desired in life can be found by owning fewer things.
- Biggest misconception: Minimalism is boring, sacrificial life; but it offers more joy, passion and value.
- Biblical principles: Own less and give away or sell unnecessary possessions for treasures in heaven.
- Uncluttered: How and what to remove? What’s the purpose of home? What’s the purpose of each room?
- Kids and their toys: Starts with the parents because they buy most of the stuff and need to set boundaries.
- Buying habits: Overcome consumerism and own less to create better experiences and more memories.
Good words from Joshua Becker in this show:
[03:21] “Not only do we have too much stuff, but we keep buying more stuff to manage the stuff that we already have.”
[06:55] “Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value in life by removing anything that distracts us from it.”
[11:25] “There is more joy, and there’s more meaning, and there’s more significance in life when we don’t own a bunch of stuff that we don’t need.”
[26:43] “Start seeing money differently. Our money is only as valuable as what we choose to spend it on.”
Additional resources:
- Becoming Minimalist
- Books by Joshua Becker: “The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own” and “The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life”
- Uncluttered Course
- Visit westernusa.salvationarmy.org to join the fight for good in your community.
- What’s your story? Take our free email course to see why your voice matters and how to find your story.
Listen and subscribe to the Do Gooders Podcast now. Connect with Joshua Becker via Becoming Minimalist.
Very good information. Thanks a lot.