Tag Archives: minimalism

Do more with less – embrace a minimalist view of life and be happier sooner

If there is one thing I have learnt that has changed the way I think profoundly during my short time, I can say that it’s this.

Having more does not equal happiness.

This applies to money, relationships, objects……… anything.

Instead, I’ve discovered the true value in getting by with less, and making do with what I already have.

Some would see it as being ‘cheap’. I see it as a smarter way of being that gives me satisfaction, happiness, and a feeling of freedom that allows me to do so many more activities which feed my love for life.

Of course, there is no shortage of opposition to this belief. That’s fine.

I now know it’s not my way. My path winds clearer, uncluttered, simple.

What inspired this post is the following illustration of minimalism as a story told between a successful businessman, and a successful man – both of whom believe they have it all.

See which man you prefer to model. I know which one I admire most.

I hope you enjoy it.


Excerpt from my favourite book, The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss.

An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal

Mexican village on doctor’s orders. Unable to sleep after an
urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to
the pier to clear his head. A small boat with just one fisherman had
docked, and inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The
American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

“How long did it take you to catch them?” the American asked.

“Only a little while,” the Mexican replied in surprisingly good English.

“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” the American
then asked.

“I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends,”
the Mexican said as he unloaded them into a basket.

“But… What do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican looked up and smiled. “I sleep late, fish a little, play
with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia, and stroll into the
village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my
amigos. I have a full and busy life, senior.”

The American laughed and stood tall. “Sir, I’m a Harvard M.B.A.
and can help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the
proceeds, buy a bigger boat. In no time, you could buy several boats
with the increased haul. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing
boats.”
He continued, “Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you
would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening your own
cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution.
You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, of course,
and move to Mexico City, then to Los Angeles, and eventually New
York City, where you could run your expanding enterprise with
proper management.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, senior, how long will all this
take?”

To which the American replied, “15-20 years. 25 tops.”

“But what then, senior?”

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the
time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company
stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”

“Millions, senior? Then what?”

“Then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village,
where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids,
take a siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings
where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos …”


Does this story sound familiar to you?

It seems that this is what we are trained to do in our modern society – to ‘think big’ and ‘aim for the stars’.

Most of the time however, what we really want in life is simple pleasures – food, relationships, comfort – which are easily within reach.

Are you going in the right direction?

Do you feel pressured to own a village, when what makes you happy is sleeping in your little hut?

That’s great. Why?

You’re aware of the discomfort of the situation, and once discomfort intensifies, action is born.

You are the master of your domain, the leader of your troop, the bearer of the map.

Go ahead, embrace a minimal lifestyle. Find your happiness now, not in 25 years’ time.

I see it as a journey to experience more with less. To live within my means, not my wants. To question the value of my activities, experiences, and belongings and determine if they are of positive or negative influence.

It’s a journey. One I have chosen as a quest, an adventure, as a new way of being.

I plan to live life happy now. How?

Live Simple.


 

Thanks for reading my work.

Like it? Please share with your friends on social media. The more people I can inspire, the happier I’ll be.

Until next time…..

Yours in inspiration,

Jason


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Boil the kettle with what you need – a musing on minimalism

Today it’s a slightly shorter post to stir your brain juice. My fight against the flu is coming to a close, and my thoughts are not ideal for inspirational writing. However, I’m committed the promise I made to you in my first post.

Today, I would like to raise your awareness to a passionate topic of mine.

Minimalism.

Here’s why.

I was in the kitchen the other day and I observed my house mate preparing a cup of tea for breakfast.

He filled the 1.7 litre kettle to the top.

The thing that got me was there were only two people to prepare a beverage for!

I see such acts as wasteful. 

Rather than focus on creating an external ‘enemy’ that can be blamed (such as ‘dirty’ electricity), I feel it is more constructive and beneficial to focus on the behaviour that drives the action, and replacing it with something more sustainable.

I introduce to you the concept of minimalism.

I’d like to use this post as a short essay on becoming aware to the concept of minimalism. I’ll be sure to discuss it more in detail at a later date, and you will see it pop up more in the topics that I write about. This post will make you aware of the minimalist concept, and present two examples to present a different way of thinking.


What is minimalism?

There are many definitions out there.

I see minimalism as a way of living and being that embraces the natural boundaries we were biologically programmed to follow.

We are presented with so many options in life, many of them not helpful to our way of being or personal growth. An abundance of options can lead to anxiety, depression, helplessness, confusion, and procrastination.

Life is full of abundance. You may not realise it, but take a good look around.

How do you move forward and not become victim to these options?

In many ways, it’s a choice.

A choice that is made when times are excessively abundant, and the lure of ‘taking the cake and eating it too’ is strong.

Let’s look at an example.

You go shopping for groceries and see yummy food items that you really, really want. They aren’t on your list, and you know you have plenty of food options at home. You are salivating. The desire is strong. “Why not? I deserve it” you try to justify.

You choose not to buy. Why?

You realise that there is food at home to be used. If you buy these extra items that you don’t really need, then those you already have will go to waste. Not only will this cost you more, but your wastefulness affects the wider community and nature too (more food needs to be supplied; more waste to landfill).

Congratulations. The choice you’ve made is one that reduces pressure on both yourself (finance, choice) and the greater environment.

You’ve just practised minimalism.


That’s it. Just a short musing to express my thoughts on minimalism, and how the act of boiling a kettle led me to think of the greater meaning behind this simple, daily task.

Minimalism is a choice to live with a greater awareness of your impact on the world.

Maybe you can see ways where you are being led by abundance. I encourage you nurture this awareness to the concept, and challenge your decisions in future.


I appreciate you taking time to read my work. If you like it, please share it with your friends on social media using the buttons below.

The more people I can help, the happier I’ll be.

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

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