Less is More

[Tomm]

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, two former corporate executives now known as ‘The Minimalists’, catapulted themselves into the ‘less is more’ mindset after experiencing what they describe on their website as ‘a lingering discontent’.

As they approached the age of 30, they realised that they had achieved everything that was supposed to make them happy: “great six-figure jobs, luxury cars, huge oversized houses, and all the stuff to clutter every corner of our consumer-driven lifestyles.”

Yet, despite the money and the possessions, they weren’t happy.

“There was a gaping void and working 7080 hours a week just to buy more stuff didn’t fill the void.” Instead, it only brought Millburn and Nicodemus more debt, stress, anxiety and less control over their lives and what they did with their time, they say.

The pair, who has published several books and released a documentary called Minimalism, argues that minimalism is not about focusing on having less but “on making room for more more time, more passion, more experiences, more growth, more contribution, more contentment.”

(excerpted from Readers' Digest)

 

[look4hope]

Less is more. Yes...totally YES!!!
Hi Tom...long time no see.

 

[ClearPath]

Money doesn't create happiness in all unfortunately; one can be rich in wealth but not rich in spirit.
Personally I think the simplest things in life can be the best; we often take the small things in life for granted when we should cherish and embrace them.

Great post @Martin Tom.

 

[friend of]

Can agree with that totally. Time is the most precious commodity we have! Big wigs are realizing that they are far worse off with an 80-hour week than someone with a 20K annual salary working a 30-hour week. Hah!

 

[RaymondG]

Money cant buy Happiness, and giving all your money away cant buy salvation. The key is trusting in the Lord. Most people think you have to work more than normal to get "rich." These guys prove you dont have to...you can, for example, write a good book, sit back and let the working class buy it and fill your bank account.....

 

[look4hope]

Money doesn't buy happiness-- Absolutely correct, even though there are those who stand by $$$.
We do what we need to do to earn, and do what we need to do to help those who need the help. It doesn't necessarily mean money. Sparing a couple of hours helping an elderly neighbor, or volunteering for a great Cause, lending an ear or two, being a Around the world misionary, donating our talents, our time. Giving hugs, a smile. So many different ways to be part of a greater and rewarding life.
Doing what is right.

 

[Greg J.]

minimalism is not about focusing on having less but “on making room for more more time, more passion, more experiences, more growth, more contribution, more contentment.”

Minimalism also does not bring contentment. Spending more time with those you love, spending less time worrying about things, and pondering moral issues seriously can lighten the lingering discontent, but don't necessarily. Their new path is quieter, but also more deceptive than the intense way they were living. Emptiness is only filled through deepening one's relationship to Jesus Christ. Without doing so, the empty feeling doesn't go away, it becomes more numb due to the hardening of hearts. They were feeling the pain of not having control of their lives ("life out of control"), and now they have rearranged things so they have more control, but that is deceptive. Successfully being in control of one's life affirms and builds one's reliance on his or her capabilities and patterns of living. Giving up all control to the Lord is the only way to achieve lasting peace and contentment, because he's the only one that can grant the faith by which we experience our unity with him. It is only in him we are never again alone or unsatisfied.

 

[Kit Sigmon]

Is that a New Age thing?

Instead of getting saved, relying on God and being content with what we have...we're now
to minimalise and we're going to be better people?

 

[Tomm]

Is that a New Age thing?

Instead of getting saved, relying on God and being content with what we have...we're now
to minimalise and we're going to be better people?

What new age thing? The above article is just to demonstrate that the world cannot bring us happiness,
success, money and fame cannot fulfill us; I am not trying to convert you to minimalism.

 

[Tomm]

Less is more. Yes...totally YES!!!
Hi Tom...long time no see.

Nice to see you again, Look4hope.
¡Cuánto tiempo sin verte!

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

Technically money buys happiness.... for about a few minutes, then you get bored and need to buy more happiness. Thats why as someone becomes more wealthy they waste more money trying to find something that makes them happy. Its also why many wealthy people become suicidal, they just can't get happy with what they buy.

I don't have much at all. If not for living at home I'd likely be on the streets. And I am happy with not much. I'm fine with a minimalist type of life. I'm content. My wife likes to buy things sometimes and its frustrating BUT I can't expect her to be like me. Some people need to buy something sometimes to still feel a bit better. Especially when working hard. I don't. Even when I worked I didn't care about buying something all the time.

 

[nanookadenord]

Can agree with that totally. Time is the most precious commodity we have! Big wigs are realizing that they are far worse off with an 80-hour week than someone with a 20K annual salary working a 30-hour week. Hah!

I wish the family owned ambulance company I work for agreed with that sentiment. We routinely work 15-16 hour days. Ending a shift at 9-10pm and having to be back in for a 4am shift sometimes. I worked 55 1/2 hours last week in four shifts.

Would love to spend more time with my kids (I'm divorced) and girlfriend, but work so many hours.

 

[look4hope]

Nice to see you again, Look4hope.
¡Cuánto tiempo sin verte!

Hola Tom, sí mucho tiempo sin verte tambien!

 

[Kit Sigmon]

What new age thing? The above article is just to demonstrate that the world cannot bring us happiness,
success, money and fame cannot fulfill us; I am not trying to convert you to minimalism.

Martin Tom...I've been seeing the minimalist comments from friends on Facebook a whole lot lately... I read some articles about the guys promoting it and to me it sounds new agey... so far I haven't found anything about
those guys being christians...do you know if they are christians and their minimalist thing is based on biblical
principles?
Me and my husband live on his pension, both of us no longer are able to work... so we know about living
simply and being content and that's just from following bible teaching on the subjects
of being a good steward, being content with what you have etc. We saw the "handwriting on the wall" over a
year ago and put our larger home up for sale and got us a little place that's a thousand sq. ft. in a retirement
complex.

 

[Tomm]

Hola Tom, sí mucho tiempo sin verte tambien!

Si...
¿Hablas español en casa?