Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

Can your brain keep you from decluttering?  Maybe.  Mel Robbins explains how in her useful and inspiring book,  The 5 Second Rule .*  It's not specifically about decluttering, but it's an idea that can help you access your intuition.  What it does is stop you from over-thinking any situation. * This blog is reader-supported, with no ads!  If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission. How our brains work Like other living entities, we're hardwired to do two things – survive and reproduce.  And our brains are designed to help us.  In fact, they're almost too good at that job.  That's because our brains work very hard to keep us safe from danger. As a result, we can find it hard to be daring, creative, innovative, or even just different from the way we usually are.  When we decide to try something new, our brains are excellent at reminding us of all the reasons we should avoid it.  Memories and fears surface that may persuade us to stick with what has he

You may not realize it, but you could be harboring some beliefs that make it difficult (or even impossible) to declutter and stay that way.  These are common mindsets that can hold us back.  If you're struggling to declutter, it's time to identify the thoughts that are making it so hard. Decluttering block #1: I hate tossing things out. I think we can agree that throwing things out feels wasteful and bad.  Especially if your parents or grandparents lived through the Depression or the World War II era, this mindset runs deep.  The urge to keep everything (even things that are broken) will be stronger if you or your family have a history of trauma or hoarding.  You might not even be aware of how strong this inner compulsion is until you start trying to declutter. If you find it hard to get rid of broken, frayed, outgrown, neglected, or otherwise unused things, see if one of these reminders can help: 1.  The reprimand might not be coming from you. Your aversion to tossing out an o

My 2-year-old grandson loves working.  He stacks up blocks so he can knock them down and build them again.  He puts rocks in his toy dump truck so he can tip them out and fill up again.  He puts the pretend food from the play kitchen in his little grocery cart, then lines it up on the sofa so he can "shop" all over again. Of course, he's playing, not working, but what he's emulating is work.  The siren sounds that accompany the toy fire truck are "hurrying to stop the fire."  Even putting stuffed animals down for their "nap" and then waking them up to "feed" them is a copy of the work his mom does. For many of us, however, work isn't something we seem to enjoy.  How many complaints have you (or a coworker) made about Monday morning?  How many times have you wished for (or rejoiced at) Friday afternoon?  How many weekend chores have you complained about?  All of these behaviors are common, and even expected in our culture.  We're n

Minimalists have a reputation for living in small apartments (like me), tiny houses ( 400 sq. ft. or less ), and even buses or vans.  But you don't have to live in a small space to be a minimalist. That's because minimalism isn't one-size-fits-all.  It's a mindset and a tool for a simpler way of life, one that helps you remove the things that fill your space, your time, and your budget so you can focus on what adds most value and joy.  And that's determined by you! If you live in a small space, you don't have room for a lot of stuff.  This limitation is helpful for many who want to live an uncluttered life. But what if you have a large home?  Is there any way you can still explore minimalism? Why a minimalist might have a big house There are several reasons a minimalist might want or need more space.  For example, not only does my daughter have three young sons, but my son-in-law is a clinical laboratory scientist who works nights.  Their bedroom is at the othe

We're awed by the wrong things. Medieval cathedrals were built to inspire awe – toward God.  But palaces were built to encourage the same reaction, and most of us are much more susceptible to that.  After all, we can't aspire to be God, but we can sure wish for the power and wealth of a king. And today we still worship at the temple of riches.  We may feel awe for the infinite, whether that means God or Nature.  The ocean, mountains, and stars can have the power to move us.  We might feel in touch with the Sublime when we're in a forest, watching a sunset, or even listening to a magnificent symphony. But again and again, we return to that other, earthly cathedral.  We're awed by someone's car, wardrobe, or jewels.  We follow every move of someone who regularly appears on a red carpet.  And we imagine ourselves there too.  We're awed, but we also imagine that it could be us who inspires awe in others. We want to be awesome. Because of that, we look for attention,

In a culture that glorifies speed and efficiency, slow living offers a refreshing alternative.  It's a chance to ease off the gas, reduce the hurry and anxiety, and savor life's simple pleasures. Slow living isn't reserved for people who live on a homestead in the woods or in a remote mountain village.  It's a mindset accessible to all, whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or on a farm. What is slow living? Slow living is a quiet rebellion against the hustle and bustle of modern life.  It's a reminder that we don't have to run like hamsters on a wheel.  When you decide to slow down, you can do more careful, high-quality work with more time and energy to enjoy what makes you happy, whether that's reading a good book, walking along the beach, or noticing the changing colors of a sunset. Slow living doesn't mean withdrawing from life, abandoning your responsibilities, or giving up every goal.  It's about finding balance and creating mindfulness in

Have you ever stood in front of your closet and felt like you didn't have anything to wear?  Maybe the space is packed with clothes, but you still struggle to put together outfits that make you happy. You're not alone.  Many of us feel the same way.  In fact, studies show that the average woman wears only about 20%-25% of her clothes most of the time.  We stick with the same few pieces because we're not sure what suits us best.  Even those few outfits that please us may be happy accidents rather than intentionally chosen statements of our personal style.  Worse, we may be wearing the "good enough" choices we've merely settled for .  (I have a few pieces like that in my closet right now.) As a result, we continue to shop for new clothes, especially inexpensive fast fashion, hoping to find something that suits us better.  When we aren't sure of our best personal style, it's easier to buy those cheap, trendy pieces.  It may seem like less of a risk.  Afte

With the first day of school fast approaching, I always feel a burst of energy and anticipation.  And I can't wait for fall!  Now's a good time to use that determination to refresh my home, my goals, and more. In fact, we can do old-fashioned spring cleaning, year-end evaluation, or a seasonal update any time. 6 easy steps to reset your inner and outer environments 1.  Start with self-evaluation. Begin by thinking, "What's really important to me?"  This inner evaluation is at least as important as any decluttering program.  Consider: What do I want from my life? What needs to change so I can move closer to the life I imagine for myself? How can I live the upcoming year in a way that's truly meaningful? Imagining myself a year from now, what am I happy about accomplishing, or rueful about failing to do? Take at least 30 to 60 minutes to think about these questions, or revisit them over the course of a few days.  Take notes.  You'll create a blueprint for h

Does it sometimes feel that your country, or the world, is stumbling about without structure or control?  Maybe that feeling describes your life too, at least sometimes. Tom Brady, the NFL star quarterback for most of this century, said in a recent interview,  I feel like, naturally as a quarterback, I was in control [of the game].  I loved flying the plane, being the operator.  I think what you realize in life is that you're not in control that much.  What do I need to do more in my life?  I need to be better with less control. "I need to be better with less control."  That's the key to life, right there. A dose of reality You might say to Tom Brady, "Hey, you were a football star for decades, but now it's time to move on."  Every human goes through transitions.  There's a season to be an acclaimed athlete, and there's a season to be a sports commentator (or whatever Mr. Brady is doing next).  None of it is going to last forever.  But that's

Here's an interesting paradox.  As people's desire for a simpler, more focused life increases, the amount of material about it has exploded into a huge array of blogs, podcasts, YouTube channels, social media posts, books, and courses.  Minimalism is becoming pretty huge! And that can be overwhelming and confusing.  Before you have the chance to implement one helpful idea, you're presented with two or three more. Start here. The number one important step toward any positive life change is to begin . But if you want a simpler life, exactly where do you begin?  How do you cut through the noise and get to what's going to make the most difference in your life?  That's the essence of minimalism, after all – focusing on essentials, figuring out what matters, and removing the things that crowd and distract. If you're newly interested in simplifying your life, but you're unsure where to start, choose one of these four areas.  Pick the one that strikes you as most v