a better life… just one percent at a time
Rational minimalism removes any rigid definition of the “minimalist” label.
Minimalism should not be defined by the number of things you have. Instead, we achieve rational minimalism through focus on all areas. Only allow meaningful things, people, activities and experiences into your life. These take center stage. Number of items in your closet be damned.
Remove the unnecessary, so only the necessary remains. And, to be honest, don’t start with your closet.
Start with your time. Then with your mind.
What are you distracting yourself with? And how is that manifesting? Do these distractions become stressful thoughts that zap your energy? Perhaps activities you participate in even though they no longer bring you happiness? Or maybe, it’s manifesting itself as fifty pairs of shoes in your already over-packed closet.
Getting rid of the shoes is the easy part. But understanding the obsession behind the compulsion to purchase another pair of black flats when you already have three pairs at home. That’s where the real work lies.
Cancelling your book club meetings because you don’t enjoy them is easy. Figuring out why you don’t enjoy them and, more importantly, what does bring you happiness, is difficult.
Without the distraction of all those things, I stumbled onto a more fulfilling life.
That’s what happens when you embrace rational minimalism. Without all that crap distracting you from the things making you unhappy, you have to stare right at them. And you’ll probably do something about them. It won’t be easy… if it was easy, you probably would have dealt with it a long time ago. And it probably won’t happen overnight, but you can slowly chisel away at the things that zap your energy. That take away your zest for life. Every day you’ll get a little more of that spark back.
“The more we value things, the less we value ourselves”
Quote from Bruce Lee
Martial Artist, Instructor, Actor, Director, Philosopher; Founder of Jeet Kune Do
My partner’s sister-in-law is a self-proclaimed minimalist. Proudly placed on her entryway table is a sign that says, “Less house, more home.”
It’s awesome. Unfortunately you can barely see it behind all of the high-end decorative items also cluttering the table.
Continue reading “Maximize Happiness with Rational Minimalism”
Sunday afternoon, and I’m sitting on the floor in the middle of an empty apartment. A glass of wine in my hand.
A thirty-five-year-old manager at one of the largest IT companies in my city. The only things in my living room are a stack of a dozen boxes, an air mattress and two suitcases.
Continue reading “From Downtown Loft to House Hacking”
After a couple of years living abroad, I was home! Home to bigger everything… bigger food portions, bigger apartments, and bigger disposable income. I was immediately bitten by the consumerism bug.
And it was intoxicating.
At first the larger portions made me feel uncomfortable, but I quickly became used to them and thoroughly enjoyed the gluttony. The lack of walking made me feel lethargic, but I soon relished having a vehicle and the convenience that came with it. I reconnected with friends, and a couple of evenings a week enjoyed lively conversation over drinks. Somehow I stumbled on the best of both worlds, enjoying the excess of American life, while keeping the confidence and independence gained living abroad.
Continue reading “Bitten by the Consumerism Bug”
Happy thirtieth birthday to me.
Let the death march begin.
It’s okay, I had fun in my youth. Shenanigans in my teens, going for something between goth and heavy metal. Dating a local musician, going to shows, becoming the unintended groupie. And my minivan really rounded out the persona.
I embraced the academic world, took a range of classes – philosophy, world religion, literature, biology, psychology, statistics. Even stayed up late reading great works, and made time to go to a few shows every semester. Slipped away and reunited with my high school friends over drinks and live music.
And then I became a corporate whore and suburbanite.
Continue reading “An Experiment With Minimalism Across the Pond”The corporate Koolaid tasted delicious.
I broke my tooth six months into my new job. Paid time off was available to me to to visit the dentist, and insurance covered some of the cost. Every two weeks, a deposit came into my account like clockwork. It took a few months to stop thinking like an hourly employee, wondering if I’d have enough money for my bills, for my rent. Worrying that my schedule would be cut one week, hoping for overtime the next week.
Continue reading “My First House and Settling for the Suburban Life”
After a bumpy adolescence, a liberating but poorly focused college career, and a job hunt that landed me with the same job title I had before I began college, I was already feeling a little disheartened by following the advice my family had given me.
“Just finish college, get a good job, buy a house, and you’ll be set for life!”
Continue reading “Why Become Just One Percent Better?”