It’s very rare for me to purchase a book, but I was inspired to buy Joshua Becker’s new e-book, Inside-Out Simplicity, and I just finished reading it this morning. In so many ways, it echoes my sentiments exactly.
Minimalism and simplicity have become quite trendy lately, but quite often the people who are attracted to simple, minimalist lifestyles are young, single, and don’t have children. Joshua Becker – married with two children – is an excellent resource for people looking for ideas on how to life a simple life, without a lot of stuff, even if they have children. Since we have a child, his words tend to ring especially true for me, and a lot of the life lessons from children that he discusses in his new book are things I’ve witnessed myself over the last two years since we became parents.
Not only is simplicity possible when you have children, but I believe that it’s even more important when we have children. As parents, we are responsible not just for feeding, clothing, and sheltering our kids, but we are also responsible for shaping and teaching a new person. And the things we do are far more important than the things we say. So focusing on what really matters in life (rather than material possessions, status, power, etc.) is even more important if you’re trying to teach your values to a new little person.
There are many ways to view minimalism and simplicity, and I believe they can enhance your life regardless of your goals or values. I have no desire to live out of a backpack or count how many possessions I have. I currently have very little desire to travel, and am very content on our little mini farm that we’re creating. Maybe that’s because my husband and I traveled quite a bit throughout our 20s. I was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in Africa, which entails heading out on a two year journey with only what you can fit in two suitcases (the return trip had the same two suitcase limit, which meant that nearly everything I acquired while I was in Africa was given away before I left). I have had lots of travel adventures (which I thoroughly enjoyed) although currently the adventure that appeals most to me is creating a happy, nurturing home for my husband and son. And I’m finding that the adventure is enhanced by minimizing our possessions and focusing on our inter-personal relationships rather than our stuff.
Many books have been written on the subject of minimalism as it relates to physical possessions. How to get rid of things, how to stop shopping, how to downsize… all are valuable tools (including Joshua’s first book, Simplify. 7 Guiding Principles To Help Anyone Declutter Their Home And Life – a great read if you want practical tips and solutions). Joshua’s new book, Inside-Out Simplicity, gets to the root of it all, and forces us to really look at what truly matters and peel away all the stuff that doesn’t.
One of my favorite lines from Inside-Out Simplicity is “…in our consumerist culture, where discontent is promoted and material gratification is encourages, learning to be content can be very difficult”. The book is over 100 pages of tips and insights for how you can achieve contentment, and it’s well worth reading.
Joshua starts the book by noting that he doesn’t expect everyone to agree with all that he’s written, and that he knows it may generate some controversy. The only part of the whole book that I didn’t agree with was the section on spirituality, as it’s different from my own views. I believe that generosity, simplicity, gratitude, selflessness, and equality are terribly important, but I have come to this conclusion without any sort of spiritual beliefs… I just think that those things are what it means to be a good person, and I am content with simply striving to be a good person, without an external spiritual or religious code to guide me. Obviously everyone is going to have a different view on this sort of thing, and I can whole-heartedly recommend Joshua’s book as I agree with the other 98% of it. If you read it, please leave a comment and let me know what you think.
EDIT: I forgot to mention that although Inside-Out Simplicity is much deeper than a how-to manual for de-cluttering, it still inspired me in that regard. I’ve written quite a bit over the last few months about how I’ve kicked my thrift store shopping habit and donated several car-loads of stuff. I hadn’t been donating as much lately, simply because most of the extraneous stuff has already been donated. But after reading Joshua’s book, I filled the trunk of my car with stuff to donate today, and it feels great.
Kristen says
Oh, that looks like a great book/blog to read. Thanks!
April says
I haven’t read the book, but to me, spirituality and religion are two different things. I took a yoga workshop once where the teacher talked about God, but she didn’t mean God in the white bearded-man sense, she defined God as “that within that is truth”. Spirituality can also be defined as the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.”
Molly On Money says
I’m looking forward to reading this book when it becomes available at my local library!
I’m often surprised at people when they buy into the myth that with children you must have lots and lots of stuff. In my experience left to their own devices my kids would have fewer things. With the extended family feeling a need to give them things their small bedrooms fill up quickly and suddenly they don’t even know what toys are lurking in the corners.
As my kids have gotten older we’ve had some great conversations with our family about what gift-given REALLY means to them (and us). Without twisting any arms, the grandparents (all 7 of them- we come from a blended family) have gone from sending boxes of toys to giving 3 months of music lessons, a cooking class, teaching the girls how to knit and a week at summer camp.
Because I needed ‘buy in’ from the grandparents (I didn’t want them to walk away feeling like we were scrooges) we came up with a few other ideas. Two of the grandmothers love to buy clothing for the girls. The solution: The grandmothers and the kids make a day of it in August and have a shopping day for school clothing.
When we do get toys we accept them graciously!
Lissa says
I am going to have to get that book. My DH and I had a long conversation around this topic yesterday.
Trent says
April,
I got a kick out of your “white bearded man” reference. I didn’t know that some people thought that God had facial hair, but I am glad you cleared that up. I’m just joking with you… =]
April says
Trent–Ever seen the Sistine Chapel?