Some people, it seems, merely drift through life. While others appear driven and focused.

Have you ever wondered why that is? Is it personality? Upbringing? Talent? Ambition?

There’s no doubt that those factors play a role in how each of us approach life.

But I think there is something more important, something available to all of us, that also motivates us to live intentional lives—and ultimately become the best version of ourselves.

That potential can be found in the size of the dream we choose to pursue.

You see, when the goals that we choose for ourselves are meaningful—when they matter deeply to our hearts and souls—they compel us and equip us to become better versions of ourselves. Therefore, getting clear on what is most important to us is an important step in self-development.

We can drift through life pursing nothing. We can take small steps to accomplish small goals. Or we can live each day with passion and ambition to accomplish something lasting.

There are two ways big dreams help us grow:

1. They almost always require our hardest work. And because of that, we are forced to improve and develop ourselves if we are ever going to meet them.

2. But even more important, our dreams and goals motivate us and shape us. When we pursue meaningful pursuits, work is no longer drudgery. Work becomes meaningful. Discipline and sacrifice are not activities to avoid. Our goals make them desirable—because our focus is on a prize worth giving everything for.

In that way, we don’t become better versions of ourselves by accident or because someone required us to do so. That is always a recipe for disaster. We become better because the finish line is worth becoming better for.

Unfortunately, not every dream brings out the best in us.

If the biggest goals in our lives center on items that bring only fleeting or passing or temporary happiness, they may motivate us for a bit. But in the long run, our hearts and souls scream out to us that the pursuit is empty.

Goals of accumulating money, possessions, or popularity can motivate for awhile. But often, at some point in our lives, we realize that we sold out our greatest potential for the fading trinkets of this world. When we are focused on self, comparison, leisure, or when we allow fear to dictate the size of our dreams, we end up chasing things that can never satisfy. And our development is stunted.

There’s nothing wrong with being successful in a career or becoming the best employee or boss that we can possibly become. But we sell ourselves short when our dreams stop at comfort, status, or luxury.

There are more meaningful dreams available to us:

—Raising a family that can carry your values and legacy into future generations.
—Solving problems that we see in the world.
—Loving the people around us and contributing to society in a positive way.
—Serving others, benefiting others, using our talents and gifts to help others.
—Passing on wisdom and understanding to move people forward.
—Bringing about the greatest good in the world with the one life that we have to live.

These are the kinds of dreams that change us in the long-run. They shape our mornings, afternoons, and evenings. They shape how we spend our money and our hours. They redefine fulfillment and meaning. And in so doing, they compel us to become better versions of ourselves each day and every day.

So dream bigger dreams for your life than possessions or money or status.

The bigger the dream, the better version of ourselves we become.

And everybody benefits from that.

We hear it all the time: “I’m just hustling hard right now.” Hustle has become a badge of honour — a signal that you’re making moves, pushing through, getting it done.

But at what cost?

What if hustle isn’t a measure of progress, but a mask for something else?

The Seduction of Hustle

In past seasons of my work, I’ve explored that question beneath the surface, recognizing how hustle often masks something deeper.

Hustle can feel productive because it’s active. It’s motion. It’s doing. But not all motion is progress. Hustling often happens in a hurry — reacting instead of reflecting, rushing instead of recalibrating. It’s no surprise that more people are starting to question whether hustle culture is actually helping us — or quietly failing us.

It’s like sprinting in a fog. You’re moving fast, but you’re not seeing clearly. And even if you do make it through, you might not end up where you wanted to go. Or worse, you might get hurt along the way.

The problem isn’t just that hustle is unsustainable — it’s that it’s often unfocused. And focus is where intention lives.

Intention Doesn’t Rush

Can you even hustle with intention?

Maybe. But it’s rare.

Because intention asks for awareness. It invites discernment. It slows you down just enough to ask, “Why this? Why now?” Hustle doesn’t always leave room for that kind of reflection.

That’s why intentional progress might feel slower… but it’s steadier. And more likely to be sustained.

That’s the best way forward.

If it keeps you busy but will hold you back someday, it’s a distraction. Don’t settle.

There’s a big difference between empty fatigue and gratifying exhaustion. Life is too short not to focus more on what matters most. And life is definitely too short for habits and routines that keep you stuck in a cycle of feeling like you’re a day late and a dollar short. So today, let’s discuss three incredibly common patterns of behavior that keep the vast majority of us stuck in that cycle, day after day.

1. We keep trying to overcome the odds in an unsupportive environment.

No matter how strong you are, and no matter how much determination and willpower you have, if you keep yourself positioned in an environment that works against your best intentions, you will eventually succumb to that environment.

This is where so many of us make life-altering missteps. When we find ourselves struggling to make progress in an unhealthy environment, we somehow believe that we have no other choice — that positioning ourselves in a more supportive environment, even for short intervals, is impossible. So rather than working in a supportive environment that pushes us forward, we expend all our energy trying to pull the baggage of an unhealthy environment along with us. And eventually, despite our best efforts, we run out of energy.

The key thing to remember here is that, as a human being, your environment immensely affects you. And, consequently, one of the best uses of your energy is to consciously choose and design working and living environments for yourself that support and facilitate the outcomes you intend to achieve.

For example, if you’re trying to reduce your alcohol consumption, you must…

1. Spend less time around people that consume alcohol.
2. Spend less time in social environments that promote alcohol consumption.

Because if you don’t your willpower will eventually collapse…

“One more drink won’t hurt, right?”

Wrong!

You need to set clear boundaries, commit, and then reconfigure your environment to make the achievement of your commitment possible.

Let’s think about some other common examples:

• If you want to lose weight, your best bet is to spend more time in healthy environments with people who eat healthy and exercise on a regular basis.
• If you want to become a paid, professional comedian — a goal one of our Getting Back to Happy Course students recently achieved — your best bet is to surround yourself with professional comedians, do local gigs together, share experiences, and orient your living and working environment to that goal.
• If you want to overcome your struggles and live a happier life, your best bet is to spend more time communicating with people who share these same intentions. This can be achieved through local support groups, personal-growth conferences, or online via courses and supportive communities.

The bottom line is that strength, determination, and willpower will only get you so far. If you want to make a substantial, positive, long-term change in your life, you also have to change your environment accordingly. This is truly the foundation of how we evolve as human beings. We mold and adapt to our environments, gradually, for better or worse. Thus, conscious growth involves decisively seeking out or creating enriching environments that encourage you to grow.

2. We keep trying to achieve “success” exactly as others have defined it.

When I was growing up there was a mostly quiet yet unanimously agreed upon definition of what success looked like in my family. Although it was rarely discussed openly, it was implied through various conversations and decisions I was directly or indirectly included in.

All of my immediate and extended family members were in one of two groups:

• College educated with a comfortable salaried job at a large corporation
• Blue-collar worker who diligently worked his or her way up the corporate ladder at a large corporation

The major commonality being a steady paycheck from an established corporation. That was the implicitly agreed upon definition of success in my family. And by that definition, I was a failure, and still am.

I earned a college degree, but I opted to hop between several small startup companies out of college instead. My paychecks were low and the stability of my work was inconsistent at best (but I was learning). Then, a few years down the road, amidst a landslide of personal tragedies, I quit my day job to focus full-time on a side project called Marc and Angel Hack Life (you may have heard of it) that Marc and I had been gradually developing and supporting on nights and weekends.

Needless to say, my family was very skeptical of my evolving career path and decisions.

At some point, however, I realized I had to give up my family’s definition of success.

And I had to give up everyone else’s definition of success too.

Of course, doing so was easier said than done. The definitions of success that I had grown up around, and the beliefs they carried, were so deeply embedded in the traditions and narratives I was accustomed to that they had very much become a benchmark by which I measured my life. So it took me awhile to get my head straight about what success meant to me. And to a certain extent I’m sure you can relate, because no one is immune to this phenomena. Even the most seasoned entrepreneurs and creative types I know still get caught up in the overplayed ideas of fame and fortune being symbols of success.

The bottom line is that, although quite challenging, giving up other people’s definition of success is incredibly liberating and ultimately leads to the fullest expression of who YOU are.

Just think about it…

Other people aren’t going to live with the results of your choices.  So why should you live according to their contrived definition of success?

Have you recently stopped to ask yourself what success means to YOU right now?

Or have you simply adopted your definition and beliefs from everyone around you?

For far too many us, the answer is the latter.

A coaching client recently told Marc and me that she wanted to become a millionaire to satisfy certain milestones for success that she had set for herself. But as we dug deeper into her story and her reasoning, it became evident that a number of her reasons for wanting to be a millionaire didn’t require a million dollars to achieve. She had just been conditioned to believe they did. And she literally laughed out loud when she realized this.

By understanding the essence of your goals and how YOU define success, it’s easier to give up other people’s contrived definitions and beliefs. And remember, the point is not that one measure of success is any better or worse than another. The point is that you get to choose how you define it for yourself.

Simply recognize that the more conscious and deliberate you can be about what success means for YOU, the more empowered you will be to pursue the path that’s true for you, and the less regret you will feel at the end of your journey. (Note: “The Good Morning Journal: Powerful Prompts & Reflections to Start Every Day” is a great tool for this kind of daily self-reflection and self-validation.)

3. We keep waiting to find passion somewhere outside ourselves.

Learn to believe in your heart that you’re meant to live each day full of passion and purpose — that each and every moment is worthy in its own way. And remind yourself that passion is not something you find in life; it’s something you do. When you want to find the passion and inner strength needed to change your situation, you have to push yourself to step forward.

Many of us are still hopelessly trying to “find our passion” — something that we believe will lead us closer to happiness, success, or the life situation we ultimately want. And I say “hopelessly” primarily because passion can’t really be found. When we say we’re trying to find our passion, it implies that our passion is somehow hiding behind a tree or under a rock somewhere. But that’s far from the truth. The truth is, our passion comes from doing things right. If you’re waiting to somehow “find your passion” somewhere outside yourself, so you finally have a reason to put your whole heart and soul into your life and the changes you need to make, you’ll likely be waiting around for an eternity.

On the other hand, if you’re tired of waiting, and you’d rather live more passionately starting today and experience small positive changes, it’s time to proactively inject passion into the very next thing you do. Think about it:

• When was the last time you sat down and had a conversation with someone nearby, with zero distractions and 100 percent focus?
• When was the last time you exercised and put every bit of effort you could muster into it?
• When was the last time you truly tried — truly tried — to do your very best?

Like most of us, you’re likely putting a halfhearted effort into most of the things you do on a daily basis. Because you’re still waiting. You’re still waiting to “find” something to be passionate about — some magical reason to step into the life you want to create for yourself. But you need to do the exact opposite!

When I was a kid my grandmother used to tell me, “Stop waiting for better opportunities. The one you have in front of you is the best opportunity.” She also said, “Too often we spend too much time making it perfect in our heads before we ever even do it. Stop waiting for perfection and just do your best with what you have today, and then improve it tomorrow.”

Believe it or not, recent psychological research indirectly reinforces my grandmother’s sentiments. For many years, psychologists believed our minds could directly affect our physical state of being, but never the other way around. Nowadays, however, it is widely documented that our bodies — for example, our momentary facial expressions and body posture — can directly affect our mental state of being too. So while it’s true that we change from the inside out, we also change from the outside in.  And you can make this reality work for you. If you want more passion and happiness in your life right now, act accordingly right now.

Put your heart and soul into something!

Not into tomorrow’s opportunities, but into the opportunity right in front of you.

Not into tomorrow’s tasks, but into today’s tasks.

Not into tomorrow’s run, but into today’s run.

Not into tomorrow’s relationships, but into today’s relationships.

Marc and I are certain you have plenty in your life right now that’s worth your time and energy. You have people and circumstances in your life that need you as much as you need them. You have a massive reservoir of potential passion within you, just waiting… STOP WAITING!

Now it’s your turn…

Yes, it’s your turn to practice paying attention to the beauty and practicality of living a more intentional life, with passion and purpose, in healthy environments…

But before you go, please leave Marc and me a comment below and let us know what you think of this essay. Your feedback is important to us.

Which one of the habits or points mentioned above gave you the most perspective today?

Finally, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to sign-up for our free newsletter to receive new articles like this in your inbox each week.

There’s a quote that’s been floating around the Internet for years now. Every time it’s shared, it’s quickly reposted, re-shared, and liked over and over again. I’ve even posted it myself.

The viral quote is simple and goes like this:

“6 luxuries in life:

1. time
2. health
3. a quiet mind
4. slow mornings
5. meaningful work
6. a house full of love.”

It’s not hard to see why the quote resonates. It speaks of things universally understood to be important and meaningful, but not necessarily enjoyed by everyone.

If luxury is defined as “a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort,” these six things describe it well.

But there is something about that list I think about every time I see it. None of those six items are for sale. And they never have been.

And yet, we live in a world that tries to convince us the luxuries of life are something to be purchased.

It seems almost every day of our lives, we’re flooded with messages designed to sell us a counterfeit version of “luxury.” A nicer house, a newer phone, an extravagant vacation, a limited-edition sneaker, a fragrance that promises to make the opposite sex swoon.

The messaging is so good and so ubiquitous, the items they sell slowly, over time, become our definition of luxury. They’re shiny, exciting, gratifying (at least for a moment), and desired by so many, that they begin to feel like the greatest expression of a life of abundance.

But as we know from experience, that feeling is quick to fade—always leaving us wanting more.

And I don’t know about you, but if there is a version of luxury that doesn’t fade, that is what I would like to devote my life pursuing! Based on the viral nature of the list above, I am confident I’m not alone.

Of course, one of the reasons a counterfeit version of luxury is purchased by so many is because it appears easier to attain than the truer, longer-lasting luxury.

These luxuries—quiet minds, slow mornings, meaningful work—are not easy to find. They require time, attention, self-examination. They require intention, hard decisions, and sometimes even hard conversations. They also require us to live differently than the culture around us.

It’s easy to fill a shopping cart. It’s harder to ask: What do I really want from this one life I’ve been given? And what changes do I need to make to discover it?

The world offers us counterfeits because they’re easier to manufacture, easier to market and sell, easier to accept, and easier to profit from.

A scented candle in a jar is easier than fostering peace in a chaotic household. A perfectly staged brunch is easier than carving out an hour of meaningful connection. A bigger paycheck is easier than the hard work of finding work that matters. And it is easier to buy a trip to Disneyland than it is to build a life of habits that supports long-lasting health.

Still, while these deeper luxuries may not be easy to attain, they are not entirely outside our reach either.

Time, health, a quiet mind, slow mornings, meaningful work, and a home full of love—these things may not be guaranteed, and they may not come quickly. But they are not as far outside our control as we sometimes assume.

And just like everything else, the first step to making these truths a reality is believing they are possible:

We gain more time by choosing what matters and letting go of what doesn’t.

We protect our health with small, consistent steps in the right direction.

We quiet our minds by limiting noise, both external and internal.

We enjoy slower mornings when we stop overpacking our days (and maybe waking up a bit earlier).

We move toward meaningful work by paying attention to our gifts and values and appreciating the value of it.

We foster love in our homes not with perfection, but with presence.

Of course, not every life circumstance is within our control. Life brings hardship, and some seasons are harder than others. But more often than we realize, our lives reflect the things we choose to pursue. And while we can’t control everything that happens to us, we can always control how we respond.

So let’s choose well.

Let’s define luxury differently than the world around us. Let’s stop chasing what’s temporary and start pursuing what lasts. Let’s live a life rich in meaning, not rich in things.

Because the greatest luxuries in life cannot be bought at a store. But they can be built. One thoughtful, intentional decision at a time.

Opportunities are like sunrises, if we wait too long, we miss them.

Too often we waste our time waiting for the ideal path to appear. But it never does of course. Because we forget that paths are made by walking, not waiting. Let this be your wake-up call today!

If we always sit around until we feel 100 percent ready for the journey, we will likely be sitting around for the rest of our lives. Most of the time we just have to get up and go for it. And no, we shouldn’t feel any more confident before we take the next step. Taking the next step is what gradually builds our confidence. Today is the day! Now is the time!

Yes, it’s finally time to admit that…

1. We often wait too long to explore the things that call to us.

The world isn’t really as it is, but as we see it, and we all see it differently. So if you spend all your free time following trends and doing what everyone else is doing, you’re missing out. Try things out for yourself — try many things. Explore! See what calls to your soul, or what entices you to step forward, and then go for it. Find out everything you can about it. Find other people who love it too. Don’t waste precious time pretending to like things just because other people do — don’t end up with a bunch of mismatched circumstances in your life. Enjoy what you enjoy, listen to your intuition, and you will end up with more circumstances in your life that make you feel alive.

2. We often wait too long to take meaningful action.

Some people wait all day for 5pm, all week for Friday, all year for the next holiday, all their lives for happiness. Don’t be one of them! The world does not owe you a living; you owe the world a life. So stop daydreaming and start DOING things that matter. Take responsibility for your life today — take control! You are important and you are needed. It’s too late to sit around and wait for somebody to do something someday. Someday is now; the somebody the world needs is YOU.

3. We often wait too long to trust ourselves with life’s challenges.

Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. Every great success requires some type of worthy struggle to get there. So give yourself some extra credit along the way. Remind yourself that you’re doing the best you can, and that sometimes it takes an overwhelming series of little breakdowns to have an undeniable breakthrough. When in doubt just take the next small step. Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Truly, there’s a time and place for everything and every step is necessary. Just do your best right now, and don’t force what’s not yet supposed to fit into your life. It will happen, when it’s time.

4. We often wait too long to appreciate what we have.

Truth be told, we often take for granted the very aspects of our lives that most deserve our presence and gratitude. How often do you pause to appreciate your health, your family, your home, or other seemingly stable fixtures in your life? Remember, nothing in life is fixed or guaranteed forever. Living in the present is a basic notion, but as with most simple things we often find a way to complicate it. So check yourself — there’s nothing complicated about learning to notice and appreciate your life as it’s happening.

5. We often wait too long to be kind to others.

When you grow older and you look back on your life, you will inevitably forget a lot of the stuff that seemed so important when you were young. You probably won’t remember what your high school GPA was. You will look at your old classmates on Facebook or Instagram (or some other social network) and wonder why you ever had a crush on that person. And you will have the toughest time remembering why you let certain people from your past get the best of you. But you will never forget the people who were genuinely kind — those who helped when you were hurt, and who loved you even when you felt unlovable. Be that person to others as often as possible. (And as you know, what goes around eventually comes around.)

6. We often wait too long to be kind to ourselves.

More likely than not, the first person who caught your eye wasn’t “the one.” And the second, third or fourth probably wasn’t either. You know why? It’s because YOU are the one! Seriously, in your own life it’s important to know how spectacular you are. You really have to look in the mirror and be kind, because what we see in the mirror is often what we see in the world. Our disappointment in others often reflects our disappointment in ourselves. Our acceptance of others often reflects our acceptance of ourselves. Our ability to see potential in others often reflects our ability to see potential in ourselves. Our patience with others often reflects our patience with ourselves. You get the idea — you’ve got to show yourself some love and kindness, first and foremost.

7. We often wait too long to embrace the truth.

Too many of us prefer gentle lies to hard truths. But make no mistake, in the end it’s better to be hurt by the truth than comforted by a lie. And lying is a cumulative process, so be careful. What starts as a small, seemingly innocent lie (possibly even with the intention of not hurting anyone) quickly spirals into an mounting false reality. We lie to one another, but even more so we lie to ourselves most often to protect our “oh so fragile” egos. We may even be inclined to lie to ourselves while reading this, not wanting to admit how often we have eluded the truth. (Note: Angel and I discuss this in more detail in the Relationships chapter of “1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently”.)

8. We often wait too long to create and maintain healthy boundaries.

Your mind is your private sanctuary; do not allow the negative beliefs of others to occupy it. Your skin is your barrier; do not allow others to get under it. Take good care of your personal boundaries and what you allow yourself to absorb from others. And if someone in your life is constantly being disrespectful‚ call them on it. If things don’t change, you need to limit the amount of time and influence they have in your life. We need people in our lives who challenge us respectfully, so we can see things from new perspectives, but we don’t need to be constantly torn down by those who don’t respect us. Bottom line: Distancing yourself from people who always give you negative vibes is self-care. Stepping back from situations where you feel unappreciated or disrespected is self-care. Choose to honor your feelings and boundaries, gracefully.

9. We often wait too long to close old chapters in our lives.

You’re going to mingle with a lot of people in your lifetime. You’re going to have first kisses you feel all the way down to your toes and think “Oh my gosh, I love him,” but really… you loved the kiss. You’re going to meet a friend you think you will know forever, but then something will change and you two will go your separate ways. You’re going to explore different parts of your life with different people who aren’t in it for the long haul, and that isn’t a bad thing. Life is a series of stories, and the way our stories intersect is remarkable. Sometimes people are in our lives for the whole story. Sometimes they are in just a short chapter or two. It takes a brave person to know when that chapter is over, and then to turn the page. Be brave today. And remember that almost every “goodbye” you receive in life sets you up for a new “hello.”

10. We often wait too long to accept and flow with life.

Don’t stress over things you can’t change. Live simply. Love generously. Speak truthfully. Work diligently. And even if you fall short, keep going — keep growing. In the end, loving your life is about trusting your intuition, taking chances, losing and finding happiness, cherishing the memories, and learning through experience. It’s a long-term journey. You have to stop worrying, wondering, and doubting every step of the way. Laugh at the confusion, live consciously in the moment, and enjoy your life as it unfolds. You might not end up exactly where you intended to go, but I promise you will eventually arrive precisely where you need to be.

Now it’s your turn…

Yes, it’s your turn to stop waiting and start paying attention to the beauty and practicality of living a more intentional life. But before you go, please leave Angel and me a comment below and let us know what you think of this essay. Your feedback is important to us.

Which one of the points above resonated the most today?

Finally, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to sign-up for our free newsletter to receive new articles like this in your inbox each week.

We chase productivity like it’s the prize. Optimize the schedule. Streamline the workflow. Clear the inbox. And while none of that is inherently wrong, it’s not always right either.

You’re aiming for productivity. You should be aiming for prioritization.

Because the goal isn’t to get more done—it’s to get the right things done. And to do that, you need more than productivity. You need presence. You need progress. You need to prioritize.

Presence and Progress: The True Markers of Prioritization

Prioritization isn’t just about choosing what matters most. It’s about continually aligning yourself with what matters now.

And that requires two things: presence and progress.

Presence is about awareness. It’s the ability to pause and pay attention—to yourself, your context, and your commitments. You can’t prioritize if you’re not present. Otherwise, you’re reacting, not responding. You’re defaulting to urgency rather than acting from clarity.

Progress, on the other hand, is about movement. But not frantic movement. Not busyness. It’s the kind of progress that comes from forward motion with intention behind it. Even small steps count when they’re in the direction you’ve deliberately chosen.

When presence and progress come together, prioritization becomes not just a strategy, but a practice. You start to say “yes” with weight. You learn to say “no” without guilt. You stop measuring your days by how much you got done and start measuring them by how closely you lived in alignment with what mattered.

That’s the real aim.

Where Productivity Fits In

Productivity isn’t the villain here. It still has its place. But it’s a vehicle, not a destination.

Think of it like this: prioritization is the compass. Productivity is the car. Without the compass, you might be driving fast—but in the wrong direction.

So the next time you feel pressure to “be more productive,” ask yourself a better question:

“Am I prioritizing what truly matters right now?”

Because when you focus on prioritization, productivity becomes a consequence—not a chase.

Mental health is an important topic of conversation these days—and rightly so. Mental health diagnoses in the U.S. increased by nearly 40% between 2019 and 2023.

It’s probably true that more attention to the topic in years past would have helped many. But we can’t change the past—we can only choose how to move forward. And I’m glad to see mental health becoming a greater priority in our lives and conversations.

Because it matters. It affects how we think, how we feel, how we relate to others, and how we live our lives. And for many of us, life can feel like we’re just trying to keep our heads above water—managing stress, overwhelm, discouragement, or burnout.

I’ve written previously about the mental health benefits of minimalism. And I’m certainly not the only one highlighting the connection. Researchers and psychologists are increasingly pointing to the correlation between clutter and anxiety, between too many choices and decision fatigue, between too much stuff and stress.

• There are studies showing that clutter increases stress levels.
• Clutter limits our ability to focus.
• Clutter affects our sleep.
• Clutter lowers our mood and raises our cortisol.
• Clutter can even lead to unhealthy eating, poor habits, and more conflict in the home.

The data is clear: Too many physical possessions in our homes and lives negatively impacts our mental and emotional well-being.

But what’s often missing from the conversation is why. Why does owning fewer possessions lead to a clearer mind? How exactly does minimalism improve our mental health?

I’d like to explain why—and do it in a way especially for anyone who might be skeptical.

Minimalism will improve your mental health. And here’s why:

1. Minimalism helps us feel in control again.

Minimalism allows us to take back control. And I don’t just mean that we take control of our physical surroundings by removing the clutter. Minimalism forces us to live a more intentional life.

It helps us live a life that is not just drifting with the masses, society, or influenced by other voices. Minimalism requires us to take control of our resources, our passions, our attitudes, our worldview, and our choices.

When we start living life intentionally focused on what’s important to us, we find more pride and joy in it.

2. Minimalism helps us focus on what matters most.

When we stop chasing physical possessions, we start asking better questions. Starting with: What do I really value? What do I want my days to be about? What is important to me?

Minimalism forces questions of values upon us. And those questions help us get more clear on what matters and what doesn’t, how we want to live our life and how we don’t.

But even more than that, minimalism removes the distractions so we can begin actually pursuing those values—purpose, contribution, meaning.

And when our lives align with our values, when we start living for something bigger than ourselves, our view of ourselves begins to change too. We begin to see that we’re both capable and actively living lives that matter.

3. Minimalism creates space—both around us and within us.

Minimalism clears clutter and creates space. In our homes and in our minds. And both are important.

Every physical possession carries weight and takes up space—both physical and mental. We can see the physical—every object on a shelf or box in the garage makes our living space smaller.

The mental space our possessions require is harder to see and measure which makes it even more dangerous. Most of us have no idea how great a mental burden our possessions have become until we begin to remove them. Every pile, every mess, every undone task is a subtle reminder of what still needs to be handled and serves as a visual reminder of money and time wasted.

But when we clear the clutter, something shifts. The house feels lighter, and so do we.

4. Minimalism leads to generosity.

One of the most life-changing shifts that happens when we start owning less is this: we find the margin to give more.

We stop thinking about what we lack and start noticing what we have. And when we see our excess more clearly, we naturally want to share it—with people we love, with those in need, with causes that matter.

And here’s what’s beautiful about generosity: it’s not just good for others, it’s good for us. Studies consistently show that generous people experience lower levels of stress, stronger relationships, and more overall life satisfaction. Minimalism opens the door to that kind of life—which is another reason it helps improve our mental health.

5. Minimalism helps us focus on people.

When we’re constantly managing stuff, it’s hard to make room for connection. Our time is spent cleaning, organizing, shopping, and maintaining. Some studies estimate we spend two hours each day managing our possessions.

So when we remove that excess, we make space for people. And relationships are one of the greatest protectors of mental health. In fact, according to the longest running study on human happiness (85 years and counting), “The most consistent finding we’ve learned through 85 years of study is: Positive relationships keep us happier, healthier, and help us live longer.”

We were created for community. Minimalism helps us find it.

6. Minimalism reduces fatigue.

We don’t always notice how much energy our possessions demand from us—until they’re gone.

Every item in our home requires attention. It must be cleaned, maintained, organized, repaired, stored, moved, and eventually removed. And when we’re surrounded by too much, we start to feel it—in our minds and in our bodies.

But minimalism doesn’t just alleviate physical fatigue, it alleviates decision fatigue too.

A simple home leads to a simpler day with fewer unimportant decisions to make—which means we are able to make better decisions on things that matter—and better decisions make for better living.

7. Minimalism quiets comparison.

One of the most damaging habits to our mental health is constant comparison. Social media, advertising, even our neighbors’ driveways can subtly whisper, You’re not measuring up.

But minimalism invites a different message: You already have enough.

When we stop chasing what others have, we begin to see the beauty of our own lives more clearly. Gratitude replaces envy. Peace replaces anxiety. Calm replaces turmoil.

And we begin to feel comfortable in our own skin again.

The mental health benefits of minimalism are real—and they’re available to all of us. The most beautiful thing about the list of mental health benefits above is that any of us can begin to experience them right away.

Not because life becomes perfect. But because minimalism prepares for them.

Minimalism won’t solve every problem, but it will give us the space to breathe, the clarity to focus, and the freedom to build something better.

One step at a time. One drawer, one room at a time. One day at a time.

My desire with each Weekend Reads is to provide you with articles and posts that encourage simplicity and minimalist living. Below, you will find links to blog posts and news stories that I hand-picked over the last couple weeks. I hope you find inspiration and practical help inside them.

That is my goal on Becoming Minimalist: to intentionally promote simplicity in a world that needs to hear it.

Finding Calm in Complexity | Linkedin by Robert Waldinger. A simple mind shift allows us to come home to ourselves, even briefly, throughout our busy days.

The American dream is no longer buying a house—it’s paying off debt | AOL by Sydney Lake. About one-third of Gen Zers say they’re financially underwater due to inflation, high interest rates, and stagnant wages.

25 Things I Won’t Be Purchasing in 2025 (to Save Money & Avoid Clutter) | The Simplicity Habit by Julianna Poplin. To avoid overspending and prevent clutter from coming into your home, it takes thought, planning, and intentionality.

From Comparison to Contentment | No Sidebar by Heather Spiva. When we compare what we have to what others have and what we think we should have, it pushes us into an emotional downward spiral. And it’s brutal.

10 Tiny Money Habits That Will Change Your Life in a Year or Less | Simple Money by Richard James. Small leaks sink big ships.

Recently Released Inspiring Videos

15 Places to Apply the Pareto Principle to Help Minimize | YouTube by Joshua Becker. As soon I heard the Pareto principle, it felt like a lightbulb moment. I began noticing it everywhere. Soon, it was about more than numbers and statistics (or even the exact percentages.) It became a new lens through which to see my excess possessions. 

The Most Important Home Buying Advice You’ll Ever Hear | YouTube by Joshua Becker. Buying a home is a very personal decision that weighs a large number of factors. And only you know all the variables for making that decision. But too often, the most important piece of home buying advice we need is the one we never hear.

Note: The following article was published in the June 01 issue of Simplify Magazine.

Real financial freedom isn’t about affording everything—it’s about realizing you don’t need everything.

In 2008, Memorial Day weekend promised beautiful weather—not always the case in Vermont at that time of year. So my wife, Kim, and I decided to spend the Saturday doing some shopping, running errands, and tackling our spring cleaning. Our garage was the first target.

That morning, as Kim and our infant daughter slept in, I made breakfast for our five-year-old son, Salem, and then brought him outside to help. But as soon as we started pulling out the bins, he rediscovered his summer toys and ran for the backyard. Before leaving, he asked, “Will you play with me, Dad?”

“Not now, buddy. I’ll come play as soon as I finish, I promise.”

But as the hours wore on, that promise felt more and more out of reach. I was knee-deep in stuff—cleaning it, organizing it, moving it from one side of the driveway to the other. Salem returned a few more times, asking again and again for me to join him.

At one point, our neighbor June, an elderly woman with a garden trowel in hand, watched me struggling with the clutter. She smiled and said, “That’s why my daughter’s a minimalist. She keeps telling me I don’t need to own all this stuff.”

The sentence stopped me in my tracks.

I looked at the heap in the driveway. I looked at my son, alone in the backyard.

And I realized, for the first time, the stuff I owned wasn’t just taking up space in my garage. It was taking something far more valuable: my time, my energy, my attention—and in that moment, my opportunity to play catch with my son.

That was the beginning of a journey toward minimalism for our family. And that one realization didn’t just change the way we saw our home. It changed the way we saw everything, including money.

For many, financial independence is defined by the ability to buy whatever we want, whenever we want. A new car. A kitchen remodel. A spontaneous weekend trip. We equate freedom with consumption, assuming that if nothing is out of reach financially, then we must be doing well.

But what if we’ve been aiming at the wrong target?

What if real financial freedom isn’t found in the ability to buy anything but in the realization that we don’t need to?

That shift—simple but profound—has reshaped the way I think about money, success, and what it truly means to be financially free.

The Prosperity Paradox

Here’s the problem: the more money we have, the more money we think we need. The solution the world is offering—earn more and then one day you’ll feel secure—is the exact opposite of what we need.

This is what I call the Prosperity Paradox.

Our relationship with money is one of the most defining—and often confusing—relationships we have. We earn it, save it, spend it, chase it, worry about it, and sometimes even fight over it. Some describe money as a tool—and it is. But it is also something more. It is emotional, powerful, and deeply tied to our sense of well-being.

Consider this: 77% of people in the wealthiest country on earth report feeling anxious about money.[1] And more than 70% say their desire for more money influences their daily decisions.[2] That’s not just a tool. That’s something that touches our heart and mind in profound ways.

The Prosperity Paradox says this: The more money we have, the more money we believe we need.

This isn’t theory—it’s backed by data. Empower recently surveyed Americans and found that those making over $200,000 a year said they would need an additional $150,000 annually to feel financially comfortable.[3] Charles Schwab, in another study, found that 87% of millionaires don’t consider themselves wealthy.[4]

We can see this in how people define what it means to be “rich.” For many, the word “millionaire” signals success. But the closer one gets to that number, the less likely they are to view it as true wealth. In fact, millionaire status is now considered by many to be “just getting started.”

This paradox plays out again and again: retirement targets growing as net worth increases, happiness tied to ever-larger income brackets, and comfort levels that seem always out of reach. The more we accumulate, the more we convince ourselves we need.

Even John D. Rockefeller, once the richest man in the world, when asked how much money is enough, famously replied, “Just a little bit more.”

If our goal to achieve financial freedom is simply to accumulate more money, we will never arrive. The finish line keeps moving.

That’s why this realization—that needing less is more powerful than earning more—changes everything.

Becoming Minimalist

But that raises the important question: if the common approach to financial independence doesn’t deliver on its promise, what does?

For me, the answer came that very weekend in 2008, when my neighbor June introduced me—almost accidentally—to the idea of minimalism. Her words sparked a realization that would change the way I viewed not just my possessions, but money itself.

Real freedom doesn’t come from purchasing power—it comes from the realization that we don’t need more in the first place. And once we stop needing more, we stop spending more. That’s when everything changes. That’s when peace and clarity show up—not in having more, but in finally wanting less.

When we own less, we begin to see how little we truly need. And when we stop needing more, we stop spending more. Suddenly, financial independence doesn’t feel like something reserved for the wealthy—it feels possible, right now, with what we already have.

Minimalism helped reveal this truth to me. The less I owned, the less I needed. The less I needed, the less I spent. The less I spent, the freer I felt. And with every unnecessary item I removed from my home, I began to remove financial pressure from my life.

Abundance in Less

It’s understandable why “spend less” is a hard sell. For most of our lives, we’ve been conditioned to think that spending less is a sacrifice. In a culture that defines success by accumulation, the idea of buying less sounds like going backward.

That’s certainly what I used to believe—until I actually tried it.

I made the intentional decision to own less and buy less. And it remains one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It didn’t just improve my finances; it improved nearly every part of my life.

Owning less meant fewer things to clean, maintain, insure, and replace. It meant fewer distractions and more focus. And it meant I could put my time, money, and energy toward the things that actually matter.

Life didn’t get smaller when I started spending less. It got bigger.

I had more freedom, not less. More clarity. More purpose. And I found myself more present in the things that bring lasting fulfillment—my family, my faith, and the opportunity to help others.

In short, spending less didn’t feel like I was depriving myself. It felt like I was discovering greater abundance—in the truest sense of the word.

And here’s what’s most important: this isn’t just possible for a few. It’s available to all of us.

Financial freedom doesn’t begin with acquiring more money. It begs with having less desire for money.

Becoming Content

This isn’t to suggest that money doesn’t matter. It does. Money provides shelter, food, warmth, and care. It can be used to do good in the world. It can bring stability and security.

But money alone doesn’t bring freedom. Contentment does.

The Harvard Business Review published a study by Ashley Whillans showing that people who prioritize time over money report significantly greater well-being—more fulfilling relationships, more joy, and more satisfaction. Contentment, not accumulation, is the key.[5]

Contentment isn’t about settling for less. It’s about appreciating what already is. It allows us to stop chasing “more” and start building a life that aligns with what matters most.

Here are some principles that can help bring this new vision of financial independence closer:

Define what is truly “enough.” Rather than letting culture or comparison dictate our financial goals, we can take time to define what we genuinely need to live a meaningful life. And often that number is far less than expected.

Lower fixed costs where possible. Housing and transportation are two of the largest expenses for most households. Downsizing or driving a paid-off car can create breathing room in the budget—and in the soul.

Break the habit of lifestyle inflation. When income increases, it’s easy to spend more. But each upgrade delays freedom. Choosing instead to let increased income create margin, not upgrades, moves us closer to peace.

Find joy in simplicity. A home-cooked meal, a walk around the block, a quiet evening—these are often the richest moments. And they don’t cost very much.

Be generous. Generosity interrupts the cycle of always needing more. It reminds us that abundance is not about accumulation but about impact. And it grows contentment every time it’s practiced.

Avoid the comparison trap. Someone else will always have more. But comparison is a thief—of joy, of gratitude, and of purpose. Financial independence isn’t about outperforming others. It’s about being free from the need to.

Make a Choice

When we stop tying freedom to a number and begin tying it to values, everything begins to shift. We stop asking, “How much do I need to be free?” and start asking, “What can I remove that’s keeping me from freedom today?” That’s the realization that changes everything.

Financial independence becomes less about someday and more about today. It becomes less about stock market returns and more about a satisfied heart. It becomes less about accumulation and more about intentionality. And slowly we begin to see that maybe the finish line was closer than we thought.

In the end, we all want the same thing: to live with peace, to care for the people we love, and to spend our days on what matters most. And maybe—just maybe—that future begins not with a raise or a windfall but with a decision. To own less. To want less. And to walk in freedom now, not later.

For over 17 years, I have been writing about minimalism on this blog.

During that time, I’ve written over 1,700 articles—sharing stories, principles, and practical tips. I’ve written books that have helped hundreds of thousands of people take their first steps toward owning less and living more. I’ve recorded 400 videos for YouTube. And the Uncluttered Course has helped over 90,000 people declutter their homes, room by room.

But over the years, I have kept hearing the same comment:

“I start strong, but I struggle to keep minimalism going over time. How can I keep this going?”

The answer to this question matters. You don’t just want to read about minimalism over and over—you want to live it. You don’t want a one-time decluttering project—you want a lifetime of intentional choices.

You want minimalism to become your way of life, not just something you think about when your house gets messy. You want to spend your days focused on things that matter.

And to accomplish that, we all need more than just education. Life change can be difficult. And if we’re going to build habits that transition minimalism from an idea into a way of life, we need the support of like-minded people.

So for the first time in my nearly two-decade-long journey, I’m trying something completely new.

I’m offering a community where we work together, month by month, to bring minimalism into every area of your life—your home, finances, schedule, digital life, habits, and relationships (just to name a few). The principles of minimalism are powerful and life-changing—especially with physical possessions—but their impact reaches far beyond that.

This brand-new, private community is called The Minimalist Life, and it’s designed for people who are ready to move beyond consuming content about minimalism and start living it fully.

Here are just some of the things included and why I am so excited about this:

• Monthly themes and weekly action items that guide you step-by-step through your minimalism journey in a clear, thought-out way.
• Personal accountability through weekly check-ins, progress prompts, and highlighted personal stories so you can take consistent action and make sustainable changes.
• An encouraging, supportive community of like-minded people on the same journey to cheer you on and share their experiences.
• Live coaching sessions—three times/month—where you can ask me questions, get unstuck, and learn more about how to apply what you learn.
• Practical tools and specific resources created by me that make minimalism manageable and applicable, not overwhelming.
• An easy-to-use app to keep all of the membership content, videos, resources, and conversations quickly accessible whenever you want it.

This isn’t just another online course you complete and move on from. It’s about lasting, legitimate personal development and growth. It’s ongoing support that helps you build minimalism into your daily rhythm, one intentional choice at a time. And in an online world that is increasingly populated by AI-generated content, this community is about human interaction—with me and others.

If you’ve been reading my content and thinking, “I want this life, but I need help making it stick,” this community is for you. Or, if you’ve been applying minimalism to your physical possessions and are ready to apply the principles elsewhere, this community is for you.

The doors to The Minimalist Life open today. And you can join, starting now, at my founding member rate: $18/month or $180/year (save two months). This special pricing is only available until June 30th.

Click here to join us or learn more.

I can’t wait to meet you and walk alongside you as you create the calm, focused, intentional life you’ve been dreaming about.

With you on the journey,

Joshua