“Intentionality is contagious.”

—Joshua Fields Millburn

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Tuning in to Abundance

Abundance is not something we acquire—it is something we tune in to

By Alicia Woodward

Armed with one reusable shopping bag and a list of eight necessities, I pushed the big red cart into the store determined to stay focused. I could have been in and out in less than fifteen minutes, but before I knew it my eyes glazed over, and I found myself wandering down aisle after aisle in a trance.

I tried on fuzzy mittens, held coffee mugs, imagined new wall art, smelled candles, touched furry blankets, marveled at high-tech gadgets and admired twinkling holiday decorations. Lipstick, boots, pot holders, and a scarf were final contenders to fill both my cart and my vague longing for something more.

I snapped out of it when I heard a child stomp her feet and wail, "I want it!" I made it to the check-out line with only the items on my list and an unpleasant feeling I couldn't really name. Dissatisfaction? Anxiety? Emptiness? As much as I wanted to shake the feeling, I also wanted to understand it.

As I drove along the country roads back home, the word scarcity came to mind. In economics, scarcity describes the result of having limited resources but unlimited wants. It occurred to me that the word sounds like scare. Was I feeling fear? Did I fear all the good stuff was back at the store? Did I fear not having enough? Did I fear not being enough?

The late Wayne Dyer wrote, “Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune in to." Something we tune in to. 

Looking through the windshield, I turned to nature to soothe my restless heart. A flock of blackbirds numbering in the thousands flew in a dizzying black dotted pattern across the sky. Pine trees grew on distant rolling hills as far as my eye could see. Bales and bales of hay lined a freshly-harvested field. Plump bright red berries decorated a grove of roadside trees. A herd of more than a dozen deer grazed along the gravel road to our home. Abundance.

I opened the door to our house. Its sturdy roof, walls, and windows provide us shelter. It is warm, safe, and comfortable. Abundance. 

Clear, potable water flows from the kitchen sink, bathroom shower, and washing machine. Heat and air regulate the temperature. Lights come on with a flick of a switch. Abundance. 

Bowls of fresh produce sit on the kitchen counter. The refrigerator is filled. Pantry shelves are lined with cans and jars. Abundance. 

In the closet are multiple pairs of pants, shirts, dresses, shoes, and coats. Abundance.

The mirror reflects a healthy, happy person who is free, loved, and loving. Abundance. 

The uneasy, inadequate feeling marketers expertly targeted in me was gone. I was filled with Thanksgiving and a blessed assurance that all I have is all I need.

A Cornerstone of Our Life

Understanding the value of a growth mindset

By Filip V.

“The mind is just like a muscle—the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets and the more it can expand.” 

—Idowu Koyenikan

If you have a fixed mindset, you will be tempted to let a single setback define you forever. Your mindset has a significant effect on your impact and success in life, and it is not something to be undervalued. With a fixed mindset, you’ll discover yourself becoming stagnant, without the motivation to attain anything more than what you currently have.

Alternatively, if you have a growth mindset, you thrive on challenges. In many areas, this growth mindset is an ideal approach to understanding and thinking. People with growth mindsets prioritize learning as a cornerstone of their life. This mindset involves an active passion for learning but acquiring this type of mentality doesn’t mean you need to be working hard all the time. You’ll need to open yourself to the world while setting your boundaries. Ultimately, there are no limits to your achievement when you learn to control and eliminate your fear, worry, and panic, and step out of your comfort zone.

Change is ongoing, and you might not always make ideal decisions. But whether adjusting unwanted behavior or carving a new path, obtaining the right mindset can significantly impact your ability to succeed in life. Visualize the outcome or changes you wish to see happening, and embrace failure as a part of the learning process and as a chance to grow. Failure is simply the opportunity to apply added effort. Don’t be afraid to let go of things and people that no longer need to be a part of your life. Saying goodbye is vital, and each goodbye can be a blessing.

The ability to shift your mindset is a skill that will help you create desired changes and increase your effectiveness in all areas of your life. You won’t ever be done learning, and it isn’t something you can rush. To grow, you need to embrace the discomfort. The comfort zone is among the greatest enemies of human potential. If you’re getting bored with your everyday routine, it is time for a change. Even a small effort could lead to a better life. The only way you can live the life you want is to allow yourself to recognize what no longer serves you. When you truly understand that, you will hold all the tools you need to craft the life that you dream about.

A Little More of Less

A few other articles we think you might enjoy…

Everything Is 100% off If You Don’t Buy It by Joshua Fields Millburn

How to Be Kind to Yourself & Still Get Stuff Done by Leo Babauta

I’m Done with Stuff by Heather Aardema

Are any of your friends interested in minimalism or living simply?

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Minimalissimo, The Minimalists, and 5 STYLE

“As the chaos grows, so does the need to simplify.”

—The Minimalists

We’d like to invite you to subscribe to and support our Inside Minimalism series, which offers exclusive essays on living simply.

A Time Tested Virtue

A path to wisdom and a motor vehicle that allows discipline and dedication to become progress

By Filip V.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” 

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

In life, there are a significant number of situations that could test our patience. Patience is vital in regards to goal setting, and it is one thing many individuals do not have because we’ve grown up in an immediate news atmosphere. It enables us to see and feel circumstances as they are evolving, and it increases our capacity to empathize. The best technique for patience is acceptance. Patience is necessary to see small ongoing benefits and to secure you to the desired result. Having patience is one of the secrets to contentment. It is the capacity to distance yourself from instant gratification and permit things to come to you at the most suitable time and in the proper way. Patience is the path to wisdom and a motor vehicle that allows discipline and dedication to become progress. It can become your friend if you find out how to wield its power. Patience is the foundation of a wholesome relationship. It enables us to consider what others could be going through.

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

—Harriet Tubman

Patience is a virtue that has to be practiced, a lifelong spiritual practice and enables us to come across emotional freedom. One moment of impatience may ruin an entire life. If you discover any life situation challenging or find it tough to bear, attempt to re-frame that circumstance, and try to see its positive side. Utilize your persistence that will help you accomplish the desires of your heart. You should pay attention to your feelings. As you look closely at your feelings, you are going to feel better about nurturing yourself. Or, if a person shouts at you because you're not paying attention, turn and give her or him a compliment. The value of patience needs to be realized by every person.

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”

—Leo Tolstoy

Success depends upon a particular amount of patience. Our long-term success demands the discipline to follow our inner investment procedure, even if it produces short-term losses. To master any art or maybe to boost your talent, you must make a continuous effort for a lengthy time. Pausing, even for a minute, before reacting to a troublesome situation, is a useful type of patience. Frustration isn't the secret to any door. Rather than getting frustrated once you face a challenging situation, patience can help you respond in a suitable way without getting upset or losing your temper. Even reading this short article until the very end required a certain amount of patience.

The Power of Silence

A language everyone should master within

By Filip V.

“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.” 

—Confucius

Silence, can you hear it? One of the most effective techniques in a negotiator’s arsenal, yet the most difficult to master. In today’s world of never-ending communication, we are taught that being silent means we are shy, or, in the worst-case scenario, dull. It’s quite evident that we live in a terribly noisy world, however, silence is far from being considered silly or shy. Silence permits you time to not only to listen, but gives importance to what it is that you are hearing. Silence may also teach you to speak more eloquently. Throughout our daily practices, our senses are continuously bombarded, which can create an essential challenge for those practicing to still their minds.

Sometimes, when a conversation can’t be carried on any further, a moment of silence can stretch into an uncomfortable situation. To me, silence is the ultimate power—a power nobody can take away from you unless you allow. One of the best ways to practice and appreciate silence is by sitting comfortably and observing the outer world, or even better, meditation. Peace of mind, clarity, and focus are a few of the outcomes of regular meditation. 

It is widely known that meditation is shown to give many benefits. It is the most potent level of silence through the process of letting go of the thoughts in your mind, bringing release and recharge. Meditation is an ideal way to reach a whole relaxation state, and a way to get some grounding and understanding of your day-to-day existence. Through this process, you can come to know that some expectations are misplaced, and the worries you have today may not be there tomorrow. For many, meditation is an excellent method to find inner peace and become more mindful of what is happening around you.

“Meditation is the sharp tool you dig out the great treasure hidden within everybody’s inner personality.”

—Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Life was made to be joyful, but our lives are so full of noise and distraction that we have evolved to be uncomfortable with silence. You see, it’s impossible to envision your life before the initial comprehension of what you want. Find a peaceful spot, sit down, and make a list of what’s currently happening in your life that’s positive and negative, and what is taking up your time. One of the most beneficial opportunities you could take is to recognize a desire and envision precisely what you want your life to look like. Moreover, silence is going to prevent you from reliving the pain of the separation, along with giving you a chance to recover emotionally and begin rebuilding your life.

Once our hearts and minds are awakened, we can think mindfully about our lives. You will shortly discover that you’re becoming more relaxed and less tense, even in the middle of our noisy world. There’s immense courage within your heart and mind. Take a brief walk outside in nature, and you may discover a peace that silence offers. If you are searching for effective methods of changing your life for the better, then you can be sure to see lots of useful discoveries in everyday silence. All essential things in life are within us.

A Little More of Less

A few other articles we think you might enjoy…

Manu’s Guide to Minimalism by Manu Moreale

Gestaltung by Carl MH Barenbrug

Let’s Talk About Black Friday by The Minimalists

Are any of your friends interested in minimalism or living simply?

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Brought to You By

Minimalissimo, The Minimalists, and 5 STYLE