“Intentionality is contagious.”
—Joshua Fields Millburn
We’d like to invite you to subscribe to and support our Inside Minimalism series, which offers exclusive essays on living simply.
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?
If so, please invite them to subscribe.