The More Of Less

The More Of Less teaches you how to declutter your time, mental capacities, and spaces to give more attention to the people and experiences that matter most.

In today’s world, it’s easy to look around and feel overwhelmed because we own too many things. We buy the newest phone, only to end up wanting an even newer one not too long after, and the cycle continues. The problem is we can’t buy happiness. Once we realize that, our lives will change for the better.

Becker had his start with minimalism when he cleaned out his garage on Memorial Day. After spending several hours, he realized he wasn’t getting anywhere. When a friend stopped by and mentioned minimalism, he had an epiphany. Instead of being with his family, he was devoting all of his valuable time trying to manage things. He knew something had to change.

Minimalism isn’t just about getting rid of things. It’s about making room for the things that matter most, such as your family, your health, and everyone around you. Whatever it is you care deeply about, consumerism will likely only distract you from it.

As a whole, Americans are now spending more than any past generation. Why is that? The answer is simple: advertising is everywhere. You can’t watch a video online or drive anywhere without seeing advertisements. And whether you like it or not, this does impact the way you spend.

Many of us don’t realize that the ads we see all day every day are showing us images to convince us we need more. If only we had more, we would be happier! It doesn’t feel like it, but even if we just periodically buy small items on Amazon, this adds up to a significant amount of money over time. Money we could be spending on meaningful experiences.

Big businesses know how to get us to buy, buy, buy. They know limited-time sales and special offers are sure to bring us in. They also recognize the power of advertising, which is why they spend billions on it.

Becker wants us to understand how powerful they are so we don’t give them power over us. If we can acknowledge that they don’t have to influence us, we will be well on our way to starting the minimalist lifestyle.

If there is anything minimalism will teach you, it is that people are more important than possessions. Endless accumulation of belongings only brings short-lived enjoyment, while helping others is the gift that keeps on giving. When the author made his shift to minimalism and started getting rid of stuff, he first tried selling things in a yard sale. He was disappointed when he earned only $135 for…