“I have enough stuff!” we often say, but then we’re going to buy more things.
If there’s one thing that can smother you and make you feel overwhelmed, it’s having too much. discover in this article, the best 19 books on minimalism and simple life so you can feel free again.
You are reading: Books about simple living
Did you know that the more stuff you accumulate, the lonelier you feel?
Before the era of consumerism, we were quite satisfied with what we had and our lives. now we feel that nothing is ever enough; not us, not what we own.
The biggest complaint from most homeowners is that “we don’t have enough storage space.” the tricky thing is that most things in storage never see the light of day again.
It has been ten years since the 2008 recession. Most people believe that we are still in a recession even though the economy has improved significantly. you’ll see? nocebo works better than placebo…maybe not better, but definitely faster and lasts longer.
The paradox of the times we live in today is the fact that we have so many things, so many things, and yet our life seems to become more and more difficult.
perhaps you, like most of us, have your kitchen full of utensils, plates, cutlery and countless machines. however, most of them are useless (to you) and barely used once. they are useless because we are creatures of habit. we fall in love with an item and use it until it can’t be used anymore.
However, we bought another one ten years in advance, to make sure we didn’t run out.
find inspiration by reading the following books (one or more) and put your life in order; make things easier for yourself. remember that everything you own requires (in one way or another) some of your energy and attention to take care of it.
Have you ever heard of buyer’s remorse? if by any chance you haven’t heard of it, you’ve no doubt felt it numerous times; and many times you will (most likely) feel it again.
No matter what you need to buy, you have so many options that it is almost impossible that you never regret some things you buy. if you buy a television, for example, when you get home with it, a new model appears on the market. that can make you regret your choice and blame yourself for not waiting a little longer.
Discover in this book what the paradox of choice is and how to deal with it. be more self-disciplined with the things you buy so you can enjoy them, or feel relaxed about not buying anything at all.
Perfection is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things and life. yet some of us chase it for most of our lives… they never make it… there is no such thing.
even if you could achieve perfection, that would not make your life better or happier. much less the fact that those who seek perfection spread much unhappiness around them.
Unfortunately, many of us believe that they must be perfect to be loved. however, love and meaningful connections don’t have an on/off button. either you are in a loving and healthy relationship, or you are alone in it. (That’s not a relationship, it’s self-torture).
have you noticed that people (in search of perfection) almost always feel the need to change everything around them? to change yourself, to acquire more things, to judge others others, but never change your mind?
You already have fantastic things right under your nose. you are paying attention? Are you allowing your thoughts to be mostly positive and looking for what you like, instead of looking for faults?
You feel like you have enough when you feel good enough.
can having money make you happy? someone said that “those who believe that money does not bring happiness do not know what to do with it.”
we want to be idealistic; But let’s face it, to afford to be idealistic you need minimal financial security and independence.
In maslow’s pyramid of needs, basic needs require that financial security. you need some money to have a roof over your head and provide food, heat, water for your family. isn’t it?
One of the greatest joys that money can bring you is the satisfaction of choosing not to buy anything.
When you’re financially stable, fantastic deals and discounts don’t appeal to you. and that is a way of buying happiness, the freedom of not buying anything.
Most of us agree to stay in unhappy situations because it seems comfortable; it is the consolation of what we know how to handle; it is comfortable for our body, but not for our mind.
When we think of a frugal person, we tend to imagine older people, as if they figured out how to live a simple life and it was tied to their age.
Read this book and be inspired, be braver, leave things behind and live the life of your dreams.
Modern society pushes us, more and more, to become hoarders of knowledge. then, of our own free will, we become goal grabbers as well.
Many of us take pride in saying “I’m a multitasking master.” however, dividing your attention among ten tasks at once doesn’t make you an achiever, but it does increase your stress level. it gives you the illusion that you are doing many things in less time when, in fact, much more time is needed for each task, goal, dream.
read this book and make it easier for yourself:
- get your life, body and mind in order
- rearrange your priority list
- reduce the number of goals you set so you have fewer things to do on your list at any time
The more you divide your attention, the less chance you have of getting where you want to be.
reach the sky, one dream at a time. learn to appreciate and make the most of what you already have before you buy something new.
For the last 50 years, we have been brainwashed into believing that a good life comes from having everything we dream of; only to discover (now) that we are unhappier than ever. we have more; more things, more dreams and unfortunately also more dissatisfaction.
How do you get out of this mental fog? because (see?) a lot of us never knew any other society that wasn’t one driven by covering up with ‘have’.
Before these 50 years of brain fog, people used the verb to do more often than to have.
It’s not about going back because, if you’re under 65, chances are you don’t know what that “back” is. In addition, human nature drives us to move forward and build a better future. not just for us but for future generations.
We must wake up before it is too late. and it starts to be late minute by minute. how you live your life today is part of your legacy for the world of tomorrow.
There are more and more studies on the devastation of the “have mentality”. we as adults don’t like how millennials behave: feeling entitled, unreliable and demanding…it’s our fault! Let’s change things.
Learn to rediscover the joy of living simply.
See Also: Must-Read Sci-Fi Books with LGBTQIA Characters
Most people with a life-threatening illness say “I never felt more alive.” let’s not wait until a disaster strikes to feel alive; start feeling alive now when you can enjoy it; when you can use all your talents, abilities, potential and discover the joy of living intentionally.
The greatest gift you have received is your life. Make Your Life Count: Start the trend of living with a purpose, influence others (by your example) to appreciate, honor and love this precious gift: life!
learn how to simplify your life so you can feel happier and more fulfilled.
simplifying your life, minimalism and simple living does not mean settling for crumbs. don’t let others lie to you and believe that your worth is tied to the things you own.
Frugal people are often judged as if they are not (ever) allowed to feel comfortable in life; like you have to always be on the lookout for something new and great.
the more food you have in your fridge, the bigger you will get; the more things around you, the more alone and disconnected you feel; The more you raise the bar for yourself, the greater the chances of getting caught in impossible situations.
hunters and gatherers? yes, it was a time when our survival depended on it. yes, it still does, but, today, we must learn to hunt and gather what really matters for the times we are living in.
improve your self-discipline, hunt and kill your fears and inappropriate fills; gather around you people who accept you and love you as you are.
Just because your closet is well organized and tidy doesn’t mean it’s easy to keep it that way all the time.
read this book and better understand what order really means. life moves so fast and packing too much puts you in danger of being left behind. things are heavy. it drags you down, hurting every step you take.
When was the last time you really felt free? Wasn’t it before you were tied down by taking care of the things you have?
some people say “…back then, I was younger; so of course I felt free.” however, if you think about it, you feel free (regardless of your age) when you’re not petrified by the thought of losing.
There’s only one loss you can’t help but be afraid of. Losing someone you love will always be a scary and painful thought.
Behind every thought you have, there is a story. depending on how you build that story, your thoughts are positive or opposite.
do you see? Until today others have hypnotized you so that you believe many things that are not true. things like: you matter when you have, you count if you’re fashionable, you succeed when you beat all odds and expectations.
Today is the best day to start self-hypnosis and change your mind and beliefs about your priorities in life.
Read this book and discover how easy it can be to change your life for the better by changing one small thing at a time.
If you want to know why you stubbornly keep things you don’t need, this book can give you the answer. get to know yourself better and give yourself the best chance to overcome the need to use your own stuff as a security blanket.
It bothers us when kids throw tantrums over losing their toys, but we’re not too far from that. the difference is that our tantrums are internal and torment (above all) our interior.
many things can make us angry. however, there is one thing that trumps almost everything else, even for those of us who are generally quiet. take our toys, or just move them, and you will discover the ugly face of anger.
Discover in this book, how you can cut the umbilical cord that keeps you tied, tied to the things you own; make your life happier and more pleasant.
learn with this book how you can put simple living and minimalism into practice and, at the same time, maintain the standard of living you enjoy.
We are getting closer to turning our homes into storage spaces.
One of the most important secrets to a happy life is feeling connected and building memories. if you don’t remember what you’ve done in the past, you may feel like you haven’t been alive.
create more memories with your loved ones, instead of creating space to fill it with more things.
Discover in this book, how to lead a meaningful life by ordering the things you have and improving:
- your health,
- relationships,
- find your passion,
- purpose and growth,
- your contribution to a better society.
discover how to make the distinction between excess material things and essential things. Get your home and mind in order so you have the energy to focus on the things that really matter.
how often do you wake up with the thought “today, I have to reorganize my storage; I don’t have enough room to move”?
chances are the messiest place in your house is the place where you spend the most time. it is not? If you work from home, for example, isn’t your desk less organized than the rest of your house? “There is no point in cleaning it; give me half an hour and it will be chaos again.”
When things grow and grow around you,they can make you feel like there’s never enough time to feel alive.
“Cleanliness is next to godliness”. that was the main rule and requirement of the first social housing in england. if someone broke that rule, he would find himself back on the street.
Today, there is no higher authority to control how we live. however, accumulating too much stuff makes your living space smaller and smaller. Recover your home, recover your space, recover your peace of mind.
People don’t procrastinate because they’re lazy, they procrastinate (most of the time) because they feel overwhelmed.
The most fantastic ability that a human being has is the ability to adapt. however, do you ever use it by choice? or only when circumstances force you?
We can learn to live with or with almost nothing. if you look around your house, you may see many things you could live without. however, when you start tidying up your things, each and every item seems so valuable! “I can’t throw [it] in the trash; I need it; I have to keep it.”
make things easier for you; use your critical thinking and put things in perspective. Feeling “comfortably numb” doesn’t mean you’re happy; it means you don’t feel too much; You are not alive, you just exist.
“come back to life”, give yourself a space to breathe and enjoy life.
Who works for whom? Are your stuff working for you? or you for your stuff?
There is an old Jewish story that can help you see your home in a different light. you have enough space if you know how to use it wisely.
See Also: Michael Vey – Book Series In Order
uri goes to the rabbi for help.
“we are a big family and our house is small and cold. we don’t have money for a bigger house. what should I do? winter is coming, and the last one was unbearable.”
Do you have small animals? sheep or goats, a dog?”
“yes, we do”.
“Take them home and let’s talk again in the spring.”
uri is taken aback by the advice, but goes home and moves the animals out of the house.
In the spring, Uri talks to the rabbi again.
“This winter was much better than the previous one. now what?”
“Now move the animals out of the barn and we’ll talk again.”
A few months go by and Uri doesn’t go back to the rabbi. one day they meet on the street.
uri, you haven’t come back to talk.”
“it was not necessary. our house feels so much bigger now.”
I live for the wisdom of this story. whenever I feel like I want more space, for a week or so, I put empty boxes around the house… oh my house is huge!
Is your house a home or a storage space?
Is it easy to admit you have too much stuff? not really, because then you might feel ungrateful. plus, with all the doomsday news you hear almost every day, you can feel like your stuff can keep you safe…just in case…
Listen, it’s not just hoarders who hoard huge amounts of stuff, we all do, but we’re doing it differently, more organized.
We become emotionally attached to almost everything we buy. not to mention the gifts you receive. “How could I throw away the thousands of drawings my niece gave me when she was two years old?”
I had a big box of drawings and postcards from my niece. she’s now an adult, and one time she came to visit me she asked me “what’s in that box?” So I showed him. she started laughing. “why do you keep all those things?” “I can’t throw them away.” “can I order them for you?”
he threw almost everything away… it was painful, but I survived.
Keep your memories in your heart, not in boxes. most things, once stored, never see the light of day again.
Do you see the point in buying a home with curb appeal? and pay an incredible amount of money to get it? Doesn’t it matter what the house across the street looks like?
That’s something you should see every day several times. If you don’t live in your garden (or, on your porch), how many times a day do you see your house?
Our desire to have a beautiful exterior house, admired by all who pass by, can show us one of the reasons why we struggle to order our houses. we want to feel like we have it all and for everyone else to know.
I was six years old when my father took me to spend the summer with an aunt in the mountains. she was so excited…until i saw the house. it was empty (three beds, table and chairs, and almost nothing else).
“I beg you, don’t leave me here. Don’t you see how poor this woman is? I have cried for my father. he left me there with tears in his eyes.
Let me tell you, it was the best summer of my life. my aunt didn’t have many things, but the world was mine.
She didn’t know things about minimalism, but she knew how the simple life can make you happy.
One day I asked him “why is your house empty?” “This is how I celebrate being alive. he had two other houses, and both burned to the ground. after the second fire, I realized that I don’t need things to feel happy; I have the mountain, the forest, my animals, my family; I have heaven, what else do I need?”
filling all the space around you with things can cloud your sky.
We think we know what we want. but if we do, how come we never feel satisfied?
Most companies want to hire employees who share the same values as them. until a few years ago they asked the candidates what their values are; but then I discovered that what people say is not what they feel.
We have many goals in life that poison our minds. “I will be happy when […].” why not be happy today? your happiness is not tied to the things you own or the goals you haven’t yet achieved.
do you see? your unconscious mind will never allow you to be (fully) satisfied because then you won’t have a reason to get out of bed in the morning. then, it pushes you to want more and more.
however, when you improve your mental strength and know how to collaborate with your mind, you feel satisfied with your life even if you want more.
feel satisfied and want something more, don’t exclude yourself.
Your life can move seamlessly from one stage to the next. “I’m satisfied; I have everything. I want more not because I can’t live without [that something], but because I have the skills, talents and potential to do more.”
A few years ago I was at my nephew’s birthday party. like most people do, the gift I gave him was a toy. when I saw that borrowed toy in the pile of countless other unused toys, it got stuck in my throat. I realized that my gift has no chance of being appreciated because it is useless.
When we were children, most of our toys were household objects that stimulated our creativity and imagination. That’s not to say kids don’t need toys, but they don’t need that many.
we forget the purpose of a toy (to stimulate the mind to think and the body to be active). they became simple objects of entertainment with little educational value.
Is your home like a maze, does it feel like a toy obstacle course that you must navigate? read this book and create a space for yourself to breathe and a supportive learning environment for your children.
11 more great books on minimalism:
See Also: Nick Pirog – Book Series In Order
- the illustrated guide to the life-changing magic of tidying up by marie kondo
- zero waste home: the ultimate guide to simplifying your life by reducing your waste by bea johnson
- the year of less: how i stopped shopping, gave away my belongings and discovered that life is worth more than anything you can buy in a store by cait flanders
- the minimalists: essential essays of the minimalists
- digital minimalism: choosing a focused life in a noisy world by cal newport
- simple matters: living with less and ending with more by erin boyle
- el yearning for less: living minimally by kyle chayka
- simplifying: 7 guiding principles to help anyone declutter their home and life by joshua becker
- the gentle art of swedish housekeeping from death: how to free yourself and your family from a lifetime of clutter by margareta magnusson
- cozy minimalist home: more style, less co sas by myquillyn smith
- the minimalist way: minimalism str strategies for ordering your life and making room for joy by erica layne