How a Minimalist Mindset Can Change Your Life – Why Less is More

Having a minimalist mindset can really change our day to day lives in lots of positive ways! Life is hard and we can all feel discouraged and unhappy at times, but while sometimes there are problems that shouldn’t be ignored, often, we can also get ourselves down when we fall into some very common thought patterns and traps, like wanting things we don't have, comparing ourselves to others, or waiting for something to make us happy in the future.

The problem with these types of goals and thought patterns is that the happiness and satisfaction they provide are either delayed, or short-lived or impossible to achieve. And we end up either waiting for something good to happen in the future, or being in a continuous cycle of trying to measure up, or having quick highs and then long periods of down time in between while we wait for the next big thing to happen.

Maybe what we really need is to find a consistent and stable source of happiness and satisfaction that we can enjoy every day. And by embracing a minimalist mindset, we can actually start to balance out some of these negative thought habits and patterns, and improve our overall wellbeing.

A minimalist mindset is all about learning to be grateful for what we already have, and training ourselves to appreciate the small simple things in life. It might sound cliché but less really is more. We spend so much time looking forward and outward that we forget to notice what’s right in front of us, right now.

The great thing about this practice is that it can start today. There’s no delayed gratification and there’s no right or wrong way to do it. It’s just a matter of slowly becoming more aware of the positives in our lives, whatever they may be, and changing our perspective from feeling like we’re lacking something, to realizing that we’ve already got a lot.

We’re all different, we all have our own challenges and strengths, and it’s also very normal to have ups and downs. So this practice isn’t about erasing or ignoring all negative thoughts and experiences, it’s just about balancing things out a little.

Shifting to a minimalist mindset and consistently making small positive actions doesn’t change things overnight but this approach can potentially have really positive and long lasting impacts on our happiness and wellbeing that are worth the wait.

Thanks for watching!

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CREDITS
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Music Credit: Exploring Alternatives

Editing Credit: Exploring Alternatives

Filming Credit: Exploring Alternatives

#minimalism #minimalist #motivation

[livinglifetothefullest]

In 2021 l sold my house for a jackpot price. I sold most of my stuff or gave it away. I bought a rooftent and with the money l made with my house l'm traveling through europe eversince. Now thinking to put my car on a boat and go to South America.
I own (nearly) nothing and l am so damn happy!😊😊😊

[emmavik-fredriksson]

I used to work as a registered nurse and 10 years ago I burnt out and was in a very bad place for a long time. But a couple of years I started to try to be grateful for what I have and be content. It made a huge impact on my life. I don't think I ever going to be able to work again (it left lasting memory problems, I sometimes forget words or mix words together, I'm very sensitive to noise and I'm very, very easily stressed not a good combination for a nurse🙃). I'm so incredibly grateful I live in Sweden and both the Healthcare and the financial support I'm given. Being grateful for that and concentrate to be as content and happy in all situations possible has changed me. I used to grieve my situation (less money, no place in society, being someone others try to constantly rehabilitate and make better) and be very bitter for what happened to me, now I'm OK! Great video!

[tacituskilgore]

I'm a minimalist because I can't afford things. I'm lucky to have a roof over my head.

[theWZZA]

I work at a supermarket. The most depressing thing is handing out plastic bags to people who do not care for anything but convenience. I started feeling better by collecting cardboard boxes that would be otherwise crushed, and giving them to customers that were open to this alternative. This small change made work palatable again; quitting would not have changed anything. Someone else would have been handing out the plastic bags.

[broganhogan]

Getting rid of stuff has helped my anxiety and depression. Helps me stay in the present. We can’t take anything with us, but the moments with family and friends are everlasting. Great video!

[evelina]

Very nice video! I really miss your more personal videos. You have been telling other people’s stories for a while now but your own story is inspirational and your own perspective is unique, it would be great if you shared more of your own experience.

[cathylynnpietranton]

Thank you so much Matt and Danielle. We really enjoyed this video. My husband and I really try to be more mindful of what we bring into our lives. We came into this world with nothing and we will leave with nothing. Have a lovely Sunday. ❤❤

[maryhart]

The key phrase in this video is "regular practice"....regular or habitual practice is foundational and not as easy as it sounds...I started with making my bed every morning...I've added a 15 minute yoga exercise and now added 20 minutes of quietly sitting (I don't know what is or how to "meditate" so I'm starting with just being quiet)...I'm learning not to busy myself with distractions (haha, like watching YouTube all day!!!) Peace and Love

[drissaudia]

I started throwing things out or giving them away to charities etc. Each year, I try to gather the clothes I don’t wear and give them away, it makes me feel so good and lighter. I also stopped wanting and needing things. Gathering too much materialistic things was depressing and not helpful at all. Gotta take those little steps now to just enjoy the simple things. ❤️💚💙

[mlindsay]

This message needs to be crafted for homesteaders. Homesteading breeds animals, plants, possessions(albeit usually useful ones), projects, responsibilities, etc. The culmination of which can lead to burnout and other emotional problems. Focusing on just a couple things and doing them well can really help prevent/mitigate this.

[infinite.possibilities]

So profound. I had a high flying corporate job and was v.stressed and exhausted. I haven't been able to work for a few years, due to CFS, but it's taught me a lot: that gratitude for the smallest things makes a big difference.

[BlackCatsandPumpkins]

I haven't watched your channel for ages because I was going through a very bad mental health depression time (plus a very bad ADHD overload). I watched your videos all the time, and although I like the idea of minimalism I will never get there for one simple reason. It's not that I like having 'stuff' but items I like ('Spark Joy' as Marie Kondo would say). Maybe I have too many items that 'Spark Joy'. I love books, CDs, DVDs, fabric (clothesmaker) and arts and crafts supplies, of which I have an abundance. Enough probably to open my own store. I have been going through a very bad depressive time and have spent a lot of money on fabric supplies. Now I have to get creative and work on them. Having ADHD I have far too many negative distractions and I have to try and calm them down.

It's funny that not watching your channel for sometime and deciding to do so this was the latest offering. It sounds like fate. For 5m50s you said a lot that made sense, matters, and counts. So thank you for this. I have bookmarked this video and added it to my Favourites so it's easy to access.

[tixximmi]

Being 70 I've collected a lot of stuff over my life. It was great to reduce my belongings. We don't own anything. We're only the keepers. They only thing we can take with us are memories. As Zappa would say, "Discorporate".
Unbind your mind,
There is no time.
To lick the stamps, (remember Blue Chip and Green Stamps)
And paste them in.
fz

[julietphillips]

I am sure there are many like me who appreciate and needed hearing this content. Life has many struggles and this video can actually help those of us who are searching. So thank you.

[jben]

I love this and would appreciate more similar content. Thank you!❤🎉

[bsdpowa]

In 5 days it will be exactly 1 year since I went minimalist. I moved and refused to buy things thinking it's only going to be temporary. I've been sleeping on a yoga mat and use a cheap sleeping bag in winter to keep me warm. I own one pot, spoon, fork and a mug. I have a laptop and a smartphone. I own a pair of trousers, shorts, a few t-shirts, two sweaters and a pair of trainers and can store everything I own in two duffel bags. I don't own a car, I walk or cycle everywhere and commute to work by train. Here's my take; it's extremely hard to live a minimalist lifestyle in a surrounding that is consumer-oriented. Every corner reminds you what you "don't but should" have if you want to be part of the society, like everyone else especially your friends. But I don't want to, so this conflict forces me to either abandon minimalist lifestyle or leave all this behind and move someplace else in the world where I can naturally live minimal. Otherwise I will go crazy. I chose to leave so that's my plan, but what I wanted to say is that all this talk about minimalism and nobody addresses the point that minimalism contradicts Western society and living like this is not sustainable. I think people who say they live a minimalist life in the Western world are lying.

[seahagkeylover]

Be happy, be grateful and thank God for his mercy!!! Make people smile today

[earthmonkeySteve]

Top job & spot on, I can personally relate to this 100% as I have struggled for years with mental health issues from an abusive childhood then military trauma from active service. It is nice to be reminded on a regular basis that we should be gratefull for the small little wins, and it is okay to be knocked back now & again as this aids our resilience. Society nowadays is totally driven by GDP which has a negative impact on all of us, we cannot change the modern day mindset & entitled status overnight, but we can go back to showing respect and not judging others because they have found a path that give them happiness and enlightenment. As a Permaculturalist this fits right in with the ethics and values, Earth care, People care, Fairshare. Thank you.

[RevdUp.Art.Fotografer]

As long as one is not attached to 'things' for self esteem/worth, things are fine.

As long as one is not attached to getting rid of things due to lack of self worth/esteem, minimalism is fine.

It is when there is attachment to the idea of things as having some bearing on one's self idea/concept there is a problem.

Just because one has things does not mean they're miserable.
Just because one doesn't have things does not mean they're happy.

It is really whether one is attached, or not, to their feelings, not the things that determines the next feelings.

[WillowsGreenPermaculture]

Intentionally grateful thoughts. That says it all! It is one of the greatest sources of happiness, along with unconditional love. Thank you for this video!