simplify life for a refocused purpose

on netflix last night, i saw documentary of a couple of guys– the minimalists, i had first seen them on youtube in 2014 and then read through their website. their message is about simplifying life for greater meaning and purpose; i love their perspective.

this ideal of simple living has challenged my commitment in life as a vowed claretian priest. one of the axioms that i had learned over the years is: the more stuff you have, the more time you have to spend with your stuff. a corollary is: do i own my stuff or does my stuff own me?

i need to be constantly renewed in this challenge! to see this documentary helps me realize that i need to do some purging in life again…

so many people live with a great stress and anxiety because of the consumerist lifestyle that our US culture inherently promotes. many live without purpose; in crushing debt. each of us has to examine these areas for themselves.

here are a couple of take aways for me: what brings me joy and purpose? does this thing (whatever specific thing) in my life add value? does having this thing happen because of a deliberate choice and enhance meaning for me or did i get it because of unthinking consumption? how can i declutter my life in order to refocus on what is really important?

being in my mom’s home in seattle has added a new challenge: various artifacts from the past five decades. how will i respond to the above questions with so many sentimental things around?

how might you respond in your own life?

check out:

the minimalists on netflix; theminimalists.com