Living a simple life is something I’ve had to work for.

Over the last seven years, I’ve slowly transformed my hectic, consumerist, keeping-up-with-the-Jones’s lifestyle into one that is peaceful, simple, and minimalist. And I’ve never been happier.

But getting there was not easy, and it required – and still requires – a constant willingness to say no to the world’s calls. From getting rid of social media I don’t use, not buying things I don’t need, learning to be content with what I have, and shifting from fast living to slow living, it was all a challenge to work through. At times, it still is.

Less

But now, I don’t want it any other way. I love my simple closet; I love my minimalist kitchen. I know where everything is and I love everything that surrounds me. The chaos has quieted and I’m never going back to that loud, busy, expensive way of living.

The goal of living a simple life isn’t to have as little as possible with a self-imposed poverty mindset, it’s about waking up my heart’s eyes to how good I have it already! I’m finding that the less I have, or desire to have, the more grateful I am for what I do have. It’s like learning to appreciate something you love while you still have it, which is an astounding skill to acquire. It’s not taking my blessings for granted. It’s seeing how good I have it.

Through my minimalism journey, I’ve found when I have too much, I forget about my God who provided it all; I stop asking for His provision when I have more than I need. But when I have too little, I yearn for more to make my life easier; I want just a “bit” more to quell the consumer within me to feel better about myself or to ease my “suffering.”

More

But, there’s something better than too little or too much. It’s the Goldilocks of balance and it’s living a more minimalist lifestyle. When I have the right amount – when I appreciate what I have and desire less stuff (and more of what I already have) – I find my whole world is balanced. I have it all. Satisfaction with what I own, have and use is like finding a treasure vault. I am rich beyond my wildest dreams!

My biggest takeaway since turning to a more minimalist mindset is this: We don’t need much to live fulfilled lives. Maya Angelou put it best when she said, “We need much less than we think we need.” Exactly.

If we shop our closets rather than head to the store for the latest trend, when we give away the items we don’t wear, when we pare down to what we love and only use what we love, our lives become simple and peaceful. 

Less becomes so much more. 

When I’m focused on using what I have, wearing what I already have, and not looking to shop my way to satisfaction (which will never happen, by the way. We will always want more), it is suddenly so clear how much I have. And more often than not, I not only have what I already need but have more than I need.

So, how can I stay this way and keep my peace?

Get out of the consumerist circus. Forget fast fashion. Don’t buy (literally) into the latest trend. Get off social media. Be content with what you have, and watch how God provides for every need. 

When I’m grateful for what I have, my happiness dramatically increases. It’s correlated. Gone are my needs, wants, and must-haves. Instead, a vision of appreciation and gratitude for what I already have transforms my mind, body, and soul.