Getting Rid of the Distractions

The ultimate benefit of minimalism is that it enables you to fulfill your greatest passions. Furthermore, minimalism can actually reveal, or at least clarify, what those passions are. The goal of minimalism, remember, is not just to own less stuff. The goal of minimalism is to unburden our lives so we can accomplish more and remove the distractions that keep us from our life’s purpose. 

Your individual definition of minimalism will evolve, even change dramatically, as your life changes. It will require give-and-take. You will make mistakes along the way. Because of that, your journey to minimalism will also require humility. But ultimately you will remove the unneeded things from your life. And when you do, you will find more space for the things that really matter. 

Mark Twain has been credited as saying, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” And I might add a third: the day you throw off any distraction and decide to pursue your purpose fully. 

If you want to clarify your own life goals, my advice is to start by examining yourself. Grab a sheet of paper and write out your answers to these questions: 
1. What experiences, both good and bad, have shaped your life? 
2. What similarities can you recognize in your most notable achievements? 
3. What problems in the world are you most passionate about solving? 
4. If money were not an issue, what line of work would you be most drawn to? 
5. Which dreams in your life do you feel the most regret for not pursuing harder? 
6. What is the lasting legacy you want to leave?
7. Whom do you most admire in life? What specific characteristics of this person do you want to emulate? 

You’ll continue to define your passions as you minimize items in your home. But right now, recognize that you were not born to live someone else’s life. You were born to live yours. So determine today to be the best possible version of yourself through defining the approach to minimalism that leads you closer to the person God designed you to be. 

Write out your answers to the questions above. How might your answers influence how you choose to simplify your life?