Have you ever felt overwhelmed without really understanding what’s weighing you down?
Some years ago, I discovered minimalism after watching Matt D'Avela’s Netflix documentary, Minimalism. It felt like opening a window in a dusty old room, and I could finally breathe.
This movement changed my worldview.
A minimalist isn't some eastern guru who lives with 15 items.
It's a more focused version of you and me.
I grew up in a household where we saved almost everything just in case. Extra screws, blankets, old TVs, broken chairs, you name it, all filled my parents' garage. Before I convinced my dad to clear it out to create my old home gym, you couldn't walk through it to get inside the house.
Walking through felt like trekking an abandoned garden, clutter sprouting everywhere like weeds grabbing at your ankles.
"Was all this stuff necessary?" I thought. "Do we need it all? Is it worth holding on to?"
How many things do we hold on to (physical or mental) that don't serve us? I argue 80% of these things are holding us back from peace of mind, one of clarity and confidence to start a new project we've put off for years.
Today, the clutter jungle has returned on a digital and spiritual level. It's crept its way back into my life in the form of half-baked commitments, endless creator courses, and old demons I’ve buried since childhood. A lack of maintenance and fear of facing shame, I guess.
But who cares? It's just stuff, right? Everyone has those. Yet that pile of little burdens shapes your environment, and your environment shapes your habits.
“Environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior.”
— James Clear, Atomic Habits
Yes, those same habits that keep you procrastinating, turning to social media, or saying "I'll do it later," then playing a video game.
You're postponing yourself.
You're holding off from expressing your God-given gifts. And that, my friend, is what I define as a failed life. A life that you run away from because it's overwhelming and uncomfortable. A life that you put on hold because "you're not ready yet."
But maybe now is the time to let it go.
You feel cluttered because you've been holding on to the past, refusing to let yourself breathe.
Your posture is weighed down by the gravity of your phone's pull to scroll.
Your creativity is weighed down by the magnetism of your messy room, every corner packed with some dusty item to "fill space."
Your drive to work on your life's purpose is weighed down by those traumas, identities, and mistakes you're still holding on to because it’s familiar.
I don't preach at you. I describe a lot of what I've done myself, spending hours in waiting or analysis mode.
Minimalism is a practical solution to the overconsumption culture.
Having more, doing more, and agreeing to more is overwhelming you. We aren’t designed to hold all the information from:
2 hours of doomscrolling—more specifically, other people’s opinions.
ChatGPT summaries instead of digesting real books.
7 habit apps that are ironically creating anxiety.
Jesus taught that abundant life doesn’t come from an abundance of stuff:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
—Matthew 6:19–21
Now, with that said, where do you start with minimalism?
Below you’ll find my favorite resources1 to help you get started.
In future letters, I'll explore some of the nuances. So in the meantime, ask any questions that come up. I'm no expert, but I've practiced minimalism for years, so I know a thing or two.
Before I leave you, let me say something that sounds witty and smart.
Minimalism is nutrition for your mental health. Too often, we binge on junk food like materialism, hedonism, endless scrolling—leaving our minds filled with empty calories and our souls starving for purpose.
These helped me adopt a lifestyle that feels just right, even while raising a homeschooled family and juggling multiple creative pursuits.
Let me know if you've tried minimalism or are interested in it.
Stay clear, calm, and creative,
Brand Marz.
Affiliate links for the books. Get em now or later, but pick one and ACT on the principles.
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