Tag: minimalism

Minimalism for Couples — Four Tips

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Practicing Minimalism by yourself has its own complexities, but practicing as a couple is a completely different story. While my husband and I are now on the same page regarding minimalism — most of the time — we weren’t always, which led to both struggle and growth. These four practices have helped us to work our way through the difficult minimalist moments, as well as work on building a lifestyle we love.

Press play to listen, or read the rest of the article below.

These are our top four practices:

  1. Be respectful. First off, not only is everybody on their own path and has their own pace, but nagging about minimalism has never worked for anyone I know. YOUR kind of minimalism may not work for them, and THEIR kind of minimalism may not work for you. When it comes to personal belongings, being respectful seems to work best. Ditching/donating your own things and letting them ditch/donate/declutter their own things will likely ultimately lead to a happier home.
  2. Create a minimalist home together. When only one person is “in charge” of making the home pleasant, not only is that a lot of pressure and work, but the other person in the partnership isn’t invested. When both parts of the pair are working on creating a beautiful, minimalist home, not only does it give both people an opportunity to share in the experience, it’s likely that there won’t be resentment. Besides, it’s fun to design or create minimalist spaces together! I may not always agree with my husband’s ideas, but in the end, it’s just stuff and I love that we’ve designed our home together more than being 100% in charge.
  3. Communicate clearly about your spaces and expectations. Which surfaces are you hoping to keep clear? What are your partner’s triggers? What can you each do to contribute to the home? Communicating in a loving way will help your minimalist practices to stick and go a lot smoother as a couple.
  4. It’s not just about your space, but also about your schedule and lifestyle. People often forget that this is a major part of minimalism; it’s not just about the STUFF, but the activities you say yes to, the time you spend on hobbies, and whether you’re spending quality — and also mundane — time together.

Spending time supporting each others’ dreams, hobbies, and creating a simple-living lifestyle together has been some of the best work we’ve put into our marriage. Again, most of the time, it’s really fun, especially considering the fact that we used to spend a significant amount of time on the insignificant and — in retrospect — boring. Not only was it a waste of our lives, but we weren’t creating stronger relationship bonds. Now that we’ve refocused our goals, our life is just better. 

Minimalism as a couple hasn’t always been easy. In fact, there were several years when we really clashed and it was a major struggle to overcome. Learning to practice minimalism and incorporate it into our life has been a slow process, but absolutely worthy of our efforts.

I hope these minimalism-for-couples tips help you along your path. Remember, it’s all about the experiences, not the stuff.

Here’s the article I talk about on the show, 6 Surprising Ways to Communicate Better With Your Partner

The PRE-ORDER for How to be a Minimalist — A Beginner’s Guide is up! Click HERE to see the details. I sincerely hope you enjoy the book and thanks for supporting me/my family/my work! The ebook will be out September 1st, paperback will be out in the next month or two.

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

4 Ways Minimalism Can Save You Money

Posted on by Katie Coughran

The PRE-ORDER for How to be a Minimalist — A Beginner’s Guide is up! Click HERE to see the details. I sincerely hope you enjoy the book and thanks for supporting me/my family/my work! The ebook will be out September 1st, paperback will be out in the next month or two.

There are so many different ways minimalism has saved us money, it will be a recurring theme on this podcast. All of the emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits of minimalism are wonderful and I certainly go into some of that here. However, there’s also this other side that’s simply practicality and there’s NOTHING wrong with that. I hope you enjoy the episode (hit the play button) or feel free to read the article below.

1. Practicing Simple Living means a slower life for us, or faster paces in nature, which is often free or inexpensive. Going on a hike pretty much costs fuel and food/water and most people likely already have the necessary gear. The views, getting some exercise, accomplishing a challenge all are worth much more to me than spending ten bucks on some random item I find at the store. I’ve used the example of hiking here, but there are so many ways that living simply adds joy and beauty to our lives without expensive price tags and stuff that will ultimately become a strain on our time and space.

2. Multi-use items save both space AND money. I also find them to be more natural, which is appealing to me, personally. Do you know how many items baking soda has replaced in our home?? That stuff is amazing and really inexpensive. I also now only keep one homemade cleaner in the home instead of ten different cleaners for ten different things. Simple, inexpensive, natural — so many things I like.

3. I no longer head to the store to look for something to buy, I now go to the store to buy what I need. I have lists, I’m organized, and I avoid sections I don’t need anything from. That’s a major shift in mindset and definitely saves us money!

4. Lastly, the more I practice minimalism, the more I have an abundance mindset. Don’t get me wrong — I still struggle at times. However, in my general, daily life, I feel content with what I have and I don’t want more, which absolutely keeps me from buying more and ultimately saves money. Not only am I grateful to have what I need, but I’m happy to be able to use and enjoy my things in my uncluttered home. 

I hope these tips help and remember — it’s all about the experiences, not the stuff.

7 Way to Simplify Your Life article

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

Pre-Order Time! How to be a Minimalist: A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on by Katie Coughran

I’m pleased to announce that the second book in the How to be a Minimalist series is now available for pre-order with a release date of September 1st! NOTE: Ebook only at this time — the paperback will be out in the next month or two. You can find the Amazon link HERE or by clicking the book cover above. Pre-order now and it’ll show up on your device when it comes out September 1st.

While How to be a Minimalist With Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism focused on parents/families, this Beginner’s Guide is all about the individual and the various ways they can implement minimalism into their personal lives. It was a pleasure to write this book and I sincerely hope you enjoy!

DESCRIPTION:

Excited to start practicing minimalism, but uncertain about where to start? This book is — as titled — a guide just for beginners, and a great starting point. However, because of the variety of areas this book covers, experienced minimalists might also enjoy the different ideas explored in each chapter.

Although it’s difficult to capture EVERY aspect that simple living and minimalism can encompass, this guide goes over more than just how to go about decluttering your home. The reason for that? Minimalism is about more than just your possessions — it’s about your calendar, spending time on your goals, self care, maintaining your home once you’ve put in the effort to declutter it, emotional minimalism, and even keeping your budget in line. Don’t worry, though, this guide doesn’t skimp on the details of how to ditch, donate, and declutter so that you can move forward with confidence in your minimalistic practices.

That’s the beauty of minimalism — it can touch every aspect of your life. This guide is here to get you started with practical, realistic, and thoughtful methods so that you can find YOUR kind of minimalism.

Minimalism and Goals: My July Law of Attraction Experiment — Ep. 39

Posted on by Katie Coughran

I learned about the Law of Attraction, Thoughts Become Things, and the Power of Positive Thinking nearly a decade ago, but I feel like I’m just now learning to harness the power of this kind of positivity, combined with knowing what I want, and also taking action. The final push for me giving these kinds of mindsets a try? Negativity was getting me nowhere.

Because this episode was so long, detailed, and personal, I’ve decided I won’t be writing an article to go along with it this time. If you’re curious, you’ll just have to listen by hitting the play button below.

In case you missed it, my latest video is out: Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe

Article on speaking to yourself in the 3rd person potentially making you wiser

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe

Posted on by Katie Coughran

 

I absolutely love a good smoothie bowl with delicious granola on top. Or just some plain granola with cashew milk. I never found a granola that suited all of my dietary and taste specifications, though, so I finally decided to create my own recipe. It’s highly versatile, easy to make, and has the perfect amount of crunch. I hope you enjoy it!

Find the full recipe in the details of the video and thanks for watching!

6 Happiness Practices — Episode 38

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Living in the PNW in the winter has its challenges, as does the normal stresses of life, so I’ve been doing my best to implement simple living, minimalism, and happiness practices that help me to be able to live my best life, no matter what’s going on around me. Today, I’m sharing 6 practices I’ve implemented into my life that allow me to feel more positive and have higher energy levels in my daily life.

Click the play button below to listen to this episode of the How to be a Minimalist podcast or read a shortened version below

NOTE: While these practices work for me, they may not work for you! If you need professional help, you should definitely seek it.

1. Light body movement is one of my favorite ways to boost my energy and happiness levels. I always feel more mental clarity, and my body feels so much better afterward. There are countless ways to do this, but stretching, going for a walk, dancing, or even just stepping outside for a minute always create a little more positivity in my life.

2. Intake uplifting information. Several months ago, I realized that I only had deeply negative topics of conversation to bring to the table because that’s what was running through my head. Choosing wisely how much time I spent with negative sources, ditching or limiting all forms of media, and discerning between educating myself and indulging in negative articles/posts helped me to return to the person I really want to be. Being uplifting and being a source of positive energy are two extremely important focuses for me and allow me to do more good for others than drenching myself in negativity.

3. Get in touch with your Higher Power. For me, this is God, for you it might be nature, spirituality, the Universe, or any number of sources. When I get out of touch, I notice a lack in my life and always feel a pull to return. And when I do, I notice a boost in happiness.

4. Look at your successes. I had a tendency to never slow down and appreciate my accomplishments and instead, constantly tried to figure out what I was supposed to be doing next. This led to me always feeling frenzied. Knowing that I can take a moment to pause and be happy that I got the kitchen cleaned or a podcast episode uploaded has added greatly to my happiness and self-love.

5. Get into nature. This can even be done by bringing a plant into your home to put on your bedside table. Whether you walk down your street, go for a bike ride, head to a state park, or add a succulent to your bathroom counter, being in nature is a beautiful way to get grounded, feel peace, and find inspiration. This world is a beautiful place to explore.

6. Live in joyful gratitude. I’ve recently had an epiphany about gratitude. I’ve always been full of gratitude, but I never knew all it could be and the joy it could bring until a couple of weeks ago. I saw a YouTube video from the Gem Goddess where she talked about doing everything with passion. The second she mentioned something about passionately being grateful you actually have dishes to clean, I realized that I had been grateful all my life, yes, but it wasn’t with joy. And it was always with a touch of guilt — like I would be an awful person if I wasn’t grateful for what I had and if I wanted to progress onward to better things. Since watching her video, I’ve been trying to do things with passion and joyful gratitude simply for the sake of adding happiness to my life. It’s allowed me to truly see all that I have and bask in the joy for all that’s in my life.

There are a lot of things to be happy and positive about. My life is better when I focus on and find them and I’m much better able to share my positivity with others.

The article I talked about: 9 Natural Ways to Boost Your Energy Levels

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My latest videos on YouTube:
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

7 Minimalist Cleaning Tips

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Keeping things minimalist-minded when it comes to my cleaning routine has saved me hours of cleaning time and kept me on track when it comes to having a tidy home. My family and I all benefit from having a nice space and I’m happy I don’t have to spend extra minutes cleaning — some more bonuses of minimalistic practices.

Hit the play button to listen to the episode, or you can quickly read through my tips below.

If you’ve listened to many of my podcast episodes or read my book, you’ll know that I dislike cleaning, but I love having a clean house. Minimizing the amount of time I spend on chores but also being able to enjoy a tidy home is one of my goals with minimalism and here are my top tips for having the best of both worlds.

  1. Clean the dishes after every meal. Yep, it’s a bit of a pain, but it’s impactful when it comes to amount of dishes you need — if you only have a dish or two for each person In the home, you HAVE to clean up after every meal. If you have 50 plates, it’s easier to let them pile up and create a huge mess. Also, having a tidy kitchen won’t only feel good, but it will likely help you to eat better foods if your kitchen is clean.
  2. Have the right tools. You don’t need a million, just the right ones. I finally made a daily cleaner that I love and crocheted a few wipes that are specifically for the bathroom. The bonuses were that I was able to ditch the other products I had used and I now have more space in my tiny RV cabinet. Even better, our bathroom is clean most of the time because the process is quick and simple with the right tools.
  3. Deal with clutter daily. Put away paperwork as soon as it comes in, make sure your surfaces are cleared off at least once daily, and make sure clothes get put away in the hamper or closet when you’re done with them. You’ll feel less stress and be able to enjoy the benefits of being organized. Plus, it won’t be a big deal if somebody stops by.
  4. Fold and put laundry away as soon as it’s dry. This one’s the worst for me, quite frankly. I’ve learned that having a pile of laundry out makes your home feel cluttered and messy faster than most things, so it’s worth it to just deal with folding it and putting it away as soon as possible.
  5. Make constant efforts to downsize and evaluate. Did you spot a shirt tucked into the back of your closet that you never wear when you put your laundry away? Can you ditch it? You don’t have to be compulsive about searching for things to ditch, but looking at your things objectively when you’re tidying up helps to keep working on minimalistic practices.
  6. Make your bed every day. In the morning is preferable. Have you ever taken a look at how large your bed is? If it’s messy, it looks like the whole room is messy. In comparison, if you leave a glass and book out on your bedside table, but the bed is made, nobody would hardly notice. Making my bed each morning just makes me feel good and gives me a place to comfortably rest or hang out during the day.
  7. Create a cleaning routine. Focus on the flow — move fluidly from one room to the next instead of bouncing around your home like a ball in a pinball machine. It’ll take less time and you won’t have to put much mental effort into making sure you check everything off your list. Check podcast episode 12 for some tips, although I go into the nitty gritty depth of how to do this in Patreon Exclusive episode 7. $3/month patrons get two bonus exclusive podcast episodes each month and you’re also supporting the show continuing, my friends. Thanks for considering!

The Darwin Awards Podcast

Jenny Mustard Minimalist Cleaning Habits — Get Tidy + Organized

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

6 Tips for Making Mindful Purchases

Posted on by Katie Coughran

 Listen to the podcast episode below, or stroll down to read my post that briefly goes over my six tips.

Every day, I see ads, spot things in stores, or see images and video of people using products that make me pause and wonder whether I, too, would like to own that item. As a minimalist, I’m constantly trying to avoid this kind of temptation, and I turn down 99.9% of the things I see.

The thing is, even with all of my constant efforts to say, “no,” there are still items that wear out, tools I need, and others in my family that would like to own things that I’m not interested in. Purchases are inevitable, even if that means buying a fresh pair of undies on occasion.

Knowing this, here are six tips that will help you — and me — to stay on track when it comes to deciding whether or not you’ll be bringing something new into the home.

  1. First off, it’s OK to LOVE your stuff. Some may think this means you’ll end up purchasing more because there are lots of things to love out there. What I’ve found since becoming more and more of an extreme minimalist is that the vetting process now has such a high standard, I am rarely tempted to buy anything because I know I won’t love it. The things in our home are things we are adore and if they aren’t, they’re in consideration for being let go of. Knowing I HAVE to love it for it to come in means more “NOs” than ever. 
  2. Don’t purchase things in search of false security. A long time ago, I used to shop in search of happiness and security. I never found it. Knowing that I need a tool for my life and then going and searching for that tool is my new gig and actually brings useful items into my life without all the excess. Knowing what I need to buy is very different from going to the store to search for something to buy.
  3. Take your time before buying. I’m gaining a little patience and contentedness the older I get. Most things aren’t items I need RIGHT NOW. I’m much better at waiting for the excitement of spontaneity to wear off in order to have a clear mind to go through the positive vs negative value of an item. Usually, once I wait for the potential thrill of a purchase to go away, I don’t actually want the item anymore and I’m glad I didn’t buy it.
  4. Research for quality and whether it will serve its purpose. A lot of times, when I know I want to allow something into our home, I’m tempted by the first option I come across. Waiting and researching, thinking about how the item will be used, and what I actually need will often better ensure that I bring the RIGHT item into our home.
  5. Budget and save while you’re researching. I don’t know about you, but putting stuff on credit doesn’t feel good to me. Saving up while I’m researching DOES, and I love knowing I can pay with cash and afford what I’m buying. I know this can be difficult and sometimes impossible, but it’s always an effort I make so I have total peace about my purchase.
  6. Ask yourself if there’s an experience or necessity you’d rather spend your money on. Asking myself this has often instantly removed the temptation to buy and it’s probably the first question I ask myself.

There are so many different ways to make mindful purchases, but I hope one or more of these tips helps you to create a home you love and feel comfortable in.

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Here’s the video I talked about on the show — Simple Happy Zen’s 25 Things I Only Own 1 Of

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My latest videos on YouTube:
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

Creating a Minimalist Budget — Ep. 35

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Budgeting with a minimalist mindset has totally changed the way I view money, budgeting, and using money as a tool, instead of something I simply want or need more of. I hope some of these tips can help you to harness the tool that money can be and empower you to have peace of mind and better use of your resources.

As always, you can listen by hitting the play button, or read a quick snippet below. Also, don’t forget to check out Dave Ramsey if you’re financially struggling.

This ended up being a long podcast episode, so summing up the entire thing would be a little tricky. However, my top tips would be the following:

Create a Monthly Budget:

If you don’t currently have a budget and are going to implement only one thing from this list, create a monthly budget. I think most people just check their bank accounts to see when the money is gone, but creating a budget will empower you to save, get out of debt, or simply take control.

Simplify Your Budget:

It can be tough to let go of stuff — like your favorite holey sweater — but it’s also difficult to decide to get rid of a streaming subscription or that gym membership you never use. The thing is, you can ALWAYS re-subscribe or sign back up to stuff you actually miss. If you’re trying to get out of debt or just get a hold of your finances, ditching subscriptions is one of those things that can be super helpful. It’ll make it easier to look at a cleaner budget, plus, it’ll put more money in your pocket to use as a tool for whatever goal you’re working on.

Money is a Tool:

I used to feel very negatively about money/budgeting/etc., but since coming to the idea that money is a tool, I feel so much more peace about it. It gives me direction about what I’d like to do with it. The idea also keeps me centered on getting experiences, not more money just for the sake of wanting more money. Money isn’t bad, it’s what we do with it and think about it that can get us into trouble. Having a healthy relationship with money has made all the difference for me.

Budget Fun Money:

Even if you can only scrape together $1, budget a little fun money. Maybe you want a box of candy to go with movie night, to download your favorite song, or to buy a marker for your art set. $1 isn’t nothing. And if you have $50 to set aside, you could do even more — camping trip, gas to go to a new city, or have a nice dinner with friends. The important thing is that you have some money to enjoy experiences, because practicing simple living and minimalism are all about experiences.

Use Your Budget to Prepare:

Do you know whether your kids are going to need a new winter wardrobe? What a are you going to do about that hole in your shoe? Note: I literally have a hole in my Birkenstock, so shoes are on my mind as I only have 4 pairs. Christmas will be here before we know it, plus you’ve been wanting to go on a little vacation. Note: Last year, we gave our kids a budget for planning a day trip as their major Christmas gift and it was awesome. They absolutely LOVED planning a trip!

The thing is, some stuff just pops up on us and we have to deal with surprises as they come — Dave Ramsey suggests having an emergency fund of $1,000 for these surprises like a popped tired, etc. But some things we see coming. If we take the time to prepare, we can do so with a minimalist mindset and purchase only the things we need or truly want to bring into our home, instead of buying excessive amounts that don’t necessarily fill out needs.

I hope these tips help you on your minimalist journey! Taking control of our money has been one of the most empowering things we’ve ever done and it feels good to be getting a foothold, even if it’s felt impossible at times.

Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My latest videos on YouTube:
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

Minimalism and the Power of Positive Thinking — Ep. 34

Posted on by Katie Coughran

There is so much power in positivity, I’ve made one of my life’s focuses attempting to surround myself with as much of it as possible. I’m happier, I get more done, and I personally feel I have more positive impact on others when I’m positive. Minimalism and positivity go hand in hand — removing negativity means making free spaces in our minds and homes so we can live our best lives.

Listen to the full episode by hitting the play button, or read a shortened snippet below:

There are so many tools out there to support embracing positivity. We’re all different, though, and what works for one person won’t work for another. While I’ve tried a lot of different positivity practices, these are just a few of my favorites.

Vision Boards

I’ve been using some form of vision boards since I was a kid. My brother was the first person to teach this to me, though he didn’t call it a vision board or even have a traditional one — he had posters of those that inspired him on his wall. This left a great impression on me and I used the same technique growing up until I discovered more traditional vision boards.

Journalling

I’ve also used journals to focus on my goals since I was kid. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was also able to remove negativity by expressing myself. I now have two different types of journals — one strictly for emotions I’m processing that I’ll toss someday, and another for posterity. Journalling is inspiring to look back on and helps to give a beautiful vision of how far we’ve come. Or where we can improve.

Ideal Live Vision

I’ve used this idea (see link below) in the past, though I’ve never taken the official course, so I’m really not certain about whether I’m doing it “right” or not. However, I HAVE felt the positive effects of writing out and recording my goals and dreams as if they’ve already happened and listening to it daily. It’s been a beautiful way of assisting progress.

Remove Negativity From Your Life 

This one is tricky. I absolutely don’t mean to be selfish, brush problems under the rug, or ignore feelings. However, after validating my and others’ issues and feelings, dealing with problems with a positive outlook has been really helpful to me and I feel I’ve been more supportive to others by doing my best to be uplifting.

Thoughts Become Things … Choose the Good Ones — Mike Dooley

I’ve got to say, Mike Dooley is my favorite Law of Attraction-type guru. I can relate so well to his main idea of “do your best with what you’ve got right now.” It’s so easy for me to get on board with this idea that being positive and doing your best will get you to your main destination more quickly and happily. My favorite book from his is linked below.

It’s not always easy to practice being positive. Sometimes life sucks — there, I said it! But having a few tools to help me out of emotional ditches has vastly improved my life. I hope you’ll find some of these ideas helpful to you, too.

Mike Dooley’s Infinite Possibilities

Ideal Life Vision

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My latest videos on YouTube:
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!