Last week I was fortunate enough to meet The Minimalists, Ryan and Josh. I was super excited because, not only am I a fan, they have also played an important role in my development over the past couple of years. More on that in a moment.

I am not a minimalist, by any stretch. But since coming across The Minimalists a couple of years ago I have read just about everything they’ve written, and learned a great deal. I’m also starting to adopt a minimalist mindset, in that I am getting better at letting go of physical stuff and I’m more considerate of what I buy and how I spend money. 

Ryan and Josh started their blog, The Minimalists, after they both discovered how much minimalism improved their lives and happiness. Over the course of their journey into minimalism they have shed 6-figure careers, houses, cars — the whole shebang. In doing so they learned that, despite the power it has over us, stuff isn’t really that important. Instead, they focus on experiences, their health, connection and community, and providing value. You can read more about their story here.

Everything That Remains – the Minimalists’ Tour

Last year, Josh and Ryan produced a memoir of sorts which delves into their story in greater depth than they had thus far shared on their site. So committed are they to sharing their message, the guys set off on a 100-city tour this year giving free talks (and hugs!) to anyone willing to listen. And there are a lot of us! The Melbourne event was so packed Josh and Ryan agreed to two sittings, so that everyone could listen, followed by a meet and greet and hug.

I would definitely encourage you to hear them speak if you get the opportunity (even if it’s just checking out some of the videos on their site). They’re such personable guys, which really comes across strongly when you hear them speak and joke with one another.

As they both spoke of their particular experiences, I was struck by the way Josh described how he came across minimalism. He spoke of reading about a few different people, all of whom called themselves minimalists but expressed it in different ways. Rather than be overwhelmed or confused (as can often happen when there’s lots of different viewpoints on a topic), Josh said he chose bits of everyone’s formula and created a recipe for the particular flavour of minimalism that suited him.

A-Ha Moment

I immediately became a bad audience member as I rustled through my bag so I could write that down (sorry Josh!): Pick ingredients from different sources and create your own recipe. Yes, exactly! After considering the statement for a moment I realised that I apply that method in many areas of my life: my approach to minimalism; food/diet; fitness; organisation and time management.

Because I’m a nerd, when I’m interested in something new I like to find out as much as I can. But I don’t always apply everything I learn. Instead, I pick things that I think might suit me, or that I’m excited to try, and give them a go. If it works, I’ll keep it. If not, I’ll keep looking. In this way I pull bits and pieces from everywhere until I find the recipe that works just for me.

Why it’s important to create your own recipe

Because you’re you! So what works for me, or the Minimalists, or that guy over there, isn’t necessarily going to be the best method for you. You need to work inside of your specific desired outcome and your own guidelines (including limitations).

P.S. So why are the Minimalists so important to me?

I mentioned at the beginning that the Minimalists have played an unexpected and important role in my reorientation over the past couple of years. Once I was introduced to their site I quickly became a regular reader. After awhile, the guys announced they were launching an online community for writers. Hey, I thought. I used to love writing. Whatever happened to that…? I immediately signed up and met some wonderful, interesting, talented people, a few of whom I consider friends although we’ve never met.

Awhile later, the guys announced that they were starting a publishing company with their friend and fellow minimalist, Colin. And if anyone was interested in helping out, they’d love to hear from us. Anyone could reach out, including editors. Oh, (that voice again), I studied editing and publishing at university, and loved it! Maybe I could do that…? Luckily the guys agreed with me, and through them and writers I met in the Community I’ve had the great pleasure of proofreading a whole bunch of books.

This is just one (important) example of what I wrote about here, in that being open to new things can open up new pathways, some of which you might have forgotten you wanted to follow.

Tell me, where in your life have you created your own recipe? Has it worked for you?

Photo via Pixabay