3459: Minimalism Is Not a Radical Lifestyle AND Ending the Tyranny of Cool by Joshua Fields Millburn

Optimal Living Daily - Personal Development and Self-Improvement

Optimal Living Daily LLC

Education, Mental Health, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.6 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 13 January 2025

⏱️ 10 minutes

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Summary

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3459: Joshua Fields Millburn demystifies minimalism by sharing that it’s not about radical deprivation but intentional living. By shedding excess and questioning possessions, he finds freedom to focus on health, relationships, and growth. He also challenges the notion of "cool," redefining it as authenticity and meaningful contribution rather than material possessions. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.theminimalists.com/radical & http://www.theminimalists.com/cool Quotes to ponder: "Minimalism is a tool I use to get rid of unnecessary stuff and live a meaningful life a life filled with happiness, freedom, and conscious awareness." "I constantly question possessions: Do I still need this? When is the last time I used this? Could someone use this more than me?" "Being cool has nothing to do with the stuff I own and everything to do with the way I act, the way I treat other people, the way I contribute." Episode references: Goodbye, Things: https://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Things-New-Japanese-Minimalism/dp/0393609030 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's a Minimalist Monday edition of Optimal Living Daily. Minimalism is not a radical lifestyle,
0:07.1	and ending the tyranny of cool, both by Joshua Fields Milburn of theminimalists.com,
0:13.1	and I'm Justin Mollock, your narrator. I read to you from some of the best blogs in the world every
0:17.8	day, covering personal development and growth, lifestyle, minimalism, and more,
0:23.5	and have two posts today, both from Joshua of the Minimalists, so let's get right to them and
0:28.0	continue optimizing your life.
0:34.2	Minimalism is not a radical lifestyle by Joshua Fields Milburn of theminimalist.com.
0:40.3	When some people meet me and they feel compelled to talk about minimalism, they think I live a radical lifestyle.
0:47.3	They say things like, I could never be a minimalist. But the truth is that my lifestyle is not radical, and I'm not a radical person. If you
0:56.6	met me today, and we didn't talk about minimalism, which we probably wouldn't, you wouldn't think
1:01.7	my lifestyle is much different than yours. I don't count my stuff, but I have hundreds of things,
1:07.3	even after I got rid of 90% of my stuff. I own a car. I own pots and pans and kitchen
1:13.9	utensils. I own a queen-sized bed. I own a smartphone. I own a laptop. I own a desk. I own a guitar.
1:22.5	I own some furniture. I own a shelfful of books. I own a dresser and a washer and a dryer and more than a few
1:30.2	days worth of clothes. But there are three key distinctions. Number one, I don't own excess. I have only the
1:39.9	things I use frequently, things that add value to my life, but I don't have extra stuff. I don't
1:45.4	have just-in-case items. If I wanted to change my lifestyle, then my definition of excess would
1:51.4	change as well. For example, if I wanted to become a peripatetic writer traveling the world like my
1:57.6	friend Colin, then I would need to drastically reduce my possessions.
2:02.2	But at this point in my life, I'm happy with where I live and I don't desire to travel
2:06.8	extensively. If that changes, then I will change.
2:11.6	Number two, I constantly question possessions. Do I still need this? When is the last time I used this? What would happen if I
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