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Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Why Decluttering Your Home Can Calm Your Mind & Improve Your Mental Wellbeing with Joshua Fields Millburn #614

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Mental Health, Medicine, Health & Fitness, Alternative Health

4.810.9K Ratings

🗓️ 21 January 2026

⏱️ 102 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What if the biggest source of stress in your life is not your job, inbox, or finances – but the simple fact that you have too much stuff? This week, my guest is Joshua Fields Millburn, co‑founder of The Minimalists, whose documentaries, books and podcast have inspired millions of people around the world to reconsider their own relationship with possessions and success. Joshua grew up with very little money, in a home marked by addiction, violence and instability and, as a young man, became convinced that the solution was to be found in acquiring ‘more’:  more income, more status and more material comfort. By the age of 30, he had everything he thought he wanted – the big job title, the nice car, the large house, all the visible signs of having “made it”. And yet, inside, he was anxious, overwhelmed and deeply unhappy. Then, in the space of a single month, his mother died and his marriage ended. Those two events forced him to pause and ask some uncomfortable but essential questions: What am I actually doing with my life? Whose values am I living by? Is this endless consumption really what life is all about? That period of questioning led Joshua towards minimalism – not as a trend or an aesthetic, but as a practical framework for living with greater clarity and intention.  in our conversation, we discuss: How external clutter is often an outward reflection of internal clutter Why products so often promise fulfilment but ultimately deliver dissatisfaction The difference between healthy consumption and harmful consumerism Practical rules that make decluttering simpler, including the 30-day minimalism game, the 90/90 approach to clothes and why a “sale price” can often become a “fool’s price” How identity clutter keeps us stuck - when we cling to things, roles or labels, not because we need them, but because we’re afraid of who we’ll be without them How minimalism can improve our health and relationships by creating more time, attention and presence. Joshua is a wonderful human being, a brilliant communicator and someone who thinks deeply about the human experience.  He believes that minimalism is the art of “addition through subtraction” - it’s not about having less for the sake of it, but about making space for what matters most. Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Thanks to our sponsors: https://vivobarefoot.com/livemore https://thewayapp.com/livemore Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/614 DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Sale price is fool's price. And this might shock you, but I've saved many, many tens of thousands of dollars.

0:07.0

I don't buy anything that's on sale. Not because I'm allergic to sale price. And if I get to the register and they're like, oh, this is 10% off. I'm not going to be like, screw you, I'm paying full price.

0:17.5

But my point is that I don't let the impulse of sale price determine whether or not that thing's going to add value to my life.

0:26.2

Because here's the truth. Money has to be considered.

0:29.7

We save 100% if you just leave it at the store.

0:32.8

Hey guys, how you doing? I hope you having a good week so far.

0:36.7

My name is Dr. Ronggan Chatterjee,

0:39.1

and this is my podcast. Feel Better, Live More.

0:45.1

What if the biggest source of stress in your life is not your job, inbox, or finances,

0:52.6

but the simple fact that you have too much stuff. This week, my guest is

0:59.6

Joshua Fields, Melbourne, co-founder of The Minimalists, whose documentaries, books and podcast

1:05.4

have inspired millions of people around the world to reconsider their own relationship with possessions and success.

1:13.6

Joshua grew up with very little money in a home marked by addiction, violence and instability,

1:20.6

and as a young man became convinced that the solution was to be found in acquiring more, more income, more status, and more material

1:30.7

comfort. By the age of 30, Joshua had everything he thought he wanted, the big job title,

1:38.3

the nice car, the large house, all the visible signs of having made it, and yet inside, he was anxious, overwhelmed, and deeply unhappy.

1:49.7

Then, in the space of a single month, his mother died and his marriage ended.

1:55.9

Those two events force him to pause and ask some uncomfortable but essential questions.

2:02.6

What am I actually doing with my life?

2:05.6

Whose values am I living by?

2:08.6

And is this endless consumption really what life is all about?

2:14.6

That period of questioning led Joshua towards minimalism, not as a trend or an aesthetic,

...

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