A rich life with less stuff | The Minimalists | TEDxWhitefish 

some people still didn't understand let me clear this in one line -> IT'S NOT ABOUT EARNING LESS IT'S ABOUT SPENDING LESS.

Ironically, this TED talk has more props than any other I've seen.

This really hits home! I was making over $100K per year in my mid 30's but I was also working 50-60 hours a week. Sure, I made good money for a single guy but I didn't feel rich at all! I worked so much that I didn't even have time to enjoy the money I was making. Having lots of money doesn't make your life any richer. Focus on yourself first! Don't live to work, work to live.

Minimalism is the future. People slowly are realizing our standard of living is physically and environmentaly unsustainable.

True wealth comes from having great health, great experiences and great connections with others. As long as you have a roof over your head and doing what you love you have everything you need to be content.

The things you own, end up owning you.

"Rich" is knowing you will eat tomorrow, and having loved ones to share it with. "Rich" is having good health. "Rich" is having the freedom to be the best version of you you can be.

“Are you a rich man, do you have a lot of possessions?” “I don’t have that kind of richness, my richness is life”. - Bob Marley

I'm watching this in 2020. Who else?

I am so happy to meet you two!! Last August, My husband and I decided "he needed to go on a long road trip in order to save our relationship. He loves to take road trips and I tend to need home time. So off he went on what ended up a 11,000 road trip and I started looking at our packed 3 car garage. To me, coming home and when the garage door opens to welcome me with open arms, all I saw was "stuff". Stuff everywhere, I felt "cluttered in my heart and soul. So I decided to start cleaning, packing, giving away, selling things I didn't need anymore. The second thought when he would come home with a clear head, I would present him with a clear garage. That August 7, 2016 started my journey. It was mind clearing for me and I would rest in the evening, get an urge to go clean up some more at 11pm and I was energized! As the weeks went on, I documented with photos and videos of my progress. I would look at them often and I felt giddy and happy in my mind and heart. There was a side benefit that I started losing weight too! He eventually came home and I was so excited for him to drive up and open the garage door and see the transformation. It was really hard for me not to leak my secret when he would Facetime or call me. Then with that elation I felt, I started in on my own wardrobe closet, and that is when I realized "less is more". I then found Marie Kondo: "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" Now....here is the big point of my sharing...Our relationship was renewed, and he wo was so proud that his BIG road trip, he learned that a few change of underwear , one pair ,of jeans, a fleece, windbreaker and toiletries and he too started his own road to recovery on "less is more". We looked around our 2500 sf house of 4 bedrooms, that I had filled up. Our family was him, me and one little white dog. We bought a 1500 sf townhome and currently donating furniture, packing up all nicknacks, and basically closing the doors with furniture and starting a new chapter in our life. Then a week ago we came across you two! I like seeing open spaces and my mind is refreshed. I am happy you two came across my path to recovery of "compulsive consumption" Lastly my offering of advice. "Why do you need 6 bottles of anything just because they are on sale in quantities. Remember keep your money in your pocket as the products will always be on the shelves..those are your storage facility without costing"

We’ve been so fooled by what we see on tv as happiness, that we forget to ask ourselves what actually makes up happy.

"We buy shit we don't need, with money we don't have, to impress people we don't like." -- George Carlin

I am not broke anymore I am a minimalist.

When I was married my ex wife was a person who believed that happiness was achieved through possessions. I lived in clutter and was miserable. After I divorced her I got a small two bedroom house that I furnished with the minimal amount of furniture and appliances. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Me and my husband had to start minimalism. There was one time he was like I DONT HAVE SHIRTS TO WEAR! I counted all his shirts that night and counted 74 shirts and 8 pants. I told him afterwards, he was very disappointed with himself. We started to sort out his clothes, sold some and then donated most. Now he has 15 shirts and is very happy with it. He gets to wear all of them in 2 weeks (just in time for laundry) and we have so much closet space! IT is the way to go. Less anxiety really

Went to the minimalist website. A heap of tabs, a heap more sub-tabs, a shitload of essays on top of links to facebook, twitter, google pintrest, youtube and a few others I don't recognise. Meanwhile, my parents who don't even own mobile phones, are not on facebook etc. have no clue what youtube is, and they just invited me over for a picnic they are having in their backyard. Here I am commenting and reading up on this stuff when the invitation is there right in front of me to experience it. I should have been the one inviting them over for a picnic.

I get rid of my stuff recently because I was moving to Ireland on study purposes. After selling all my stuff and spending a time abroad I realize all that I need can fit in 2 bags. I'm living a happy life now because I have nothing to care about, all my money I spend travelling.. "I have no money, no resources, no hopes. I am the happiest man alive." Henry Miller

It's been a month since I watched this video, since then I've got rid of 80% of my stuff and cut up my credit card, life changing stuff

"God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables - slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need." - Tyler Durden

I live is South Africa, and I have so much stuff that I don't need. I am in debt, however I continue to buy stuff. Your video has me in tears, and I really needed to watch it in order to make a change........a life change. Thank you so much!! I am going to share this video with everyone that I know. God bless you both!!

One of the best TEDx speeches I've ever seen...

I've sold part of my craps to pay off my debt. I decided to become a life-long traveller with less stuff. For me, freedom stands above all the rests.

Working all hours to buy stuff we don't need, with money we don't have to impress people we don't know.

Love these guys, they've been such a big inspiration for us during our big downsizing process! =)

I am already living like this didn't realise there was a club.

I'm a 22 year old British guy in university studying for an Economics degree. My final exam is in three weeks, after which it's time to face life. On the back of this video, and in the next three weeks, I plan to sell everything I own; car, MacBook, iPad, GoPro, etc. I have worked in an entrepreneurial sense for nearly all of my possessions and at 02:13am I can't put into words how excited I am to rid my life of all of them. Thank you for this - I'd make a video to log my progress but I'm selling the camera.

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Jesus spoke of this to the man who was rich, he said, “go and sell all that you have and you will have life and riches”.

buddhism mentioned the same minimalism way but u guys had transcribed it the most perfect way! Thank you!

Remember, we're all born with nothing and we'll all die with nothing. Possessions don't mean too much!

A tourist visited a Sufi. He was astonished to see that the Sufi’s home was a simple room. The only furniture was a mat and a kerosene lamp. Tourist : “Sufi, where’s your furniture?” Sufi : “Where is yours?” Tourist : “Mine? But I’m only a visitor here.” Sufi : “So am I!"

This was my very first introduction to minimalism four years ago, and it completely changed my life. Thank you.

"I'd like to live as a poor man with lots of money." -Pablo Picasso

I heard it before and he said it in this video. We only use 20 % of what we own. The other 80% is to stroke our false selves, our egos..... To fill a void that can't be filled with pretty, impressive things. Even Henry David Thoreau told us to "simplify". Meaning and richness in life don't come from stuff. We all need to take minimalism to heart.

As a self proclaimed minimalist, I moved aboard a sailboat, only able to bring things with me that I absolutely needed. It was so freeing. The best thing about it, I didn't have a car, or a house, and I drove a row-boat to shore and a moped to work. The statement that sums up the life: I had no keys. No keychain. No metal set of keys. Minimalism at its best.

I really love this!! Because growing up I always wasn't that materialistic even to the point when I use to work at the mall. I wouldn't buy anything even when I liked something. I just didn't care.. But after while I saw myself feeling pressure to have all the latest things. I don't want that materialistic lifestyle or how we're suppose to be in society keep making me unhappy. with minimalism you finally get your freedom and true happiness. Thank you ❤️❤️

Absolutely love this. I got introduced to this lifestyle last year, and it has made me so thoughtful in every single purchase I make.

Presentation was so flawlessly done and illustrations were fantastic, one of the best TED talks i've seen so far.

I even clap my hands when they end their session... thank you such an inspiration, me myself starting to decluttering my apartment, wants to simplify my life.Amen

Capitalism: buying things you don't need from money you don't have to impress people you don't care about.

"A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" - Jesus Christ.

Wow. Absolutely beautiful!!! Soooo true. They are so effective in their message. Thank you!!!! We are sort of minimalists already but we have a bit more tweaking to do. God bless these gentlemen.

Ive llived in 89 countries over almost 11 years on a nonstop journey. Everything I own fits in one 82 liter backpack. I just bought a new sweater (getting cold in Kiev)......had to donate one shirt as my possessions can never grow. . One thing that scares me about my lifestylle is that ive been conditioned to not get attached to people also. I've left a trail of broken hearts in my wake.

The Bible led me to minimalism. But I'm glad other people have discovered it in other ways too!

You’ve really added value to my life. I am much more happier than ever before after discovering you guys and the minimalism. Thank you a lot 🙏🙏🙏

The truth is, the less stuff we buy the more money we can save to help others and to have fun vacations. Next time I feel like buying nonsense stuff I am going to stop and say to my self "This is a wonderful world, I am going to save this for my trip to Brazil.

simplicity is happiness for sure. thank you

"Adding value is a basic human instinct." "We all need some stuff. We all have to pay the bills, right? It's just that, when we put those things first, we tend to lose sight of our real priorities." Well-said 👍.

That’s amazing! We’re on our journey towards a minimalist life thanks to you guys 🙏

Great talk, very inspiring. Thanks you!

Great stuff! I'm a big fan of living simply. I paid off my condo in 11 years then I was living comfortably on 30% of my take home pay each month. I wanted a garden though so I saved while the property values were going down and then bought this house on a half acre back in 2012, right when the market bottomed. Since then it's gained about 80 thousand. I basically live in my bedroom though. I have a living room but the only thing in it is a lone coffee table and a stationary bike. My Dad's the same way and when he got too old to take care of his house, he gave it back to the bank (it was WAY under water) and moved into one of my spare rooms. We've got a pretty good life here.

This is amazing!!!! I'm going to start being a minimalists right now! This is the change I need in my life! Thank you :) Life is beautiful, let's just live it the way is supposed to be by caring for much more important things in life ^-^

Watching this in 2021 💖 I really love your philosophy, Joshua and Ryan! "Love people, use things (because the opposite never works)".

This is an amazing concept. I have been following Minimalism Theory over the years now(included my Marriage prep). The documentary plus the talks add more value now. Thanks for bringing it up folks😊

I feel like an ancient pioneer, a Minimalist since 20, now 59... I still monitor 'stuff', something new in, old thing out... in the park everyday, 38 yrs... a portable life...

As professional organiser my passion is to help people lead a meaningful life and enjoy life to the fullest. Stuff is hardly ever part of that kind of life. Love this TEDx Talk!

Watching this talk was a wake-up call for me. I used to think that having more stuff would make me happier, but now I realize that the opposite is true. It's time to declutter my life and focus on what really matters. Thank you, Minimalists, for inspiring me to live a more intentional and fulfilling life

After having a mininallist physical life comes mental and spiritual minimallist life. I realized that there are more to let go in my innerself. The journey of mininallism is beautiful, its a way back home to our true self just before we were domesticated by our sociery. I am happy that I learned this in my 30's. Namaste.

Beautiful and enriching indeed. Thank you, started simplifying my life already; quite a few steps and some adjustments, hopefully will be able to reach the objective.

Hello from France ! INSPIRING ! "When you add value to people's lives, they're pretty eager to share the message with their friends, their family !"

this is by far the best ted talk I have every seen, I've been a minimalist for 3 years now, so glad I found this in my early 20s

I hopped on the minimalizing trend 5 years ago. When I moved from Colorado to Texas 2 years ago, I got rid of 1/2 of my posessions. Now, I'm getting rid of the rest. It feels good! As the "stuff" disappears, I feel lighter, more free, more peace. The less I have, the better I feel. The hardest part is letting go of the emotional attachment to the "stuff". I hold it, feel the love then let go of the attachment. Then send it off to who ever or wherever it's going to go to its' new home ~ out of my home. Peace.

From the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi: "Live simply, so that others may simply live."

I like how the speaker is not trying to force us to this lifestyle. But all he just wana share is the good that comes with this lifestyle. He was precise and straight to the point.

I wouldn't consider myself a minimalist but several years ago I had an epiphany. Everytime time I did the dishes, I would get angry because there was wasn't enough room in the cabinets for all my mugs. Then it dawned on me. I had too many mugs. Everytime there was a souvenir I wanted to buy for myself it was always a mug/cup, t-shirt, or keychain. Or someone else would get me a souvenir that fit in one of these categories or a scented candle. I realized these items had no meaning, they were just the things we were conditioned to buy whenever we took a trip somewhere or did something. I haven't cleared our my space completely but now I refuse to buy cups, t-shirts, and keychains and as a result I typically don't buy anything when I travel bc I think to myself, "do I need that" or "do I have space for that" and the answer is almost always a resounding no. It was an epiphany that changed me.

minimalism is a religion of rich people

I honestly believe that life in general would be a lot better for all humans if we lived a more simple life. If we lived off of the land and survived only on the necessities. Maybe with a little technology and modern ideas integrated as well.

I donated lots of clothes, cookware, beds and living room furniture. I thought, Why should we have so much things in the house when there are people out there that lack? Last year, I got off Instagram, FB And Twitter. Just gives me lots of anxiety and self doubt. Spending money on things that I don't need. I workout more, plant my own veggies, I do gardening and home improvements, read books, gone back to shoool and I'm having real human interactions. Life is good. I'm happy. Sending lots of love to everyone out there 💖

I've been following your podcasts for the last six months and have learned so much from you two. Thank you for sharing what you have learned.

I feel you. Really. I did that in 2013. I clean up my apartment and really seling out almost all clothes, Shoes, bag, accessories, home decorations and gave all profits to charity. And I do feel rich. Its quiet amazing that the effect is the opposite of what I thought it would be. Now I make sure I live modestly. Enough to make sure I have no many bagggaes tying me down.

After the crash in 2008, my income cut in half, I realized that all the crap I carried around didn't matter much any more. After years of cutting back from a 3 bedroom duplex I moved into a small 1 bedroom apartment, then I cut even further by moving into a 300 sf furnished studio. Last year I got everything down to a 5x10 storage unit. And really I don't need what is in that as everything I need can be carried around in the trunk of my car. So now I bounce around from place to place with my dog and the contents of my trunk....and I am so much happier

minimalism theory is going to be a breakthrough along the entire society

Reading Marie Kondo's book is a great way to start this life

Thank you so much for this, starting today 10/10/20 I'm going to start living a life with less. Im going to focus on the things that matter, my health, my family, and everything that remains...

I already feel that stuff doesn't bring happiness. Shopping therapy doesn't work for me, more like hiking therapy. Being minimalists is also good for the environment. Great speech))))

Since I've been living out of my vanhouse, I've been so much more peaceful. Simple life for a rich woman. I love it! Thank yooooou

I've always been into donating stuff, and buying it again, but these days I question myself before I purchase anything. Thanks to you guys 🤗🤗 Minimalism has definitely made me more mindful 🙆

This was a well-executed and organized presentation that really inspired me! thank you for this!

Great talk! I'm in the middle of intentionally downsizing for a big move and processing all the emotions involved... Looking forward to being on the other side where the freedom is!

I'm a beginner minimalist so I needed to hear this. Very inspiring talk guys. Thanks!

Both of you are so inspiring! I hv been decluttering over the past few years.....the more l get rid of the more that goes abd it gets easier! More goes than what comes in!! Thankyou

I related completely and learned so much from you!!! Thank you for sharing your passion!

Just watched their documentary and now I'm obsessed. Have their book coming in the mail right now.

I enjoy watching this about once a year to help remind myself of what I have and are achieving by being a more minimalist and mindful person.

Great Talk! Minimalism, a valuable philosophy, has its roots in all the world's great religions. "Content thyself with but little of this world’s goods! Verily, economy is a great treasure. " - Abdul-Baha, Baha'i Writings

"Stagnant" is the word that perfectly describes my life at the moment.

I am living like this since 2011 after my mum passed away. which made me realise a lot of things. realised what I missed over the past years working long hours, making money to secure 'future' for us, mum younger brother for myself family !!! soon after mum's death, realised my money has become value less. finally resigned from the job in 2014, now living on that business's profit share that I get as royalty. since 2011 didn't upgraded my phone, TV, Laptop, sold my bike, alot of junk too. infact bought nothing new really except cloths no property or asset except money in Bank. trust me it feels really great. if I go somewhere I don't feel any rush or obligation to return coz my home is where I am at that moment ☺ Thanks to TEd and YT, now I know am not abnormal or alone

I just cleaned out my closet of two trash bags of cloths and I box of purses and wallets. Threw out old soaks and clothes that were ripped. And I just found you two blessings on you tube 2 hrs ago! Wow! Thank you for all you do.

Great presentation!!! Exactly what I'm trying to say to people now!!! Thanks guys.

I gave away everything, including new car, when I left 4 bedrooms and 4 bath rental home with pool, and I helped the people. It was called paying foward, and God has blessed me with far more than I gave away.

Epic message, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! Love, light, and blessings to you all always!!!!!

being rich is not about how much you have but it is about how much you need. it is my favourite sentence that I find amazing and encouraging :)

I certainly agree with them on the mentality of minimalism as I try to practice it myself. I think the issue at hand though is if you live in poverty surviving day-to-day, it's much more difficult to achieve this kind of lifestyle. For example, poor people have worse health than those who have more money due to lack of quality food, adequate healthcare, and higher exposure to toxic environments around their homes. I don't want to put down the speakers for trying to inspire better lifestyles for people, but it is important to note that those with greater resources are better equipped for achieving something like this.

great presentation, watching in 2020 during lockdown.

Minimalism is so helpful. It’s helping me get clear and move closer to my true purpose on the planet. Thanks guys!!!! 🌈❤️🤙

I'm back watching this again, trying to relearn how to live a minimalist life. I had it figured out but didn't understand how to appreciate it. Now that I understand how happy I was, I'm going through my house this weekend, and giving up all of the extra posessions in my home.

Very interesting and so true on many levels. There comes a time after a life time of accumulating things that you find that you do not even make use of more than half of it. You find that you have so much to clean and shuffle around ... you find that you cannot find what you are looking for because there is too much stuff.

Great storytelling, thank you guys!

I. Remember this as the first video that started it all for me in 2015 and I made extremely grateful for it

When Christopher walken started talking at the end I knew I had to listen. Have now packed in my job, sold my home and I am unhappily living in a cardboard box under a bridge. Thanks Chris.

one of the greatest videos i've ever seen !《less is more ...》