Things That Matter: Overcoming Distraction to Pursue a More Meaningful Life

Joshua Becker presents a compelling case for living a simpler, decluttered life, and focusing on things that matter most. By divesting of non-useful possessions, we free up the time normally required to maintain them. And, of course, by not buying them in the first place, we have more money to use for greater purposes. The statement that resonated with me most is a quote from Seneca, that simply states, “Life is long if you know how to use it.” How often we say, “Time flies,” or “Life is too short.” Perhaps we believe that because we cannot look back at distinctive moments that have marked its passage. And so, we should all consider how we will spend what is left.

He wrote about clearing out the unnecessary activities, and things, in your world and identifying what is your purpose for being here on this earth -- and getting right started on doing it. I felt he is gifted in story telling. It made the book very easy to read, his including stories from his own life and the lives of others to illustrate his points.

This book is right on point about the things distracting us from pursuing things that matter. It offers valuable ways to reclaim our attention in order to focus on living a life without regrets. This will be on my re-read shelf.

This book offers a lot of food for thought. The idea of getting older and feeling remorseful about the things you didn't do is definitely something to think about. I have read all of Becker's books and I think this has been the most helpful in looking at how we want to live our lives and what is truly important. Easy read - I completed it in a couple of days but I am now rereading it so I can put his tips into practice.

Minimalism is so much more than pitching out stuff. It all about making space for the things and people you truly value.

I've been saying 'I have been decluttering for many many years' and it isn't making sense. There is always a lot more to do. I learned (from another author) I had been organizing... not decluttering. That discovery (and a year later) I'm making much more progress. There were still blocks in my mind around it, the emotional stress of doing it, but I just did it anyway in a routine. Then I started following Joshua Becker's blog, and found out about this new book "things that matter" I thought it would tell me exactly what to keep, you know, he would tell me what the things that matter are. lolI discovered what matters to me though the perspectives presented in this book!!!Reading this book helped me realize a lot of the emotional stress. I believed I had clarified why I want to declutter, but I had no idea what it would look like after I made progress. I had no idea what to keep. Part of the emotional stress was the 'past cost' of acquiring it. Another part of the distraction and energy stress was I kept saying my 'why' was so my family would not need to sort it all out later (as others have seen how expensive and time consuming that can be if someone downsizes or dies and doesn't have the ability to sort it all out).The mindset shift is incredible! Now I have a clearer idea about which of my abilities, passions, and responsibilities to others are most important to me. This has helped me view every thing and every daily habit more closely. In the book this is called "Discovering Your Purposes" - For myself this is how I discovered (thanks to this book and the perspectives presented) the purposes of 'things' I thought I needed because I do have many abilities and many passions... but I don't have a container for all the things, that all of these interests normally require. After freeing myself of the mindset, now, I don't 'need' to pursue that larger container. I can stop 'chasing more than one rabbit' and focus.Now I will focus on three things and the rest, duplicates, or things that do stuff I could actually still do if I didn't have the 'specialty' tool to do it, will find new homes. I will just let go of the idea of the losses from the cost of acquiring things and focus more on the cost of keeping, maintaining, and space management problems.My new WHY; How can I do MY three most important things today when there isn't room? When other things need attention (maintenance, repair, or simply dusting), it would be better to pass them along to someone who has this or that on their Most Important things list.I'll continue my daily habit of decluttering but I'll know exactly what matters and what I don't need to accomplish what I am pursuing (only three things now).Now My Why is to have the space, time, and energy to do what I truly want to do. Rather than simply saving my family from having to do it for me if I am not able to when it needs done.For the 'past cost emotional stress' I now say "The Cost of Keeping This FAR Outweighs The Cost of Acquiring This! Let it Go!"

I read this book because it was mentioned in "Take Less, Do More". This book is more on the spiritual side of minimalism. I am not a minimalist, but some of the things mentioned in these books make sense. I am 74, widowed, and am surrounded by boxes not opened for 30 years or more. I am now getting rid of so much stuff I thought I would get to eventually. Some items did bring back memories, but if someone needs an item the memory, then where is the memory stored. Maybe it was a special treat type memory. Well, I got it and now to move on, no time to dwell. If it got me motivated, very good book for me.

I have been a long-time fan of the minimalist movement. But I have to confess I have never read or watched anything by Joshua Becker. This book popped up on my Kindle feed and I got a sample, then I bought the book, and I could NOT put it down.Joshua Becker takes minimalism's concept and carries it far beyond decluttering "stuff." He discusses many ways we are distracted by not only "stuff," but by fears, desires that don't really serve us, hunger for attention/accolade/affluence....and without being preachy, even shares how his own faith walk is an influence and is affected and enriched by dealing with things that we just need to leave behind to find a great and meaningful path of life for ourselves and for helping and blessing others.I am now encouraged in my own continuing minimalism journey, but I have so much more material to use to fully develop that journey and make it more than getting rid of clutter in my house. And I have also become a fan of Joshua Becker's work. I look forward to reading"The More of Less," and following him on Facebook.

Wonderful insights and essentiel read...for someone in search of true meanings...in /of living intentionally!Bravo!!

O óbvio organizado e didaticamente disposto.

This book simply nails it. It's the postgraduate follow up to his 'more of less' -this is the why, this is the core of it all. It's all about being distracted by insignificant things that get in the way of us living to our true potential. If everyone read this book, the world would be a significantly different place.The book is superbly written, its not preaching, its simply taking a higher view and encouraging us to all focus on what truly matters, and delivering our gifts to the world. Thank you Joshua for this profound piece of work. Seriously - now living without regrets.

Easy read but the exercises in the end made me think for about a week. He makes great points about how our distractions come to define us, not our goals. Joshua talks about finding purpose by getting out of our collecting/hoarding more possessions simply because everyone else is doing it, but instead seek what truly may give us a life of no (or few regrets).

I have been following Joshua and his minimalism course, writings and blogs for a number of years. This book so perfectly brings all of the values that drive the desire to have and want less, and takes it beyond our physical stuff in ways not quite reached before. This book (and the wonderful bookclub videos that have accompanied the launch) have been truly heart-opening and inspiring in so many ways. I am someone who has let distraction and the overwhelm I feel at the endless amount of information I try to process every day, completely derail me over the past couple of years. I needed this book more than I ever knew!!