minimalism Archives - Simplicity Relished

Discovering Unselfish Reasons to Simplify Your Life

June 20, 2016

The simple living movement often appears to be very much about the self.

Simplifying one’s life is often motivated by the desire to achieve goals, enjoy experiences, and generally feel happier. There’s nothing wrong with this– in fact, it is vital for us to prioritize what we love most– but within it also lies the challenge of whether simple living can have an impact outside of our own lives.

Can simple living be a selfless decision, too?

What does it mean to live simply– not just for yourself, but for others? What does it mean to live simply for the world’s benefit?

I believe that simple living can have a direct impact on our friends and on communities outside of our reach, and it is often what keeps me going when I would rather succumb to the temptation to consume. Simplifying your life will be good for you; but it will also be good for so many others.

4 Ways Minimalism Redefines Beauty

June 15, 2016

Minimalism has helped me better understand beauty. But it took me a long time to get here.

When I was a little girl, my idol was Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. I wanted to clever, kind, sophisticated and beautiful. I wanted to be a princess-heroine who could be both winsome and gutsy. It was the perfect combination.

Enamored with Belle’s likeness and convinced of fairytales, I sought to cultivate an image of myself that fit my imagination. At first, this translated into dressing up as Belle two years in a row for Halloween (I still have the costume). Eventually, it turned into an obsession with clothing, makeup, body image and what others thought of me.

Related: Why I Shrank My Closet

Vanity is not beauty. In fact, it is possible to be so vain that you want to hide your vanity. As a teenager, I wanted to give off the air that I didn’t care at all how I looked– but deep inside, there was hardly a deeper longing.

Ultimately, I believe I always knew that beauty was neither simply internal nor external. Those who say that beauty is found within forget the simple loveliness of blossoms, or the majesty of mountains. Those who say that beauty is found without fail to recognize that words and actions emote the human spirit.

I’ve been on a journey to realize that beauty is so difficult to define because it neither starts nor ends with me. I cannot manufacture it on my own, or standardize it for others.

Why You Should Talk About Money (and how to do it effectively)

March 29, 2016

Never discuss politics or religion, many of us have been told. But what about money? To some, money shapes their politics, and it can easily become religion if we allow it to.

Most people I know refrain from discussing money in crude, numerical terms. In American culture, finance is considered personal and private. It is rude to ask people about their salaries, the price of their homes, or even the cost of their child’s tuition. We hate to divulge, so we also hate to ask.

And yet, we somehow love to talk about money– just in indirect ways. We can rarely discuss commerce without commenting on price; we’re constantly referencing what we can or can’t afford; we are, after all, living in the legacy of the leisure class and conspicuous consumption. We put rich people on television, and we somehow find their squandering of wealth entertaining.

So what’s the big deal? Why does money occupy such a strangely powerful position in our personal lives?

Are You Ready For Minimalism? 5 Ways To Tell.

March 11, 2016

I don’t openly tell people (outside this blog community) that I’m a minimalist. I think there’s a certain image that comes to mind: whether aesthetic minimalism, extreme minimalism, or philosophical minimalism– and I don’t want to be immediately associated with those things.

Moreover, being a minimalist is not my primary, personal identity. As I’ve written before, minimalism is a vehicle that takes us somewhere we want to go. It lightens our load on the path forward. It helps us see clearly.

So even as minimalism continues to unfold as the buzzword of our decade, I want to stay true to why I write this blog. This space is designed to be a hub for those who have a goal, purpose, or raison d’être behind their desire to simplify. I want to encourage you– yes you– to pursue what it is that makes you come alive.

The irony is that, in order to be a “good minimalist” (if there is such a thing), you have to ground your identity in something else. And it needs to be something worth grounding yourself in.

5 Mindset Changes That Limit Unnecessary Shopping

February 24, 2016

I have come a long way in this area. I used to be able to enter the first letter of my favorite brands into my search bar, and their full URLs would pop up. That’s how often I “window-shopped” online. Of course, said window-shopping quickly became real shopping.

There are many reasons to limit unnecessary shopping, but they might not be the ones that immediately come to mind. Avoiding unnecessary purchases can certainly save money, but saving money isn’t everyone’s highest priority. Perhaps there are things you desire more deeply than a stash of cash: courage, generosity, community, purpose, joy… and limiting your shopping can help with those things, too.

5 Ways to be More Intentional with Your Time

February 1, 2016

When we were in Morocco, our guide got used to us being 10-15 minutes late to everything. Eventually, he got tired of reassuring us and we got tired of apologizing– so he told us this: “In the West you have watch. In Africa we have time.”

I can still hear his accent and see his charming smile as he calmed his weary guests. Whether he ought to have spoken for the entire continent of Africa was irrelevant– I, on the other hand, am certainly familiar with the culture of rushing, even while on vacation. What is it that we love about efficiency?

Why Travel Is An Excellent Component Of Simple Living

December 15, 2015

There’s a fluidness between choosing to live simply and choosing to explore the world.

Simple living allows us to focus more on things that matter to us– faith, family, advocacy, community– as we shed off the frivolous things that ensnare us. But sometimes, simple living is seen as limiting: tighter budgets, unfilled schedules, and a general sense of boundaries that discourages adventure. In all the rhetoric about trimming off excess, it’s no wonder that simple has been equated to boring.

But, despite this convincing perspective, the opposite couldn’t be more true. Living simply can give way to all kinds of adventures near and far. In fact, travel is an excellent way to enjoy the simple life. Sure, there are those who desire to live simply and to enjoy the comforts and adventures of home. Meanwhile, there are others (like me) who will take every chance possible to journey somewhere new.

10 Minimalist Secrets To Minimizing Regret

October 26, 2015

We’ve all heard the adage that hindsight is 20/20, but that’s no consolation for poor decisions made. We can easily become so wrapped up in self-punishment for the past that we experience very little life in the present.

While all of us have regrets– large and small– we also have the agency to choose what to do with them. And specifically, there are lifestyle choices we can make to minimize the likelihood to regret our present decisions in the future.

Minimalism doesn’t solve everything

After I wrote 5 Minimalist Secrets to Saving Money, I quickly realized that I did not intend for it to be a catch-all solution to better financial management. There are just a few philosophical aspects of the minimalism movement that are particularly helpful for those trying to spend responsibly.

It’s the same, in my opinion, with regret. If we consider ourselves minimalists (in one or many areas of our lives), then we are forced to approach our decisions with useful principles.

Ultimately, I don’t think that minimalism– or simple living of any variety– should be about the financial bottom line. It should help our daily lives reflect more what our deepest desires and core values are. And when that happens, it’s very likely that our list of regrets will shorten, if not disappear altogether.

Fall Capsule Wardrobe: 33 Essentials For 3 Months

October 5, 2015

Here it is, finally: my fall 2015 capsule wardrobe! This is the first fall capsule I’ve put together, and I’m so excited about every piece that is in it.

Fall is a tricky season to dress for, especially here in Southern California. This week we’ll be experiencing 90-degree weather, while 3 months from now we will be “shivering” at temperatures closer to 50 or 60 degrees. How does anyone dress for such a wide range?

8 Good Reasons To Choose A Small Home

September 24, 2015

I’m no advocate of the tiny house movement, but I am becoming more and more convinced that the best homes are small.

Despite my appreciation for beautiful architecture— much of which is made grander in larger spaces– I find myself less and less desiring an eye-catching, stately home. I’m beginning to think that, at any given stage of life, one to two-thousand square feet will be more than enough. I’m no longer dreaming of anything larger.

You see, I’ve begun to realize what it is that I actually love about a home. It’s the space that home has for people to gather, laugh, encourage, and enjoy good food and drink. I want a space just large enough to fit a group of friends– and small enough that we can all still see each other and hear each other’s voices.

7 Essential Steps to Simplify Your Life This Fall

September 8, 2015

With Labor Day Weekend behind us and school starting up everywhere, autumn will be upon us soon. Here comes the season that launches a whole new gamut of celebrations, commitments, and obligations that vie for our time, money, and attention. If we aren’t intentional about it, this season has the potential to fill us up and overwhelm– leaving us exhausted and over-committed just in time for the holidays.

Chaotic seasons come in waves, but busy-ness can make itself at home in our lives without any signs of leaving. If your goal, like mine, is to live simply and purposefully, then we need to guard against the notion that busy-ness is just a normal way of life.

Attending to various commitments is not inherently bad; it’s committing without purpose that can make us feel out-of-control. Autumn is when most of us start expecting busy-ness to come knocking, but I think that if we choose to, we can still keep our priorities in sight. Just because the seasons are changing does not mean we have to get lost in it.

The seasons are changing but we don’t have to bow to chaos. 7 steps to simplify your life this fall…

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The truth about simple living is that sometimes you and I have to make unpopular choices. In a world where most everyone bites off more than they can chew and then proceed to barely come through, we must be different in order to achieve different results.

This fall, I’m continuing to simplify various areas of my life. I believe that our careers and achievements matter less than our purposes and priorities. Because even if we haven’t reached our goals yet, or if we find ourselves in an otherwise less-than-ideal circumstance, we can still choose intentionality. We can still live by our core commitments.

Want to simplify your life with me? Here are 7 steps I’m taking.

10 Things You Should Never Do To De-Stress (and what to do instead)

August 31, 2015

We love to say this: “I need to (fill in the blank). It will help me de-stress.”

Usually, we fill that blank with some kind of guilty pleasure: shopping, overeating, drinking, binge-watching television, Facebook stalking, Pinterest scrolling, and more.

Last Thursday, I wrote a post about why we need real hobbies and not just side-hustles, but I don’t want the conversation to end there.

When asked how to eliminate stress, many people will tell you to do any number of the activities listed above. Why do we think that stress is something an indulgent activity can eliminate– like an eraser on a misspelled word?

We’ve somehow been fooled into thinking that a momentary pleasure can lift burdens off of our shoulders, as though any intentional action would fail to actually address the problem.

It’s what I call the “treat yourself” mentality.

What To Do This Weekend If You’re Avoiding The Mall

August 7, 2015

Let’s be honest. Wandering around the mall (or Walmart or Target) is a real American past-time.

A pretzel, a swimsuit, and a few shopping bags later, we find ourselves having spent more money than we had planned when we initially said we’d go “walk around.”

And if you’re trying to resist buying things you don’t need, a trip to the mall is probably not what the doctor ordered.

But it’s so hot outside.

I get it– the mall offers “free” air conditioning, right? Well, perhaps. It would be free if you didn’t drop a single dime while you were there. You get the point.

So what options do we have in the summer that don’t involve shopping and subsequently cluttering up our homes?

I’ve got a few ideas for you that will not only protect your wallet, but also possibly expand the list of options you have for any open weekends coming up.

Avoiding the mall? Here are 7 alternatives for your weekend via @daisylinshih #minimalism #budget

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Why I Shrank My Closet (and quit obsessing over my image)

July 20, 2015

I’m going to tell you part of my story today.

Ever since I was two or three, I loved the idea of being pretty. I wanted long hair, earrings, and dresses. There’s little explanation as to why I was so conventionally “girly;” my mother didn’t push those ideas onto me and I watched very little TV. Still, I dreamed of being a princess and looking beautiful everyday.

For a short stint in elementary school, I tried being a tomboy. It didn’t really work. That’s all I have to say about that.

And for most of my teenage years and into college, I cared deeply about dressing well. I subscribed to promotional emails from fashion houses, cosmetics companies and every department store I had ever frequented. I shopped often and spent a lot of money. I was basically addicted.

No matter how many times I changed my image– from Free People boheme to Ann Taylor polish– I never felt like I had gotten there. I always wanted more.…Continue Reading

8 Purchases That Actually Make You Richer

May 5, 2015

Is it possible to spend money and become rich?

Yes, if you’re willing to recognize “richness” beyond the dollars in your pocket.

Most of the time, I try not to spend money unless I absolutely have to. Last week, I wrote a post about how Minimalism helps me save, and I heard a resounding “yes” from the blog community.

However, as I noted in that post, I’ll note here again: money and wealth are not the same thing. In fact, there are several things I’m happy to spend money on, because they make me richer.

How exactly do I spend money and grow in wealth? First, I redefine wealth. Wealth is an inventory of all the resources we have: time, energy, generosity of spirit, skills and abilities, and finally, money. Money is only a part of our wealth– in some cases, a small part.

I should note, also, that spending money on clutter and excess doesn’t count. Furthermore, the possibility of growing richer with certain purchases is certainly not an excuse for debt. No amount of irresponsible spending can maintain financial peace, much less build wealth.

But if we’re willing to spend thoughtfully, there are things you can buy that can make you richer. Here are 8 of them….Continue Reading

Discovering Unselfish Reasons to Simplify Your Life

Can simple living be a selfless decision, too?

4 Ways Minimalism Redefines Beauty

Related: Why I Shrank My Closet

Why You Should Talk About Money (and how to do it effectively)

Are You Ready For Minimalism? 5 Ways To Tell.

5 Mindset Changes That Limit Unnecessary Shopping

5 Ways to be More Intentional with Your Time

Why Travel Is An Excellent Component Of Simple Living

10 Minimalist Secrets To Minimizing Regret

Minimalism doesn’t solve everything

Fall Capsule Wardrobe: 33 Essentials For 3 Months

8 Good Reasons To Choose A Small Home

7 Essential Steps to Simplify Your Life This Fall

10 Things You Should Never Do To De-Stress (and what to do instead)

What To Do This Weekend If You’re Avoiding The Mall

But it’s so hot outside.

Why I Shrank My Closet (and quit obsessing over my image)

8 Purchases That Actually Make You Richer

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