American Business Brokers - May 2020

The Benefits of Minimalism

A Perfect Lifestyle for Seniors

As we get older, we tend to hang on to mementos that brought some type of meaning to our lives, even after time has diminished their value. Though we may be emotionally attached, this clutter can eventually overwhelm us, especially as seniors. If you find yourself drowning in items you no longer need or want, consider a minimalist lifestyle to free up your space — and your mind. Minimalism Before taking on a minimalist lifestyle, it’s important to understand what it entails. When someone hears the word “minimalism,” they might think it means getting rid of their possessions one by one, but that’s not entirely true. Instead, minimalist living focuses on having less clutter in our lives but still keeping the things we truly value and enjoy. The idea is to get rid of things we no longer use or need. Minimalist Living To embark on a minimalist lifestyle, focus more on the present and consider the value your personal belongings have in your life now . Sorting through hundreds of items with thousands of memories is a daunting task, so it is best to start by removing things that might not require emotional or physical strain, like old magazines, broken items, or clutter in the junk drawer. Once you’ve taken this first step, move on to

something bigger. Soon, you’ll find yourself making steady and rewarding progress throughout the rest of your home.

In the process, pay attention to what you want to keep. Carefully select which objects mean the most to you and which ones are still useful. These are the belongings you should surround yourself with. The Benefit of Minimalism Minimalism will help you feel more comfortable in your home and open up other possibilities. You will have more room to invite guests and family over, and you’ll have a sense of space and freedom. Additionally, this lifestyle can also help with your finances. You’ll be less tempted to buy what you don’t need, and you may even rearrange spending priorities or downsize your living space (less rent!). If you surround yourself with meaningful and useful items, you will feel more at peace. Ultimately, minimalism encourages us to free ourselves from the many things that own us as much as we own them. Don’t allow accumulated objects to clutter up your home and life. Take the leap and start living a carefree, minimalist lifestyle.

If You Haven’t Read This Book, Add It to Your List

‘MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING’: A REVIEW

What is the meaning of life? We’ve all asked this question at some point or another. Maybe you’re asking yourself that right now. A more personal way to phrase that question might be, “How do I make my life meaningful?” It’s this question that author, holocaust survivor, and renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl tackles in his world-famous book, “Man’s Search for Meaning.” If you haven’t already read this book, find a copy and put it on your reading list right away. Few books tackle existential ideas of meaning in a more impactful way. “Man’s Search for Meaning” can be easily divided into two main sections. The first details Frankl’s personal experience as a Jewish prisoner in the Nazi death camps of World War II and how he kept himself alive and hopeful in the midst of unimaginable evil and suffering. The second section is about how readers can learn from Frankl’s experience. Taking a personal experience of immense suffering and showing people who can’t imagine what it was like is a tall order, but on that front, Frankl absolutely delivers. For Frankl, the meaning of life isn’t just a really important question — it’s the important question. How we find meaning, then, is a person’s primary motivation. The area of psychology that Frankl developed based on this idea is called logotherapy. He outlines logotherapy briefly at the

start and expands on it throughout the book. According to Frankl, people can find meaning in a few different ways, but he zeros in on one in particular: that attitude we take toward suffering. We suffer when something is taken away from us, whether it’s a physical object, a relationship, or an idea. But one thing that suffering can’t take away from us is the attitude we choose to have. Frankl chose to face his suffering with hope. The scope of his circumstances was gut wrenching and unspeakable, and yet he did not find his suffering meaningless. On top of that, he makes the

lessons he learned accessible to anyone who reads his book. It makes “Man’s Search for Meaning” one of the best books for people wondering how to keep moving forward.

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