Clutter-free with Joshua Becker

Full Frame

For years, Joshua Becker was distracted. He was surrounded by family and loved ones – the things in life that brought him joy and purpose. But it was his possessions that seemed to be the center of his attention. He remembers the feeling of need and desire for things, pushed by a culture of consumerism.

Clutter-free with Joshua Becker

For years, Joshua Becker was distracted. He was surrounded by family and loved ones – the things in life that brought him joy and purpose. But it was his possessions that seemed to be the center of his attention. Until one day when he started throwing it all away – 70 percent of his family’s possessions, that is.

For years, Joshua Becker was distracted. He was surrounded by family and loved ones – the things in life that brought him joy and purpose. But it was his possessions that seemed to be the center of his attention.

“We see five thousand advertisements a day,” Becker explains. “Every single one tells us that we will be happier if we buy more, that our life isn’t as good as it could be until we buy whatever it is that they’re selling.” He was consumed by consumption.

Until one day when he started throwing it all away – 70 percent of his family’s possessions, that is.

“Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it,” he said.

And that’s exactly what he discovered. Becker quickly found he had more, even with so much less. No longer was he preoccupied with buying the latest and greatest thing. Now, he said, he sees rich experiences and a purpose to his life in his minimalist lifestyle.

But is the minimalist lifestyle really suited for everyone? Yes. And Becker said that’s the best thing about it. It works for family men, like him, as well as for millennials on the run.

“[It] looks different from person to person and family to family and I think that’s OK and I think that’s great. There’s freedom.”

So, do you want to become a minimalist and live with purpose but don’t know how to begin? Becker suggests starting small – clear out your car, a kitchen drawer, or a toy box.

Becker is now the force behind Becoming Minimalist, a blog with a not-so-minimal fan base. He said his blog has inspired countless people to unlock their true happiness and to realize their aspirations through intentionally owning less. Becker is also the bestselling author of Clutterfree with Kids and other books including “Living With Less: An Unexpected Key to Happiness”.

Becker sat down with Full Frame host Mike Walter to talk about the joys of a minimalist life and put a new twist on why the best things in life really are free.

Follow Joshua Becker on Twitter: @joshua_becker