What Matters Most Is Who You Are, Not What You Own
I regularly read Joshua Becker's "Becoming Minimalist" blog. A point in one of Becker's recent articles summed up why minimalism resonates with me - what matters most is who you are, not what you own.
Growing up, I never thought much about money or having a lot of stuff. I felt like our family was similar financially to everyone else in our small town. I never looked at others as being richer or poorer than us.
We never lacked the basics. We always had new jeans and a new pair of shoes for school each fall. We always had a fun summer vacation - usually driving south to Kansas City to watch the Royals or spending some time at Lake Okoboji in northwest Iowa. My brothers and I drove nice, reliable used cars in high school - nothing fancy, but nothing to be embarrassed about. We also earned some money by helping our dad and other local farmers.
While I was thankful that Mom and Dad bought me Air Jordans and a new Easton bat as a kid, material things have never been that important to me. Other than my Commodore 64 computer, I probably could have gotten by without a lot of things. For whatever reason, I was born with that type of disposition toward material things, probably combined with how/when/where I was raised.
Sharpening the Saw
As I reflect on my most valuable possessions, I see they all share a similar trait. These things focus on self-renewal and keeping me fresh to handle life's daily challenges. Stephen Covey called this "sharpening the saw," Habit #7 in his influential "7 Habits of Highly Effective People."
Exercise Equipment
I bought my treadmill over 15 years ago. It has been crucial for my physical fitness and blowing off steam. While running, I have listened to countless audiobooks, which have changed my life.
I added dumbbells for weight training about five years ago after my doctor at Mayo Clinic recommended it during an annual physical. I don't care about bulking up. I aim to stay balanced and keep my strength in my 50s and beyond.
WHOOP health strap (www.whoop.com)
In the fall of 2020, I bought this with the sole purpose of sleeping better. Just like someone trying to lose weight steps on the scale, I check my WHOOP strap every morning to measure my sleep. I see my total sleep time, my restorative sleep (deep + REM), and my total sleep debt. WHOOP improved my sleep by getting me into a more consistent nighttime routine. I go to bed by 10 pm every night rather than staying up to do email or watching something that doesn't do me any good.
The unexpected benefit was that it pushed me to give up drinking alcohol. I was never a big drinker, but I saw the effect that even 1-2 beers had on my recovery score. It makes sense - how can your body go into restorative deep sleep when it is preoccupied with processing the poison you just consumed? The tipping point for me was scoring a 1% recovery score after a night of drinking several years ago.
HeartMath Coherence Sensor (www.heartmath.com)
I kept reading about successful people like Jerry Seinfeld discussing the benefits of meditation, and I had to try it. You can obviously meditate without a device like this. Still, I like measuring my performance so I can determine if I am improving or not. HeartMath calculates your HRV (heart rate variability), a powerful indicator of a person's health and emotional wellness.
I began using HeartMath in the fall of 2020, and in the past 4+ years, I have meditated over 1,500 times for 14,000+ minutes (my goal is 10 minutes per day). My HRV/coherence score has improved a lot over that time. That has translated into me breathing better throughout the day.
iPhone
For many people, this can be the most destructive thing they own. I'm not perfect and probably glance at it too much, but I use it positively. My favorite activity is listening to audiobooks and podcasts while working out or driving. One of my great pleasures is hearing about a book or topic on a podcast and then digging in and learning more about it.
Books
Reading has helped me immensely over the past ten years, especially my daily devotionals such as "Jesus Calling" and the Bible. As you re-read these books every day, the words become a part of you.
Last week, I was listening to a friend who was frustrated with a problem. I told him I felt God was doing something we didn't understand with this situation. I said we should pray and trust in His ways. The following day, I read "Jesus Calling," and the entry almost matched my comments verbatim. My friend laughed and accused me of reading ahead, but the real reason was I had read those words at least ten times, and I had internalized the text.
Sometimes, it feels like books are flying into our front door like Hogwarts acceptance letters bombarded Harry Potter's mail slot in the first movie. I could save money by checking books out at the library. Still, when I hear about an exciting book that could benefit me or the kids, I don't hesitate to buy it instantly off Amazon. I don't want to kill my enthusiasm and slow my momentum by waiting until I can go to the library and see if they have it there.
Remember the Why
And, while it's great to strive to be the best you can be, it means nothing if you don't remember the why.
I stay in great shape to live a long time for my kids, family, and friends. Not just to survive but be in top physical condition so I can go all out in my mission for God.
I want to sleep well so I stay healthy and have the energy to show up every day and do my best for God, my family, my friends, and my company.
I meditate so I can remain calm and peaceful. Meditation has made me better at handling the space between stimulus and response. I still have a temper, but I am more in control of my emotions now.
I read and listen to podcasts to improve my inner self, gain wisdom, and better serve God and others, not just to accumulate sheer knowledge.
If I start doing any of this for other reasons than glorifying God, I have drifted from my singular mission and need to get back on track.
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