Just outside my window, a beautiful clock tower chimes softly every hour.

To me, it’s a bell for mindfulness. A reminder that time is passing, and that I should not waste a moment of it.

The things that seem like a big deal now, one day I shall forget about them, and realise the things that really do matter.

In the end, it’s the things that have done that I want to remember, instead of regretting that which I haven’t. It’s the things that I do have, and the people that I do love that my world is made of, not what could have, should have or might have been.

As each day begins, the sun rises over the tower and as each day ends it sets behind it. The hands on the clock turn regularly, not stopping for anyone or anything.

Likewise, I should strive to move through my life with the same determination.

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There will always be a reason why you can’t or shouldn’t. 

But there’s rarely a justification for won’t.

It can take a lifetime to build up walls to protect yourself from getting hurt. Brick by brick, we build our defences and prepare ourselves for battle with all the people that come in and out of our daily lives – family, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, bosses, enemies and lovers. All of them are puzzle pieces, big and small, that fit together and make us the person we are. We talk, hug, avoid, compete, compare, shake hands, tell secrets, share interests, reveal feelings or even spend long silences with all sorts of circles of people that constantly change as we grow and move on.

The world is a scary place, there are those out there who can hurt us, hate us for what they think we are, but in turn there are those who can love us for being exactly who I am.

We could spend our lives hiding away, protecting ourselves from even the possibility of being hurt. We could keep our feelings hidden, never say what we want to say, avoid risk and never tell somebody that we love them.

But what kind of world would we be living in if we all did that?

Or we could take a chance. Open our hearts. Tell somebody how special they are and how much they mean to us. We could let go of our insecurities, fear and pride, and in return, get back something much more valuable.

If only we let ourselves be vulnerable.

There’s always a chance you’ll get hurt. That’s true of almost anything, but what if for once you ignored the voice of reason and took that step that will change your life?

You’ll never know the outcome of anything unless you give it a try. And ‘to try’ is to be willing to put everything on the line to see it through.

When it’s raining, most people head for cover. What if you danced in it instead?

Be vulnerable, be alive.

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Your work is to discover your work and then, with all your heart, to give yourself to it.

~Buddha

Looking down into deep waters is scary.

It’s dark and you don’t know what’s down there. There could be sharks, or poisonous jellyfish, or any manner of monsters, waiting to eat you alive.

But you jump in anyway. And it was the best decision you’ve ever made.

That’s how I felt, going to live in Japan, armed with not much more than a suitcase, some basic phrases and a lot of preconceptions.

I had no idea what was going to happen and I was scared out of my wits. What the hell did I sign up for?

Then, after all of the trials and tribulations of living in Japan, I had almost slipped into my comfort zone until I decided to visit Korea. I literally couldn’t speak a word of Korean, but I still experienced some of the greatest moments in my life.

And then I went to Hong Kong and did exactly the same thing.

Being scared of the unknown is natural, but that doesn’t mean that we should submit to it. Life is all about overcoming the challenges that face us, but also the challenges that we seek out to make ourselves better people. To avoid good challenges is to avoid the best that life can offer.

Even if you’re not living in an exotic country or about to jump off a plane, we could all use a bit more immersion in our everyday lives. We tend to slip into spending too much time on auto-pilot, falling into an unfulfilling routine and not really living life.

In a way, it’s easier to be present when you’re doing something exciting like travelling, than it is when you’re lining up at the supermarket checkout, but both of those situations are equal in terms of our precious time being spent. Nobody knows what will happen to us tomorrow, so let’s not waste even a moment.

simple act

From just washing the dishes to going for a run, whatever you do, just jump in. Dive deep and fully immerse yourself in the moment. Give it your all, plus a big dash determination, enthusiasm or whatever else you have to offer. Do nothing half heartedly.

Life is a miracle, and yet it doesn’t ask for much in return… just that you live it.

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Over the last few years, I’ve moved home several times, including once across the world. Every time, I had to pack everything I own into suitcases and boxes and drag them into a waiting vehicle, ready to be driven off to my next destination.

With all of this work, it’s no wonder I developed my minimalist tendencies to black belt level. I also don’t like to leave ‘unfinished business’, so I tend to get rid of everything I’m not taking, rather than leave stuff behind. It’s quite an exhausting experience to pick up and move, not just physically but also emotionally – saying goodbye to the people I care about (Skype is amazing but it’s not the same as being present) and beginning the next journey with all it’s worries and expectations of what my new life will be like and not knowing what the future holds.

At the same time, it’s exciting, which is why I love to travel and moving is something I’ve learned to take into my stride. But there were many times I wondered what it would be like to settle down, even for just a little while.

Now, for the first time in years, I have finally found a place where I have decided to stay for more than just a few months. I have moved in with one of my closest friends into a neat little studio apartment in the middle of a wonderful city.

Everyday, I experience something new. I can actually buy normal things like a laundry rack knowing that I will get good use out of it. I can rekindle my love for playing the piano. I can read paperback books. I can have my own set of colour pens.

landing pad vs. launch pad

One of my tech heroes Gwen Bell once wrote about this subject and even though the post is no longer on her blog, it resonated with me so much that I still remember it - is a home a landing pad, or is it really a launch pad? 

If I think about it, all of my projects and goals start right here. Everything I want, plan and will do begins with goal setting and research which I do from my home, wherever that is. So, for me, it’s not just a place to wind down but also a place to begin my next endeavour.

With that in mind, I’m actually looking forward to exploring all of the possibilities I have now that I’ve stopped moving for a while. Travelling offers amazing opportunities but having stability has good points too.

still minimalist?

I may have a couple new luxuries but I haven’t turned into a hoarder. I still love to travel, and I still don’t like the idea of having more clothes I can fit into a single suitcase. Wherever I am, it’s in my nature to cultivate a minimalist environment.

The blog will of course continue (thank you for all of your support so far) and I feel I will be shifting more towards minimalism at home rather than minimalism and travelling (for now).

And finally, even though now I have the chance to start growing some roots, I haven’t forgotten one of the most important teachings I’ve learned over the last few years, it’s written on my window to remind me everyday – nothing lasts forever, so why not make the most of every moment?

ps. Apologies for how ‘me-centric’ this post is, it’ll be back to normal next time

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“There are three types of people in this world, those who finish what they start and those that don’t.

People have spent entire careers wondering whether there was something special about ‘successful’ people – was there a common characteristic? A secret ingredient? Or just something they ate?

Of course, there are many common characteristics that contributes to ‘success’, but to me, the difference between a successful person and one that comes down to one thing (at the risk of sounding like Ms. Norbury):

Successful people push.

In other words, they:

• actively put their ideas and themselves out in front of people.
• make themselves vulnerable to criticism
• believe strongly in their ideas
• believe strongly in themselves
• have the ability to keep perspective
• strive to finish

On the other hand, unsuccessful people:

• wait for things to land on their lap
• hold on to old ways
• take the path of least resistance
• stick to only what they know
• let others put them down too easily

shipping – push your ideas into the crowd

Not everything you think of will be great. Actually, a lot of ideas that have been adamantly stuck to have turned out to be quite bad, but you’ll never know unless you try.

Amazing ideas could be wasted if you don’t bring them to life. Imagine if the greatest inventors and writers cared just that tiny bit too much about how they would look to other people, then we wouldn’t have some of the most useful, innovative, sensational, ingenious, and moving songs, stories, poems, devices, products and services of all time. History is completely made up of people flying into the face of their naysayers (sometimes literally) and going against the crowd.

Imagine all of the ideas out there right now, waiting to change the world. I’m willing to bet there’s one right now, inside yourself. Until you’re willing to ship, no one will know about it.

You have to persevere with your ideas. Don’t be a pushover and let other people put your down. Don’t be pushy and force your ideas onto other people if you haven’t taken a step back to see if it’s right.

Instead, be a pusher – a special kind of person who acts on their passions and gets their creations out there.

how to be a push publish

1. Passion is number one. You can’t push for something you don’t believe in 100 per cent. It can take all of the energy and motivation you can muster to push something to where you want it to be and if your heart isn’t in it, then you’ll burn out before you can get there. Choose something that means everything to you.

2. Be willing to put your neck on the line. Put yourself out there and don’t care about what the trolls have to say. There are people out there who will try to put you down because they’re just too scared to do something great themselves, so they’d rather drag you down with them. It’s a tragedy, but it would be much worse if your joined their ranks. Nobody knows everything and nobody can predict the future, it’s up to you.

3. Take a step back. On the above note, if you receive actual constructive criticism, take a step back and see if any improvements can be made. Remember, don’t be a pushover or pushy – it’s extremely important to remain mindful as much you can. It depends on a person’s character and strength of conviction whether they let people put them down or if it leads to improvement and eventually what is just a good idea becomes a real idea.

4. Keep a balanced standard. Have faith in yourself and aim high. Setting a challenging standard for yourself is a very good thing but don’t aim for perfection, because there’s no such thing.  Try not be too self-critical, otherwise you’ll always be waiting for something that’s impossible.

5. Create something of value to other people and you’re bound to succeed. It’s as simple as this : if people need or want something you can give them, you are already on the way to success. All you need to figure out is how you can give it to them and how you can receive something valuable in return (this doesn’t necessarily mean cash). Something of value in return can be anything from useful criticism, encouraging comments or spreading your name via word of mouth.

Pushing publish doesn’t have to be hard, but unless it’s good, people won’t take notice. Posts like these take me some time to write because I always have to make sure I’ve done my best before publishing something I’ve created for everyone to see.

Anybody can change the world. But not everybody does. Don’t let it be you.

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“I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest“. ~ Dalai Lama

Into the Eye of the Storm

A storm is coming. Thick, dark clouds are gathering in the distance, rolling closer and closer towards you. The echo of a deep rumbling shakes the ground beneath your feet. Lightening pierces the sky in great thin flashes. Suddenly there’s a giant clash and everything goes white.

You open your eyes.

The first thing you notice is not what is there but what isn’t. The chaos and uproar is gone and in it’s place there is a tranquil silence that almost seems to ring in your ears. You fill your lungs with the cool, thin air. It calms your thumping heart.

You are in the eye of the storm.

Everything you have done until now has lead you to this moment.

Being focussed is about transporting your mind and body to a place of serenity. There’s nothing to pull you away from what you’re about to do. For now, nothing beyond your bubble really exists. The past is behind you and the future hasn’t happened yet. The world is at your feet.

This moment is a fresh start, a new beginning, a clean slate.

Has there ever been one moment in your life when you’ve been completely, utterly focussed? If you have experienced it, then you might know the feeling of infinite joy that comes out of being able to perform your very best.

You feel awesome, inspired and unstoppable. 

If you haven’t had the chance to experience that kinds of momentum yet, you can try to bring the moment towards you using some focus mantras.

25 focus mantras for genius, creativity & greatness

1. disconnect
2. breathe deeply
3. intensity is vital
4. drop your expectations
5. play and stay curious
6. lose yourself and
7. know who you really are
8. be present
9. embrace solitude
10. make your own rules
11. listen honestly
12. savor the silence
13. life is the journey
14. love everything
15. just feel
16. let go of the past
17. passion is key
18. move with purpose
19. reject fear
20. strive ahead
21. freedom is in your mind
22. gratitude goes a long way
23. make a difference
24. dive deeply
25. be human

It’s your chance to fill the pages of your life. Write your story. It is in these moments that you decide who you are and what you’re alive for.

Now go do what you are supposed to do… and give it everything you have.

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“Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Everyone has something that holds them back. It can be something precious, common or unique, something tangible or untouchable, it can be a secret or something everyone knows about. These are the things that keep us human, grounded, and it’s only natural that we would want security and reassurance in a world that changes every moment of every day.

But how much those things hold people back depends entirely on each person. It’s their choice, not anyone else’s. They can blame others all they like, but in the end it’s all down to them.

Sadly, a lot of people are prisoners to their desires. They can’t get past social pressures and consumer greed and over the years and they become increasingly obsessed with collecting more and more debt. They start basing their identities, achievements and self-worth on the accumulation of the next best toy. Even when these new toys become redundant, they can’t let go and they work long hours to pay for the garage that can’t fit a car or a basement to store all the junk they don’t need.

Then there are some people that own almost nothing, not even much more than the clothes on their backs. They’re nomads, with no place to call home but not exactly homeless. They travel everywhere and would live anywhere. They can be connected to almost anyone and anything in the world at any time they wished, or they can simply disconnect, disappear and drop off the map.

Fortunately, most people are comfortably living in between these two extremes of a spectrum of how humans can deal with the modern world. Neither is really wrong or right – life isn’t as black and white as that. There are good and bad things about both ways – on the one hand a person can take comfort in the security and consistency in their lives, whilst someone else might thrive on the freedom and adventure. What we can say is that we all have dreams, and how close we are to living those dreams right now is what life is all about.

Many of us are lucky enough to have a choice. We have the technology, freedom and equality that held the previous generations back. Just thinking about the war, famine and disease still prevalent in other parts of the world, and it’ll put your own problems in perspective.

It may not seem like it to everyone, but we all have a choice – a chance to make our one and only life worth it. If to live is to suffer, then we might as well make sure we get something good out of it too. If more people in the world slowed down for just a moment long enough to reconnect with themselves, they might realize that living life on auto-pilot is completely pointless and a waste of life.

So how do you take control? The answer is simply, simplicity. Once you learn to let go of all of the things that don’t matter to you, you’ll naturally steer towards the things that do. Regular ‘decluttering tips’ are easy to find, so here are some mantras to remember for some minimalist motivation.

25 black-belt minimalist mantras

1. abandon your fears
2. let go of sentimentality
3. cut attachments
4. relinquish desire
5. quit putting yourself down
6. eliminate the unessential
7. forgive past mistakes
8. ignore advertisements
9. stop spending so much
10. deny fear
11. drop all the crap
12. banish greed
13. say no
14. release your imagination
15. burn bridges
16. sever toxic ties
17. surrender your pride
18. loosen your grip
19. open your mind
20. ban clutter
21. discard flailing plans
22. reduce you life overhead
23. throw away old things
24. disconnect
25. remember that emptiness is beautiful

Some of these are easier said than done, but it only takes practice. It can be hard to turn off auto-pilot. After all, just cruising along is easy. But letting the wind (or other people’s expectations) rule your life can take you somewhere you don’t want to be, and you won’t realize until it’s too late to turn back. You can let people advise you, influence you or guide you, but don’t let them take over.

If you have some things that are complicating your life too much –  now is the time to sort them out. Once the water is calm, it’ll be plain sailing from here.

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David Allen, amongst countless other life coaches, business men and women, time management ‘experts’ and so on have spent and earned millions trying to figure out this question.

As people, we can do more than just spend our days hunting, eating and procreating. We’re lucky in that way because we have the chance to do something really world-changing or life-fulfilling, but only if we choose to.

Coming back from a year abroad in hot and busy Asia to a breezy summer in my seaside home in England, it’s been all too easy to slip into a lazy routine of reading, surfing the internet, hanging out with friends and going on the occasional jog. Short of writing one essay, a few songs and getting through a pile of books, I admit I haven’t ‘done’ too much since I’ve gotten back. I haven’t felt so relaxed in such a long time and it’s quite a relief just to lay back for once.

However, the inertia is starting to get me and lately I’ve been feeling a little restless again as I try to find ways to output all of the energy and momentum I’ve built up whilst travelling. I feel like a train that was travelling at full speed and has come to a screeching halt. I need to get back on track, even if slowly but surely.

Back in March, for my birthday post I wrote about things that matter. Even though this is a minimalist blog, I’ve long since learned that it’s not enough to just ‘minimalize’ your life. Just cutting down on things and getting rid of things is only half the battle.

We have to minimalize, then focus, then do.

What to minimalize, focus and do is something I’ve written a lot about (these posts remain some of the most popular). I feel I’ve concentrated a lot on why as well – happiness is one of the most important things in our lives, and yet there are too many people who have forgotten about it or are trying to ‘chase it’ in the wrong ways.

But one thing I haven’t talked too much about is how.

How do we go for what we want? How do we make our dreams into realities?

These are the kinds of questions I hope to be tackling over the next few weeks.

[Edit] Minimalize, Focus, Do will be a three part series, check back here for links or subscribe via RSS feed or my Twitter to get instant updates!

• Minimalize, Focus, Do Part I – Mastering Minimalism
• Minimalize, Focus, Do Part II- Mastering Focus

For every aspiring minimalist, the golden grail is One Bag Living, or what I like to call OBL. It’s a lifestyle that comes from being able to reduce everything you have to only what you need and reaping all the rewards of not being weighed down by junky, excessive baggage.

If you’re interested in what it’s all about you’ve come to the right place.

what is OBL?

Firstly, I should mention that one bag living isn’t for everyone, just in case people start to think I’m advocating everybody and their grandmothers start throwing stuffed backpacks on their shoulders and hitting the road. Nor am I saying it’s a permanent way to live – although I know it is possible to live long-term. Yes, the kind of OBL I’m talking about works best for single people but that’s not to say that downsizing for a couple or even just a little for a family isn’t possible.

For the last couple of months I’ve been living out of a suitcase… but I’m having the time of my life. I realize there’s something about the words ‘living out of a suitcase’ that scares people. It has bad connotations, as if one has no stability or adequate income or that someone is just unable to settle. But for me, these words have come to mean something completely different. They have come to mean freedom, fun, exploration and discovery.

‘One bag’ doesn’t necessarily mean a concrete measurement like 1x 30 inch suitcase or 1x carry on. Essentially, it means reducing your stuff down to a level that’s right for you, which all depends on what you do for a living, how much you can handle, where you want to go and what you need for your interests or job and so on – as long as you get everything down to only. what. you. need. It’s also not necessarily about fishing rolled up shirts from a zip-up suitcase or hotel-skipping, although it can be. You can do OBL from your own home, the point is to clear out anything irrelevant so that you can focus on what matters to you – whether that’s travel or family, school, hobby, art or even your business.

However, if you manage to reduce your things to about one (or maybe even two or three) suitcases, you can also just about live anywhere in the world. You don’t have to earn millions to be able to rent a small place in even the most expensive cities (believe me, I know). Or, if you’re not interested in travelling, clearing clutter can do wonders for your focus on your goals.

With OBL, the possibilities are endless. In fact, with all this freedom, you’ll be surprised to learn what was previously impossible is actually within reach. Things that ‘only happen in movies’ can become real life.

a clean slate

Imagine for a moment that you got to start again. For some reason you got a rare chance for a fresh start. You don’t own any clothes, shoes, bags, gadgets, books, toiletries or furniture. Then somebody gave you one suitcase and you could put everything you needed in it for two or three weeks. How would you pack? What would you choose?

What did you realize you really had no need for?

5 steps on how to effectively live out of a suitcase

1. Eliminate. The first, most important step is to get rid of everything you don’t need. Things that you’ve kept ‘just in case’, extras, backups, things that don’t work or fit, things you don’t use or have forgotten about or simply don’t like – it’s all got to go. Most people have more things they don’t need than they do, so a sensible approach that might make it easier would be to mentally get rid of everything then bring back one by one things that are most essential to you. Be strict and firm and ask questions such as how often you actually use it and what reasons you’re really keeping it for.

2. Digitize. Whilst eliminating, you might find that a lot of the things you have can be replaced, so you won’t have to lose them forever. Paperwork, photos, CD’s and books are just a few of the many things you can keep if you can get them in digital format. My less-than-half-an-inch thick kindle has replaced dozens and dozens of my books (and made them instantly searchable!) and my external hard drive replaces boxes of lecture notes, shelves of CD’s and albums of photographs.

3. Minimalize your wardrobe. Clothing is usually the most difficult area to tackle when it comes to downsizing. When you have fewer garments, it’s important that most items can be worn in most kinds of weather and occasions. It also helps to choose neutral colours (which you can brighten up with one or two accessories) so that you can pretty much mix and match whatever tops and trousers you would like to wear. (See the link for more).

4. One in one out. Just because you’re down to less stuff, it doesn’t mean that you have to stop buying altogether. There’s nothing wrong with getting something new if you swap it with something you already own (preferably by donating it away) since you’re not actually gaining in quantity. Think carefully before you buy – how long will it last? How useful will it be? Is it worth looking after it?

5. Adapt. If you find yourself starting to accumulate stuff, try to remind yourself why you chose OBL in the first place. What are you doing it for? Has it benefited you so far? Sometimes it happens because people are too strict and allow themselves too little, remember that minimalism isn’t about depriving yourself of things that you want, it’s about freeing yourself from the clutches of consumerism so that you can get what you want.

Lastly, it’s important to remember that situations and people change, and that not many people can live a single kind of lifestyle forever, whether it’s OBL or living at home with one’s parents or a college, or corporate, or even country lifestyle. People crave excitement, and OBL can give it to you, but don’t be surprised if you see yourself looking for a change again – maybe a change of wardrobe or maybe a change of scenery.

I’m nearly finishing up with with my travels now and I can’t believe some of the places I’ve been and things I’ve seen. I know I’ve made memories I’ll remember for a long long time. It wasn’t always easy, but because of OBL, I managed to get through some rough times on the road and have the adventure of a lifetime that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

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