Finding meaning in a simple life?

You are not the things you own, you are not the things you do not own.

I don't think either has meaning per se (one or the other may definitely more suit one's lifestyle and values). And of course if hoarding is involved (presently or in the past) thinking may be less than 100% rational on the subject ;) But there are plenty of people with lots of stuff, well organized, things are clean enough, that aren't hoarders.

I don't know if there's a transcendent meaning to life. I think life on earth is *enough* for human beings. But I think it's relatively easy for life in this society to not be enough for them. If life consists of long commutes, ridiculous hours at mindnumbing work you have no say in, not even seeing the sun, hardly walking a few feet or speaking to anyone all day, coming home and watching t.v. or surfing some net briefly before sleep, day after day, and maybe half the time work eats up your weekends as well, of course that's not enough.

Shouldn't you find meaning in your life, no matter if it is simple or not?
What happens if your taking care of two dying relatives, while relocating another one and dealing with work etc? Doesn't sound like a simple life to me.
Simplifying may help you focus more easily on the/any issues, but should not preclude you from finding meaning at all.
Find your meaning, no mater your life.

So, you are concerned that your life have a visible meaning because you want to be an example to others that leads them to living "more simply"

I would suggest you ask yourself two questions:
What does " more simply" mean to you?
and
why is it important to you that others choose this lifestyle? (or is it the lifestyle thats important? Do you want to see a change in society even if you have no part in that change? Is it the idea of being a good example/leader/mentor that appeals to you? Do you simply want external validation of your choices? From whom? Why?)

I don't know that either of those will help in your search for meaning, but they may provide you with some direction.

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Originally Posted by Williamsmith

I believe that if you empty yourself for the benefit of others less fortunate - of which there are plenty- you discover meaning. .

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perfectly said

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Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler

I worry that since I do not have a purpose or meaning in life I am not setting a good example for others who may be considering SL or minimalism. They might say: "I am better off with my stuff. Just look at Jake over there. He's got nothing to show for having nothing, not even an purpose or meaning in life!"

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does anyone, except those we choose to tell, ever really have an understanding of someone's purpose, or what life means to them? You sound like you are clearly on a journey to figure this all out, which takes time and experiences and it's fluid, it changes over time. Try not to worry about Joe Blow at the water cooler, he knows nothing of the essence of you.

while I tend to find simplicity in the way I've so far implemented it, meaningful to me but, to me, it is not the meaning of my life. It is one of many values that I hold dear, maybe taken together they are my meaning of life, IDK

the time I felt I knew my life's purpose and had some clues as to what the meaning of life might be, was during the 10 yrs I was a hospice nurse. I felt I had been put their for a reason, I was to live a life of service (despite being paid to do so) and this was the population that I was able to serve well. Being allowed into a family's home at the time of dying is a gift and my obligation was to promote physical and emotional well being. Seeing someone suffering immensely and being able to facilitate changing that was extremely humbling. My duty to every family was different but I found meaning in each. Sitting quietly, holding someone's hand for hours did not come naturally to me at all. I am a fixer, give me a problem to attack. Just being a presence, a witness was extremely hard at first. And when you are surrounded by death, you cannot help it, you ponder the meaning of life. My spiritual beliefs flip flopped regularly; of course there is something after; to this is it, you have one shot and when it's over, it is truly over. Maybe someday I will just know, for now, I don't need to know.

I became too ill to do the one thing in life I knew I was meant to do. So I'm flummoxed, now what is my life's purpose when I can no longer do what I thought it was? I'll probably find something, but right now I am a burden and am very pissed off that I cannot do what I thought I was supposed to do. So what's my point? Unfortunately, this is ending when I am not having a good cognitive moment so I have completely lost my point, lmao. Pick one, any one, you can decide my point. This might be it: think about the meaning of your life, but take a step back and it may just find you.

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Originally Posted by Chicken lady

So, you are concerned that your life have a visible meaning because you want to be an example to others that leads them to living "more simply"

I would suggest you ask yourself two questions:
What does " more simply" mean to you?
and
why is it important to you that others choose this lifestyle? (or is it the lifestyle thats important? Do you want to see a change in society even if you have no part in that change? Is it the idea of being a good example/leader/mentor that appeals to you? Do you simply want external validation of your choices? From whom? Why?)

I don't know that either of those will help in your search for meaning, but they may provide you with some direction.

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Well, some external validation would be nice...

But I would like those close to me, friends, fam, romantic partners to live simply so that they don't annoy me. I kid. haha
I think they might like it. But I would like people in general to live more simply so that our ecological systems don't collapse.

I know this guy, I'll call him Gerry Moorcastle. He has an incredibly clear purpose in life. His meaning in life is profound. He believes that civilization is going to collapse within his lifetime. He is about 30 or 35. So after getting a liberal arts degree he decided to learn carpentry, useful to make money and as a traditional skill. That is how he earns his living. In his off hours he is building a large permaculture homestead in a rural area. He has a huge garden, a pond for fish and duck, the whole deal.

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Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler

I know this guy, I'll call him Gerry Moorcastle. He has an incredibly clear purpose in life. His meaning in life is profound. He believes that civilization is going to collapse within his lifetime. He is about 30 or 35. So after getting a liberal arts degree he decided to learn carpentry, useful to make money and as a traditional skill. That is how he earns his living. In his off hours he is building a large permaculture homestead in a rural area. He has a huge garden, a pond for fish and duck, the whole deal.

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I wish I had the guts/ability to take on that type of project. It feels important to me, but I can't quite figure out how to mesh a homestead type situation with the other things i want/need in life. I think an urban homestead might be better for me. Or two residences? Urban and rural, both tiny? Something for future thoughts.

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Originally Posted by Kestra

I wish I had the guts/ability to take on that type of project. It feels important to me, but I can't quite figure out how to mesh a homestead type situation with the other things i want/need in life. I think an urban homestead might be better for me. Or two residences? Urban and rural, both tiny? Something for future thoughts.

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Moorcastle has referred to this preparation for collapse as his "life's work." He is very serious about it, a true "collapseatarian."

He has this focus, is it intense, and I admire it.