I did not know what Minimalism was until I started reading these articles.

I thought I would do a round up of the top Minimalism articles that helped me on my journey. When I first started my journey, The Minimalists were my biggest inspiration. I wish I could trace back how I came to know them and their site because it would be nice to have a little retrospective. Since reading their essays, I've come across so many other great articles about minimalism, about what it means and what it has allowed people to do. Here are the articles that have inspired me to go on this journey and continually inspire me to keep going.

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The Minimalists: MINIMALISM: AN ELEVATOR PITCH

This is a short essay, but the last question is what matters: How might your life be better if you owned fewer material possessions?

The Minimalists: LIFE’S MOST DANGEROUS QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU DO?

I connected with this essay deeply. For me, I was more than just my job title, but other's sometimes don't see that. I hated to be in that box. I am more than just a job title.

The Minimalists: DEBT-FREE

It took me awhile to realize that debt-free was possible and it took me even longer to work towards being debt-free, but there is a freedom to being debt-free and I wouldn't trade that for the world. This lesson, as well as lessons from Ramit Sethi helped me get on the right path.

Becoming Minimalist: Clutter-Stats

To see what we own in real numbers was a little scary. To then recognize the same numbers in my own home was even shocking. How did I end up with so many pairs of unworn shoes, have I really spend days just shopping, and how is that I have so many organization bins, but still not organized?

ZEn Habits: The Simple Life

Not necessarily an article, but more of a list of things to appreciate on any given day. We don't need a lot as long as we have the freedom and time to appreciate the little things, like a warm chocolate chip cookie or freshly fallen snow. It's really the little things that matter.

Zen Habits: The Cure for What Ails You

Many of us feel like there's something missing in our lives, that despite having the nice house, the brand new car, a great family, we are still missing out on things. We think we are discontent, but in reality, we just have not come to appreciate what we have and we have not been given our true purpose. This article looks into how to change feelings of discontent into feelings of appreciation.

Tim Ferris: The Choice Minimal Lifestyle

Lots of great suggestions from Tim here to reduce decision fatigue by limiting options, the importance of closing loops so that you won't open yourself up to unwanted commitments and advice on not checking email during the weekend. The last part was something I struggled with because the anxiety I felt each time I saw an email and the struggle between wanting to respond and wanting to leave it until Monday, it paralyzed me sometimes.

Harper's Bazaar: Why I Wear The Same Thing to Work Everyday

I found this article fascinating because the author is an art director for a fashion magazine and I thought she would be less likely to dress in a uniform, but it turns out, it allowed her to focus more on creative aspects of her work. This is how I started my transition to a simplified wardrobe. Not necessarily following trend, but purchasing and wearing items that I was comfortable with and repeating them a few times a week. Yes, it was scary. Everlane become my source of these simple clothing.

J and J New Leaf: Suze Orman's Motto

This article is really about Suze Orman's motto: People First. Then Money. Then Things. When I graduated from college in 2005, my mom gave me Suze's book, Young, Fabulous and Broke and I believe, it helped me get on the right financial path, though not right away. In addition, after reading lots of other Suze Orman books and watching her Saturday "Can I Afford This?" show, she always left with that line: People First. Then Money. Then Things. This to me is important because no matter what, it's really the people that matter including our well being, not the stuff.

Be More With Less: How to Get Simple When Your Friends Are Not

Probably one of the hardest things after you de-own and de-clutter is trying to live your life as normally as possible knowing that things are not your priority. Your relationships will change, but it can be for the better. You can be an inspiration to your friends. You can still participate in gatherings without being the odd ball. In fact, minimalism may open new doors for you.