More Than Enough by Miranda Anderson

Our friend Miranda Anderson wrote an amazing book and I’m here to tell you all about it. Firstly, if you don’t follow Miranda on Instagram, you should go check her out! She has so many great insights on motherhood, planning, and living an abundant life. You can also learn more about her on her website and on her inspiring podcast! 

In Miranda’s book, More Than Enough, she talks about her family’s experience of living a year of “practical minimalism.” This meant that for an entire year, her family would refrain from buying non-consumable goods (such as clothing, toys, and crafting supplies) in order to better appreciate and use what they already had. The experience was truly inspiring to read about and has motivated me to think more carefully about what things I decide to fill my life with.

One of my favorite points of Miranda’s book that she shares throughout is about how all the excess clutter and belongings are a drain on our energy. We have to spend mental energy deciding to buy something and maybe even justifying the purchase after the fact. Sometimes we have to spend a lot of physical time and energy earning money for a specific purchase. Then of course there’s the energy spent organizing and cleaning our belongings. One of my favorite points she talks about is the value of empty space. Something about us humans makes us feel like we have to fill empty space with things, but empty space is restful for our mind. Imagine sitting in a comfortable room to relax. Is it more relaxing to be surrounded by clutter? Or in a space with a few carefully selected items that bring value to your experience?

Another result of Miranda’s experiment was that she found her family had more resources (time, energy, money) to spend on experiences rather than things. She was able to take a last-minute vacation with her sister that she would normally say “no” to. Instead of big gifts from Santa, her kids were given an amazing family vacation. Instead of going to Target to browse and unwind after the kids went to bed, Miranda found herself spending that time at places like museums instead and as a result was much more creatively filled and more grateful for the things she already had. 

Here’s an excerpt we love that illustrates this paradigm shift Miranda’s family had with their new family motto “Less Stuff, More Adventure”:

Choosing to enjoy a bunch of new experiences hadn’t been on our initial list of principles we wanted to develop during the year, but as we gained back time, energy, and money, our natural response was to get out and enjoy time together doing fun things!

After school we would play at parks and go out for ice cream. On weekends we had time to visit local museums, camp in nearby National Parks, and road-trip to visit family. I had always been a free spirit, but through the years had unknowingly traded in some of that freedom for a life that filled my time with responsibilities, cluttered our home with belongings, and committed our money to keeping up the race. 

While we did find so much excitement and fulfillment in going on new adventures, we also discovered an equal amount of enjoyment in simply viewing our circumstances as and adventure, whatever they might be.

Miranda has taught me that contentment is a choice. I can choose to feel grateful and filled by what is already in my life, whether it’s the things I own or the life situation I’m currently in. I can be happy where I am. That knowledge has been so freeing and empowering. I feel more committed to soaking up my current phase of life instead of looking forward to a “better” one (when we have our own home, when we’re not still paying off student debt, when we have enough money for a vacation, etc). I can choose to be grateful for what I have and where I am and as a result feel more peace in my life.

-Emily