#Essentialism

Curating Life Through Loving, Necessary Subtraction

Once you start subtracting, you notice the hidden target: attention. Many “things” in modern life are really claims on your mind—notifications, scrolling, open tabs, background worry. Philosopher William James argued that “my experience is what I agree to attend to” in *The Principles of Psychology* (1890), and Babauta’s curation echoes that insight by treating attention as the medium of a life. Consequently, cutting distractions isn’t mere self-discipline; it is existential housekeeping. The more you protect attention, the more you can actually inhabit what you say you value. [...]

Eliminating the Inessential for Time and Tranquility

To eliminate effectively, you need a criterion, and Aurelius supplies one word: essential. Before speaking, you can ask whether your words are needed to inform, to help, or to repair. Before acting, you can ask whether the action serves a core duty, a chosen value, or a genuine requirement—rather than a fear of missing out or a need to be seen. This resembles the Stoic “view from above,” a mental step back that shrinks the trivial. In practice, it can be as small as declining an extra obligation, not replying to baiting remarks, or shortening an explanation that is really an apology for existing. Each small subtraction builds a larger calm. [...]

Mastery Through Subtraction, Not Endless Addition

The quote reframes mastery as an act of selection rather than accumulation. Instead of measuring progress by how much you pack into a day, it argues that excellence comes from choosing what deserves your limited attention—and refusing what does not. This shift matters because time isn’t the only constraint; energy, clarity, and patience are finite too. As a result, mastery begins to look less like heroic productivity and more like disciplined priority: doing fewer things, but doing them with depth. [...]

Eliminating the Non-Essentials to Live Wisely

To live this wisdom, people often begin with small, concrete subtractions: fewer apps that hijack attention, fewer meetings without outcomes, fewer purchases that create storage problems later. Just as importantly, elimination can mean social and emotional boundaries—declining invitations that don’t fit, or stepping back from relationships built mainly on obligation. As these choices accumulate, focus tends to deepen. A useful rule of thumb is to ask whether something supports the life you say you want; if it doesn’t, it may be a non-essential regardless of how normal it seems. In that way, reduction becomes a form of self-respect. [...]

Clarity Often Arrives Through Thoughtful Subtraction

From cognition, the logic extends naturally into design. Dieter Rams’ modernist ethos—often summarized as “Less, but better”—treats subtraction not as austerity, but as respect for the user’s time and attention. A product becomes clearer when unnecessary steps, buttons, and features are removed. In practice, this is why many “improvements” feel like relief: a simplified interface, a shorter form, or a cleaner process. Subtraction reduces the need for explanation because the thing itself communicates more directly. [...]

Transformation Is Often More About Subtraction Than Addition — Marcus Buckingham

Subtraction is a foundational principle in minimalism, where removing excess leads to greater fulfillment and creativity. Fumio Sasaki, in *Goodbye, Things* (2015), recounts how his life improved not by buying more, but by letting go—creating space for experiences and relationships. [...]

The Ability to Simplify: Eliminating the Unnecessary So the Necessary May Speak - Hans Hofmann

The quote underscores the importance of identifying what is truly of value—whether in work, art, or life—and prioritizing those things while stripping away the nonessential. [...]