4155: What I Learned About Minimalism in Poland by Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist on Intentional Living

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[00:01:00] [SPEAKER_00] It's a Minimalist Monday edition of Optimal Living Daily. What I Learned About Minimalism in Poland. By Joshua Becker of becomingminimalist.com And I'm your narrator, Justin Malik, reading you articles every day of the year. So with that, let's get right to it as we optimize your life. What I Learned About Minimalism in Poland. By Joshua Becker of becomingminimalist.com

[00:01:28] [SPEAKER_00] Earlier this week, I spoke in Warsaw on the topic of minimalism. It was at a conference of 1,000 fathers from a number of European countries. But most men in attendance were from the host country, Poland. It was, as you might imagine, fascinating. On Friday evening, my wife and I attended a gala honoring some leaders of the fatherhood movement in Poland. There was recognition offered for individuals, industry leaders, and government officials.

[00:01:54] [SPEAKER_00] All of which, in one way or another, were committed to building stronger families in the war-torn nation. At dinner, I met a man named Peter, who would serve as our translator for the evening. Peter is my age and teaches English in the schools. Other than conversations with organizers of the conference, Peter was the first to offer me a glimpse into daily life in Poland. Forgive me if you know the historical details already, but here's a snapshot into Poland's recent past. It'll be important.

[00:02:21] [SPEAKER_00] Germany's march into Poland during September of 1939 served as the beginning of World War II. German armies traveled east into Poland while the Soviet Union advanced west. By the end of 1939, after the conquest, many of the Polish intelligentsia, noblemen, clergy, and teachers were killed by the Germans in an attempt to completely destroy Poland's identity as a nation. The entire territory was divided between Germany and the Soviet Union,

[00:02:48] [SPEAKER_00] an agreement between Hitler and Stalin to not advance any further. Hitler would break that treaty in 1941 in hopes of eventually defeating Russia. He didn't. And Warsaw would feel the full brunt of his decision being tossed back and forth between the two superpowers. By 1945, the city of Warsaw had been entirely destroyed, first by the Germans and then again by the Russian army as they marched west to occupy the city and defeat the German army.

[00:03:15] [SPEAKER_00] To this day, Warsaw is called the city of memorials as there's not a single street in Warsaw that did not see death during World War II. The city's pre-war population of approximately 1.3 million had been reduced to 150,000. And if you think 1945 was a long time ago, you would be mistaken. If a generation lasts 40 years, many of the fathers I met at the conference last week

[00:03:40] [SPEAKER_00] are the sons of the men and women who were almost entirely eradicated during World War II and grew up with a difficult family life because of it. But history does not end there. It continues. Following World War II, much of Poland's land was given to the USSR. The entire country was put under Soviet influence. Poland would continue to exist under rule of the Communist Party until 1989. It wasn't until 1991 that Poland's transition from a Communist Party rule

[00:04:09] [SPEAKER_00] to a Western-style democratic political system would be completed, and with it, a free market, capitalism-based economic system. 1991 sounds much more recent. But again, it may be closer than you realize. I mentioned earlier that Peter, my translator and dinner companion, is roughly the same age as me, with kids back at home the same age as mine. However, very different than me, Peter grew up in a Communist country and vividly recalled for us looking out his apartment window as a child

[00:04:38] [SPEAKER_00] watching bread lines gather outside the corner store. His childhood was very different than mine. 25 years ago, these men were living in a Communist country. Today, the reality in a free market, capitalist economic system is very different. And into this environment, I was invited to present the benefits and the invitation of minimalism, a task I do not take lightly. Many in the audience could relate to my story of how possessions began to distract us

[00:05:06] [SPEAKER_00] from meaning and happiness and fulfillment. I've spoken in numerous countries around the globe on this topic and found the message resonates wherever I go. Many would nod their head at the notion of closets too crammed and garages filled with excess possessions. However, given the historical, political, and economic realities of this audience, I concluded the conversation from a new vantage point. Poland is not a nation that is oversteeped in conspicuous consumption,

[00:05:33] [SPEAKER_00] at least not yet, but personal disposal income continues to rise. My message for the men in attendance that day? Take every advantage of your freedoms and entrepreneurial opportunities. However, in doing so, do not lose sight of the things that matter most. And keep your passion centered on pursuits that matter in the long run. Following my presentations on Saturday, I sat down with the organizer of the event over dinner, a lovely meal surpassed only by the lovely company.

[00:06:01] [SPEAKER_00] Derek, the organizer of the conference, shared his appreciation with me for coming. More importantly, I was able to hear more about the important work his organization is doing in Central Europe, building stronger families and healthier societies. He asked me for my impression of his country. I told him it was beautiful and filled with rich history and examples of human resiliency. I also spoke to him about my conversations with Peter, Poland's past and his trajectory into the future. And this is where, I think for maybe the first time,

[00:06:30] [SPEAKER_00] the importance and weight of the message of minimalism began to weigh on me even heavier than before. Joshua, can I tell you more about why I invited you here today? Derek responded with a measured tone. From across the table, I could tell he was debating whether or not to share with me what he was thinking. Of course, please do. He began to answer. When I was younger, I had an important mentor. He was a survivor of Auschwitz who would live almost his entire existence in an occupied Poland,

[00:06:59] [SPEAKER_00] first by the Germans and then by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. This man once made an observation to me I have never forgotten. After a trip he had taken to Western Europe, he pulled me aside and said, I've come to realize that materialism holds people captive in many the same ways communism does. Communism, by force, seeks to destroy personal identity. Materialism does the same, but materialism destroys personal identity by choice. And that is why I wanted you here today

[00:07:29] [SPEAKER_00] to inspire us both as individuals and as a society to not use our newfound freedom to acquire further bondage. In that moment, I realized he was right. Minimalism is an important message. It frees up our most important resources to pursue things that matter. In this way, it is a very personal decision, one that I will continue encouraging each person to consider with their lives. Own less stuff, live more life. My mantra will remain the same.

[00:07:59] [SPEAKER_00] However, let's remember, this is not just a personal decision. This is also a societal movement that must be advanced and pushed forward. Minimalism is not just about regaining personal passion, it is about establishing a new identity, both as individuals and as a society. Freedom is a gift, but our freedom is only as valuable as what we choose to pursue with it. You just listened to the post titled,

[00:08:29] [SPEAKER_00] What I Learned About Minimalism in Poland by Joshua Becker of becomingminimalist.com. And I'll be right back with my commentary. Now I wanna tell you about a book that stuck with me, Life at the Speed of Play, Launch Products People Love by Mark Pincus. Mark's a legendary Silicon Valley entrepreneur and one of the most prolific idea generators around. But as he'll tell you, ideas are a dime a dozen. What matters is picking the right ones.

[00:08:57] [SPEAKER_00] His instant national bestseller is a fast-paced, 170-page read for these uncertain times full of real-life skills and a battle-tested, easy-to-follow framework for separating the great ideas from the terrible ones. Y Combinator's Gary Tan says it'll change your odds of success. And it reads less like a stuffy business book, more like you're in Mark's kitchen, already in his inner circle. Go to getmarksbook.com slash old

[00:09:26] [SPEAKER_00] and buy one copy and Mark personally, not his publisher, sends you a second one free. Two books, about $16 each, so you can hand one to a friend who's stuck. Once again, that's getmarksbook.com slash old.

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[00:10:14] [SPEAKER_00] Thank you to Joshua. A really unique one for a Minimalist Monday post. It's easy for me to talk about owning less like it's a lifestyle choice, but to be fair, I've only ever known freedom. I've never had it taken away, so I can take it for granted. But there are plenty of people who actually lived without it. It makes my version of the problem, like a closet that's maybe too full, feel pretty small in comparison. It's a bit humbling.

[00:10:44] [SPEAKER_00] And there's a great point in there. Freedom isn't the finish line. What you do with it is. Because I think it's easy to fight really hard to get free, whether that's from a job, from debt, like I talk about over on Optimal Finance Daily, and so on. But then we might just fill all that space back up with stuff and noise and busyness without even noticing. So something worth asking,

[00:11:13] [SPEAKER_00] with all this freedom I have, am I actually using it for something I care about or just filling it? It's a good reminder. So thank you to Joshua for this different take on minimalism. Thank you for being here. Have a great day, and I'll see you tomorrow as usual, where your optimal life awaits.