Do you hear a voice in your head whispering?, “I need to be free.”
Is there a secret part of you that yearns for more adventure in your life?
If money was not a factor would your life be dramatically different from the one you’re living today?
If you said yes to any of these three questions you might need to seriously reexamine your values and the life path you’ve chosen.
My response to all three questions is a resounding yes! 
I’ve always known deep down inside a career in finance wasn’t the right fit for me, but for some reason I was driven to do it. I’ve enjoyed helping clients with their finances but I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life doing it in the corporate world. With each successive year I felt myself exerting more and more energy to squelch the intuitive voice that was screaming, NO, NO NO!
When I was growing up I dreamed of being a writer.
I’d read many of New York Daily News journalist, Jess Stearn‘s books and longed to travel around the country to interview people and write books on metaphysical topics. He wrote best sellers such as, Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Prophet, Yoga, Youth and Reincarnation and Alpha Thinking.
I would see myself writing and I could feel how happy I would be doing it too. Intuitively, I always knew that’s what I was supposed to be doing. But, somewhere along the way I got the notion that it was too risky. I opted for the safe thing, the sure bet. The job with the steady paycheck and my little dream withered. Everybody said I had a head for business didn’t they? At the tender age of 21 I figured that’s the way it was supposed to be. You took a job you were good at and you stuck to it until you retired. The only problem was that my job never made me happy nor satisfied.
They say there are no mistakes.
I feel I had to learn to be a business person and earn a living in a very conventional manner in order to complete my education on the earth plane this time around. But at this point in my life I can honestly say: Okay Universe I get it now! I now know how to navigate the material world. NOW – can I please finally do what I really want to do?
I feel ready to redesign my life in way that allows me to have more freedom to experience and do what I enjoy and to help others through my writing as well.
To finance my new lifestyle I’ve decided that my house has to go.
When I think of my dilemma: Big House vs. Big Life, a scene from the film The Wizard of Oz comes to my mind. You know the one where the Wicked Witch of the East is crushed by Dorothy’s house and all you see are her red striped stockinged legs sticking out from under it? Dorothy is given the dead witch’s magical Ruby Slippers and toward the end of the film the Good Witch Glinda tells her that all she ever had to do was click her heels and she could have gone home. Like Dorothy, I realize I had the power all along too. All it took was my accepting that it was okay to sell my house and downsize. So, I’ve clicked my heels and decided, “There’s no place like home – and home is wherever I choose it be!” Now that I’ve accepted that this is the right decision I feel lighter and freer already – my house is no longer crushing me.
Over the last few years I’ve been reading more and more about the minimalist lifestyle.
I first encountered minimalist living 2 years ago on a blog called Zen Habits, written by Leo Babauta. He had this cool site with a picture of stones stacked on top of one another – that I absolutely adored. I became so enamored of this guy from Guam with all this simple wisdom – who was he and how the heck did he get so damn smart? Anyway, at the time I had another blog about personal finance and one of the topics I wrote about was scaling down and paying off debt in order to enjoy your life more. I thought I was writing something so new and innovative – me the mortgage gal telling others to quit borrowing so much money and live within their means.
But, when I discovered Zen Habits I learned there were people who were actually doing this already. They were living with less and finding the joy in having more freedom and less stuff to maintain. Having all this stuff to contend with and then needing a big house to store all the stuff in created a vicious cycle of having to work and work and make more money all the time. I realized my stuff was running my life instead of the other way around. It was then I started seriously thinking of downsizing.
I took a long time to come to terms with it though. Part of my accepting downsizing meant I had to reject all the “conventional” ideas of what it meant to be living an adult life. Weren’t you supposed to go to school, get a job and then buy a home and stay there until you were really old and then you downsized? How could I explain my desire to go smaller when all my friends were trading up to bigger homes? Could I go back to a small condo, or worse still an apartment after owning my own home? It was a lot to process – which is why it took two years to wrap my mind around it emotionally, but having come to terms with it I now feel at peace.
I’ve come to realize I’d truly Rather Have a Big Life Than A Big House.
Having a small home with little to no debt means freedom. The freedom I crave to recreate my life – my way.
No more taking jobs I hate because I have to make enough to maintain a big house.
It creates the freedom to freelance, to write what I please, to work on the book I’ve been thinking of in the day time when I work best instead of the evenings when I’m tired, to attend writer’s conferences – and not ask permission to take vacation time, to dream and contemplate and to allow my creativity to expand without restrictions.
And, the greatest benefit of all, so far, of reaching this decision has been the invaluable sense of peace I’ve gained by finally listening to my intuition – instead of fighting it – and acting upon my heart’s desire.
I’ve taken back my life and it feels good.
That’s my story. What’s yours? Are you ready for A Big Life?
What’s your idea of a Big Life? Have you already scaled down? Share your experiences, or what you’re going through.
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Wow, what an inspiration! Thanks for sharing your story with us. 🙂
I’m SO ready for a big life, and I’m doing whatever I can to get there. My idea of a big life is working for myself, having control over my time, being creatively engaged every day, helping others…Basically, living in a state of flow. Living my dream. Right now I work as a receptionist…which isn’t my dream. But I have the freedom to work on my blog here, which is definitely a step. Though I do wonder if I could be a little bolder…
Anywho, your big life sounds phenomenal. I hope to be where you are someday! Thanks again for sharing…it’s stories like these that keep me truckin’ along. 🙂
Hi Kaylee,
I’m so glad that I was able to inspire you.
That’s the highest compliment I can receive.
I’m humbled.
Keep on doing what you’re doing and don’t give up your day job until you know you can make it without it.
All my best to you,
Angela
Hi Angela,
I have been enjoying reading your articles and found many thoughts and situations that resonated with me. I taught English as A Second Language to refugee students in Hartford CT full time and practiced metaphysics and healing arts part time until 20008. Due to the downturn in the real estate market and the high cost of living in CT we relocated to Springdale Arkansas.
Other than the weather things have turned out well. We have a small house on one floor, close to the stores.My husband has received excellent medical care. I have participated in two meditation groups.
Our neighbors are quiet, kind and helpful.
Best of all, I work from home,on my time schedule, mostly online and am making friends in the US and England.
You are a great writer. Iwould love to hear how your home earch turned out.
Catherine Rose
Hi Catherine Rose,
Nice to meet you. I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog articles.
I love that you scaled down and to a small house so you could have a big life!
Moving from CT to AK is a bold move. Good for you.
Thank you for your lovely compliment.
I sold my house and am no happily focusing more of my energy on my writing and doing readings and coaching online.
Thanks for asking.
All my best,
Angela
I’m glad I could be helpful! I hope you enjoy working for yourself as much as I have.
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for the good wishes. I’ll keep you posted!
My husband and I decided to sell our house in 2005 because it wasn’t making us happy. It was too hard to keep up and we never liked the neighborhood. Now we rent near downtown, and we continue to get rid of stuff that we don’t need. When you have few things, it’s so much easier to organize!
Hi Jennier,
Welcome to Powered by Intuition!
What a great story you have to tell. I’ve been wavering on my decision lately, but your comment has made me see that this is still the right thing to do.
So true, when you have fewer things it is so much easier to organize and manage your life.
Thank you for visiting here and commenting.
You’ve helped me and I thank you!
I really enjoyed this post. It seems that you are living your dream. Congratulations! It is an awsome achievement and one that I am making progress on. Looking forward to reading more.
Hi, and welcome to my blog!
I’m so happy you enjoyed the post. Yes, I’m in the early stages of it. Once I’ve removed myself from the weight of this home on top of me – I will be able to truly live my dream.
Part of my dream is being part of team at The Daily Brainstorm – a new blogazine. Have you checked it out?
Thank you so much for your encouragement and for visiting and commenting here.
I can relate! I used to work in retail sales — selling fine jewelry! One day, I realized that I hated my work. I’d just gotten finished explaining what a blood diamond is, and what the Kimberly Process is, and how it supposedly prevents blood diamonds from reaching the market,when it really hit me. This life was not in line with my truest, deepest, most authentic self.
I didn’t exactly find the strength to quit right then and there, but when, a few months later I found myself out of a job, I swore to myself that I’d never work retail sales again. So now I seem to be a self employed something or other with doubtful income each month… but I’m so much happier that I don’t really care about money!
I have fewer things, fewer obligations, and much much less stress. I’m finding and following my bliss.
(Oh, and if you ever want to follow through on your dream to interview people on metaphysical topics, I volunteer! I know an amazing amount about Tarot, and about metaphysical, paranormal and new age stuff. And, I was President of Texas A&M Universities Pagan Student Association for two years in the nineties. Follow your dream! If I can find happiness in a non-conventional way, so can you.)
Hi Jennifer,
It’s so nice of you to visit!
Wow, what a fascinating background you have! Did you work in the Diamond District here in NY?
You know, I believe the Universe arranged things for you by you’re finding youself out of a job!
You know as long as you can afford to pay your bills and still enjoy yourself you can be happy with less $$.
Having the free time and less stress is the key.
I will definitely keep you in mind for an interview sometime. Thank so much for your encouraging words!
Hi Angela,
Congratulations on taking the step toward your personal goals! What you wrote about Leo and his life process, I thought the same as you. Leo makes it sound so easy, but as we know it’s not. I think the recession has made many of us rethink and reflect on our lives in a good way. Your courage to let go of your home is very inspiring and I am rooting for your success!
Hi Jenny,
Great to see you! How right you are about the recession.
I think that’s what finally pushed me to make the decision.
My current lifestyle is unsustainable due to downturn in the real estate market.
Thank you for rooting for me- that means a lot to me Jenny!
Angela, really and truly? That is a huge step towards freedom. My hubby and I were very conservative in buying our current townhouse all with that same mindset as you have, so that we can be free to travel, to someday quit our jobs and still survive, and to live the way it really matters. I think the more I explore this path, the stronger my conviction. I am extremely proud and very excited for you…..And so proud that I understood the Wizard of Oz. I am still catching up with pop culture 20 years later so I am very glad I read that book a year ago :)! Yes don’t laugh, just a year ago… ;)!
Go Angela=> powerful living filled with intuition and consciousness! Good for you!
Hi Farnoosh,
Yes, it’s very exciting to be moving toward my dream and my freedom!
You and your husband were very smart I must say. I never thought that I’d be hit so hard by the real estate turn down.
Had I known I would not have bought this home, although it is a modest one.
I’m so proud that you understood the Wizard of OZ too! A classic film not to be missed. I’m not laughing, you’re miles ahead of me – I’ve never read the book.
Thanks for your words of encouragement!
Oh wait, I haven’t watched the film at all – I read the book. I guess I need some more catching up 🙂
You are most welcome. You are on the right path. Believe it!
Oh my goodness – then you must see the film! It is such a wonderful film – by today’s standards of technological effects it’s very dated, but I think you’ll enjoy it!
Especially, the music. Let me know how you like it if you do see it.
Thank you again. I do feel that I’m finally on the right path – I’m following the yellow brick road!
Hello Angela,
I too have struggled with this issue. I have had the very big house and it was a mistake. It didn’t make me happy and I hated the upkeep. We (family of 5) went from a huge house with lots of “stuff” to having four garage sales and getting rid of most of it and then moving to another country to live out of one suitcase and two carry on bags each for seven months now. It is amazing how little you need. Other than buying kitchen stuff we have lived in smaller quarters with very little. We took it to far as we sat on uncomfortable lawn furniture not wanting to spend much until we decided to stay or not. We now have a furnished place. It is much smaller than our huge house but it is still a 4 bedroom. So what happens with a minimalist life when you have a family? Do you make kids share rooms? My question now for myself is how far to take it? I miss some of myself in storage but yet I don’t miss the stuff I got rid of.I have two oldest kids, now grown children, who like having their own rooms but yet we are letting them spread their wings to figure out what truley will make them happy in life and not just go straight to college. They have come to realize they don’t need lots stuff to make them happy and like the freedom and have learned a lesson from this. But the question still remains…….how little is too little and how much is to much?
Hi Brenda,
Welcome to my blog!
What a fascinating story you have. I’m so grateful to you for sharing it.
I agree about the upkeep of all the stuff….it slowly sucks the life out of us.
Good question – how much is too much and how little is too little…..
I would say if your pining away for some”thing” in particular – you won’t be happy,
so you should acquire the stuff you need and WANT, other than that if you don’t miss it or need it – don’t acquire it.
Sounds like a good topic for another post!
Thank you so much for adding to the conversation here.
Hi Angela, I find myself drawn more and more to minimalism. I practice most aspects of minimalism, mostly because they are in line with my desire to live eco-consciously, but not the essential: clutter. I realize I need more organization and less clutter, but it’s been tough to bring myself to do it, even after reading so many minimalist blogs. I share some of your mix of apprehension and desire of embracing less, so it’s quite inspiring to hear your story and your decision to choose a big life over a big house. At some point I just have to take action, however small. Seeing your journey helps me out a lot. Thanks for sharing!
Dear Lynn,
I’m overjoyed to hear that you were helped by my article.
It’s hard to give up all you’ve worked toward your whole life.
I believe it’s much easier for many bloggers espousing minimalism who are in their 20s.
But to do this much later in life feels like a defeat at first until you realize it’s only a choice – not a failure.
Choose your freedom and happiness over things!
Thank you so much for commenting and visiting my blog!
Congratulations. Freedom is essential to moving forward. Feeling trapped is a prison. Though I do beleive that you can have whatever you desire and that it is OK to want and have material things. But you do have to navigate appropriately through different stages of your life to get what you really want.
Hi Rosemarie,
Thank you! Yes, feeling trapped is truly a prison….
I think it’s okay to have material possessions too – just at this time my biggest material possession is crushing me!
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting!
Angela,
This post specially resonated with me, as me and my family have chosen to live life. As I have let go my of my 6 figure corporate job and do volunteer teaching, and zenguy also does many project without much money. We are living simple and rational minimalist life (one that does not limit on number of items we own.
I do not care to also market my blog as let nature take it course. We may not have money or fame but we are living. At least I like to think so.
Hi Preeti,
I think you’re living a deeply satisfying life Preeti – and that’s all that counts!
You should do with your blog what you’re most comfortable with….not what other say you ought to.
Thank you so much for visiting – it’s always a pleasure to have you comment here!
Angela, I think it’s wonderful that you had this moment of awareness of how you are limiting yourself and how your path might be made easy and more beautiful. My writing path has looked so totally different, and it’s fascinating to me to read your story. It’s a bit like looking in a funhouse mirror to see someone else’s trajectory toward the art that is calling to their soul.
Congratulations on heeding the call!
Hi Meredith,
Thank you for your words of encouragement – I truly appreciate it!
It’s a pleasure having you visit here and contribute to the conversation.
Well done Angela. It sounds like you’re a woman on a mission. I’m lucky that my house is paid off so I’m able to exercise a fair bit of freedom. I do crave more adventure though and I have to re-examine that part of my life. Thanks for an inspiring and personal look into your world.
Hi Katie,
Thank you so much! I never thought of it like that, but yes, I guess I am on a mission.
You are so lucky that your house is paid off – I wouldn’t be considering this if mine was.
It does give you so much more freedom. Adventure – that’s the next part of this mission.
I’m so glad to have been able to give you a glimpse into my life.
Thanks so much for commenting and visiting.
Angela,
Wow, could I relate to everything you said here. I’ve had a similar evolution of moving toward freedom, my passion for writing, and making “sacrifices” or taking risks to get both. My path looks different, but I applaud your decisions to clear the way for your true self to emerge. I’ll be interested to hear how things unfold as you sell your house and look for a new home. The true home is in your heart, and I’m grateful for people like you to accompany me on my journey.
Best,
Linda
Hi Linda,
I love that: The true home is in your heart – how beautiful and well put.
I’m so grateful to you – for stopping by and for leaving such a meaningful comment.
Minimalism is a very interesting topic. Because it goes against what we learn from childhood — “have as much money as you can, have a big house, have a huge car, have a lot of pieces of clothing, never mind that you’ll have problems that you never wanted, never mind that you’ll sometimes be a slave to others, it does not matter that you’ll have a life so complex that you’ll suffer more than enjoy, never mind that you’ll be under constant stress… It is important to have more.”
Well, it is not surprising that the minimalistic way of life became popular. 🙂
Nice decision, give up the big house to make time for what you love. If you have to do jobs that you do not love to have a big house, then, 8-10 hours a day you will suffer in order to meet the expectations of some beliefs that complicate your life… I think that it’s not worth the investment. 😉 I support you in the decision… 🙂
Marko,
You, as always, have summed up what motivates us to move toward minimalism so elegantly.
When we trade our time for money – as most corporations expect – I think our inner light gets dimmer.
We start to age more rapidly as we see our life slipping by with nothing “real” to show for it.
I’m looking forward to unburdening myself and jumping head first into the ocean of freedom!
Thanks so much for sharing your insights here.