Courtney Carver shows us the power of simplicity to improve our health, build more meaningful relationships, and relieve stress in our professional and personal lives. We are often on a quest for more--we give in to pressure every day to work more, own more, and do more. For Carver, this constant striving had to come to a stop when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Stress was like gasoline on the fire of symptoms, and it became clear that she needed to root out the physical and psychological clutter that were the source of her debt and discontent. In this book, she shows us how to pursue practical minimalism so we can create more with less--more space, more time, and even more love. Carver invites us to look at the big picture, discover what's most important to us, and reclaim lightness and ease by getting rid of all the excess things.

"There's an age-old fallacy that more stuff equals more happiness. Research and Carver's beautiful new book lead us to the truth: happiness, joy, and love can very much derive from a whole lot less.”

—Shawn Achor, happiness researcher, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage

"Soulful Simplicity encourages conscious minimalism from the inside out. It's a heartfelt yet practical guide for making life simple again. Courtney's story is relatable in so many ways — she lets you walk in her shoes so you can see the mental and physical steps she took to escape a stressful life that literally almost killed her. This book has made me laugh, smile, and take action towards living a life uncluttered by most of the needless things people fill their lives with, leaving me with space for what truly matters. A life that isn’t constant busyness, rushing, and stress, but instead contemplation, creation, and connection with people and projects I love."

—Angel Chernoff, Author and Coach, Marc and Angel Hack Life

"Courtney Carver reminds us that simplicity isn't just about being organized, it's about getting back to love. With simple genius, Marie Kondo taught us how to declutter our homes, now it's time to let Courtney Carver take us to a deeper place. To refine our lives, and reconnect with what matters most."

—Jonathan Fields, author of How to Live a Good Life and Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance
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"Courtney Carver’s new book *Soulful Simplicity is a practical roadmap for embracing the beauty of less and making room in our lives for what matters most."

—**Ali Edwards, Craft the story.™

"In a world where so much of the messaging around radical simplicity is just about living with less stuff, Soulful Simplicity prescribes a lifestyle filled with a lot more of one thing: love. What our heart needs is a huge part of the equation, and Courtney teaches us how to make sure we're listening to it." 

—Cait Flanders, author of *The Year of Less

"A gentle, compassionate guide to making more space in your home, more time in your day, and more love in your heart. Courtney’s personal story provides powerful inspiration to live a simpler, more intentional life."

—Francine Jay, missminimalist.com

“Courtney Carver understands that simplifying involves more than decluttering—it’s about habits, appreciation, discipline, and love.”

—Joshua Fields Millburn, theminimalists.com

"Courtney Carver’s book is vulnerable and helpful. Courtney shows us that living simply goes beyond decluttering your closets and junk drawers. She gently illustrates that simplicity is the way back to connection, peace, good health, and love."
 
—Tammy Strobel, RowdyKittens.com 

"Soulful Simplicity is the kind of book you keep on your kitchen table so you can dip in when you have five minutes to yourself. I love how Courtney inspires the reader with her own story and then holds your hand through the process of making real change — the kind of changes you want to make. There are so many gems in this book!"
 
—Susannah Conway, author of This I Know: Notes on Unraveling the Heart

"With humility, honesty and authenticity, Courtney Carver invites each of us to find greater simplicity in life–and provides a practical roadmap for us to find it in our own unique way."
 
—Joshua Becker, Founder of Becoming Minimalist and Author of The More of Less.

“If organizing your stuff worked, you'd be organized by now. Get this book for its strategic "how"s, and even more powerful "why"s. *

 — Derek Sivers, sivers.org

Auteur

Courtney Carver launched her blog "Be More with Less" in 2010 and is one of the top bloggers in the world on the subject of minimalism. She has been featured in countless articles, podcasts, and interviews on simplicity, and is the creator of the minimalist fashion challenge, Project 333, which was featured in O Magazine and Real Simple.

Échantillon de lecture
Chapter One

An Ironic Diagnosis

I could feel the gadolinium contrast pushing through my vein. A wave of warmth rushed up my arm, and then through my entire body. I knew my face was flushed. Then, as they slid me back into the MRI machine, nausea hit, and then the panic. "There is no room to sit up. I am going to throw up and choke on my own vomit." My head was in a plastic cage snapped tightly shut, my arms were down by my side, and the machine started to shake and sounded like ten thousand jackhammers. I hadn't let myself get really scared until now. For months, I'd been fighting vertigo, fatigue, and other symptoms, chalking it all up to stress and an ear infection. I was training for the Harmon's MS 150, a cycling event in Salt Lake City, in the spring of 2006. I was going to our local recreation center for indoor training sessions because it was still too cold to ride outdoors.

I didn't know much about multiple sclerosis, but my boss had it. I worked for a publishing company and the owner was in a wheelchair. When I first started working for him, I didn't know what was wrong with him and I was too intimidated to ask. Even though he was in a wheelchair, he was a powerhouse. He was committed to his company and enjoyed the stressful nature of the business, and made it more stressful whenever he could. Eventually, I found John's softer side. I had great respect for him and his wife even though we couldn't be more different. That stress they thrived on twisted me up. Once I got to know them better and had been with the company for almost two years, I decided to raise money for MS research by participating in the 150-kilometer ride. I wasn't sure if I'd ride the whole thing but I was looking forward to trying. I wanted to raise money for MS research, but I was really riding for John, for his softer side.

It was a stressful spring, and there were several events that likely triggered the exacerbation that led to my diagnosis. I was working long hours and had volunteered to chair the annual auction at my daughter's school. I took a little detour from my cycling training and went to visit my sister, who lived in Germany. I was so excited to see her, my brother-in-law, and my niece and nephew. We didn't see each other very often because we were an ocean apart, but we talked almost every day or exchanged messages. We weren't always the best of friends when we were kids, but we get closer and closer year after year. Bailey, Mark, and I went together and we had a blast. Between afternoon prosecco toasts celebrating our reunion and late nights, though, I completely stressed out my already stressed-out body. Add work deadlines and jet lag, and it's no wonder that I didn't feel well whe…