Article by: Sarah Koontz, Founder of Living by Design Ministries
I’m not quite sure when I fell in love with my husband.
I can assure you that it wasn’t love at first sight.
We had been good friends for about a year before I allowed myself to even consider the possibility.
A few weeks after we started dating, he told me that he had been in love with me for quite some time.
I contemplated this fact for two painful days before I was brave enough to whisper the same into his ear.
We were soon married and settling into the rhythm of life as a couple in our very own home on Michigan Avenue.
Our marriage has been marked by our three shared core values:
- To honor God and submit to His authority in every aspect of our lives
- To place a priority on family and community above our financial and career goals
- To live an uncluttered life with a focus on relationship and ministry over possessions
This summer, we will be celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary.
I can’t believe how quickly time has passed, but I can tell you that we have never strayed from our core values.
These values have affected every moment of the life we have built together and served as a pillar of light when the storms of life have threatened to blow us off course.
Of the three values I mentioned above, sticking to number three has been the greatest challenge for me.
I like pretty things.
I love shopping for sales.
I want what others have.
The only way I have found the strength to stand up to these likes, loves, wants is to know that what I’m choosing is better.
Don't choose clutter, choose something better: peace of mind! #unstuffed
Every possession we acquire has a price tag.
And no, I’m not just speaking about the financial aspect of the purchase.
Before we make a purchase, we must also consider the emotional and spiritual cost of the item.Sure, it may cost a pretty penny, but the costs don’t stop there.
- I place a high value on my peace of mind, and nothing will compromise my peace of mind quicker than a poor purchase.
- I place a high value on my marriage, and nothing will invite strife into my marriage quicker than a poor financial decision.
- I place a high value on a clean and organized home, and nothing clutters up my home faster than impulse purchases.
Poor financial habits impact each and every aspect of our lives.
How we choose to spend money affects the health of our family, our marriage and our body.
Are you suffocating under the weight of all of the physical, spiritual and emotional clutter in your life? Do you desperately want to break free, but find yourself clueless as to where to start?
In her newest book entitled, Unstuffed, New York Times Bestselling Author, Ruth Soukup offers a practical guide for anyone looking to de-clutter their life.
Ruth understands that although the de-cluttering process starts in our homes, it must also carry into our hearts and our habits.
Through honest storytelling and fantastic application questions at the end of each chapter, Ruth invites her readers to journey with her towards a beautifully uncluttered life.
She asks hard questions and offers practical solutions, never losing sight of the fact that Unstuffed isn’t a destination but rather a determination to live our best life.
Disclaimer: Ruth sent me an Advanced Reader’s Copy of her book to review. All opinions are mine and I have not been compensated for this review.
A life that is not cluttered with possessions has room for productivity and prosperity.
Ruth inspires her readers to make small, purposeful changes that impact the quality of their life from a multitude of different angles.
This book is about so much more than de-cluttering your closet!
Ruth also tackles tough issues like managing stress, building healthy relationships, understanding why you impulse buy and dealing with pack-rat children.
Want a glimpse into this power-packed book? Sign up for Ruth’s 10-day Unstuffed Challenge today….it’s free!
I consider it an honor and a privilege to call Ruth a friend and colleague. I have written multiple guest posts for her Living Well Spending Less Blog and helped her launch her last two books and the Living Well Planner.
She is genuine and authentic, and I would not recommend this book to you if I didn’t believe it was going to help you.
>>Order your copy of Unstuffed today! <<
As a person who takes de-cluttering very seriously and has for more than a decade, this book confirmed what I have known in my heart for a long time:
Cutting the clutter out of our lives is the first step towards peace, tranquility and financial freedom.
I want that for you.
I want you to know what it feels like to let go of all the stuff that is weighing you down and embrace a different kind of living.
The kind of living that focuses on the content of your heart rather than the content of your closet, the quality of your character rather than the quality of your car, and the people who live in your home rather than the home itself.
After 8 years of paying down debt and living well below our means, my husband and I were presented with the opportunity to build our dream home in the country.
Even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the building process, we never forgot the importance of our three core values.
When I was tempted to like, love or want…I gently reminded myself that less is more.
We could have gone bigger, but we chose better.
Less stuff means less stress and more peace! #unstuffed @ruthsoukupI aspire to live an uncluttered life, and often set aside time to de-clutter my heart, my home, and my habits.
It’s not a task I enjoy, but the benefits are so extraordinary that I can’t not do it!
That is the immeasurable value of choosing to live an Unstuffed life.
This post is written as part of the Unstuffed Blog Tour, which I am excited to be a part of along with many other inspiring bloggers. To learn more about the blog tour, click HERE.
