SASM 043 – How to Slow Your Home, Be Simple Enough, and Enjoy Zero with Brooke McAlary

Here's a quandary:

Is it possible to be positive when you're experiencing zero?

Brook McAlary of Slow Your Home thinks so. And I agree.

Brooke joined me for a Smart and Simple Matters episode from her home in the Blue Mountains just outside of Sydney, Australia. She's the author of the popular Destination: Simple and the publisher of the rising digital magazine, Romper.

We didn't directly say this, but Brooke and I basically explain why we often go around chasing meaning, mindfulness, and impact when it can instead be found by slowing down. In fact, we all benefit not just from slowing down, but even when coming to a dead stop.

Jessie Kinowski talked about “nothingness” in SASM 031 and Andy Puddicombe expanded on it in SASM 040. But I'm glad that Brooke was willing to continue the trend.

I spend a lot of time out in the garden or sitting in the sun [doing nothing]. And that's helps. It grounds me. It tells me what's real and what doesn't change. – Brooke McAlary

I've been a big fan of Brooke and her work for two years, so it's a pleasure to introduce her to a new audience that will benefit from what she writes and says.

Pro tip: Listen to the end of the episode to discover how to get a free copy of Issue X – the very first Romper issue – for a limited time. Once you start reading Brooke's stuff and slowing down, you won't want to miss a thing she does.

You're about to Learn …

• Why asking for help is a sign of strength (and saves lives).
• How to get over perfectionism and disappointing others.
• Why Brooke and I are big fans of “zero.”
• How she willfully chose anxiety … and then willfully decided not to be anxious.
• What money resources will help you rock at personal finance.
• How to create a default mindset of positivity and intentionality.
• The surprising history of simple-living … in one minute.
• Why each person needs to define what “simple enough” is.
• How to empty your mind to sleep better.

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Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode:

• Websites:
  • Romper
  • SimpleRev
  • A Simple Year
  • Mark's Daily Apple
• Resources:
  • Declutter Challenge
  • The Minimalist Mom
• Books:
  • Destination: Simple
  • Experience Curating
• Blog Posts:
  • Z' is for Zero
  • Gradually, Then Suddenly.
  • How Grateful Are You? Interactive Quiz + Seven Strategies for Cultivating Gratitude

Topics

• [05:45] Brooke's seeds of awesomeness
• [10:03] Breaking lifetime habits
• [13:55] How different people express gratitude
• [19:20] Reducing debt and staying out of it
• [25:35] Details about Brooke's digital magazine, Romper
• [29:08] Brooke's history lesson on simplicity
• [34:24] What Brooke does to stay calm
• [36:03] How to empty your mind to sleep better
• [38:57] How to get a free copy of Romper, Issue X

How to Get Romper Issue X

As of March 5, 2014, the promo code of “simple” is working. Here's how to get your copy