Things That Matter: Overcoming Distraction to Pursue a More Meaningful Life | Joshua Becker

Discover practical steps you can take today to live a life focused on things that matter, from the bestselling author of The More of Less and The Minimalist Home.

“Things That Matter points the way to free ourselves from the distractions of everyday life so that we can build the lives we seek to create.”—Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project

Do you want to live a meaningful life—with very few regrets—and make a positive difference in the world? But is culture distracting you from doing so? Perhaps moments, days, and years go by without you stopping to ask yourself, Am I living out my true purpose? Even if that question whispers to you, are you brushing it aside because you don’t know what to change in life’s busyness?
 
In Things That Matter, Joshua Becker helps you identify the obstacles—such as fear, technology, money, possessions, and the opinions of others—that keep you from living with intention, and then he provides practical ideas for letting go of those distractions today so you can focus on what matters most. He uses practical exercises and questions, insights from a nationwide survey, and success stories to give you the motivation you need to
 
  • identify the pursuits that matter most to you
  • align your dreams with your daily priorities
  • recognize how money and possessions keep you from happiness
  • become aware of how others’ opinions of you influence your choices
  • embrace what you’re truly passionate about instead of planning that next escape
  • figure out what to do with all those emails, notifications, and pings
  • let go of past mistakes and debilitating habits
 
Things That Matter is a book about living well. It’s about overcoming the chatter of a world focused on all the wrong things. It’s about rethinking the common assumptions of today to find satisfaction and fulfillment tomorrow.
 
How do we get to the end of our lives with minimal regrets? We set aside lesser pursuits to seek lasting meaning. And we discover the joy of doing it every day.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The thought-provoking insights and stories inside Things That Matter will help you live your one precious life with more presence, purpose, and peace.”—Rachel Macy Stafford, New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama

“Things That Matter is a must-read to recenter yourself and filter out the distractions of the world.” —Chris Norton, motivational keynote speaker featured in 7 Yards

“Reminding us that chasing fame and fortune squanders our precious life energy, Joshua offers a compassionate guide to finding what really matters.” —Robert J. Waldinger, MD, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School

“Joshua shares his insight from the perspective of a caring friend who wants to help you move beyond the regret-and-avoidance cycle into purposeful living.”—Dawn Madsen, The Minimal Mom and author of Declutter Your Home in 15 Minutes a Day

“This delightful guide full of impactful and practical information will lead you through many of the roadblocks you may be facing.”—Ronald L. Banks, speaker, writer, and coach

“Things That Matter is required reading for anyone seeking practical guidance on how to confront life’s many distractions and—more importantly—how to overcome them.”—Christine Platt, author of The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less

“By removing the distractions outlined in this book, we are able to clear the clutter and create space to build life balance, personal growth, and purpose.”—Dave Braun and Troy Amdahl (The OolaGuys), experts on work-life balance

“This book’s siren call—that we should aim to be generous, not wealthy, and get dirt under our fingernails by serving others—cements Joshua’s status as a much-needed voice of reason and kindness in the modern world.”—Helen Russell, bestselling author of How to Be Sad

“Every once in a while you read a book that can save you years (or decades) of angst, disappointment, and missed attempts at finding significance and contentment. This is one of those books, packed with wisdom and insight.”—Carey Nieuwhof, bestselling author, speaker, and podcast host

“Joshua’s work and this book are a beautiful combination of wisdom, warmth, and practical advice to help us live with intention and meaning. We have the power to make choices every day to do more of what truly matters—and Joshua offers us practical suggestions to do this.”—Nataly Kogan, bestselling author of The Awesome Human Project

“Ten years from now it won’t really matter what shoes you wore today, how your hair looked, or what brand of clothes you wore. What will matter is how you lived, how you loved, and what you learned along the way. And Things That Matter is a beautiful guide for getting there.”—Marc and Angel Chernoff, New York Times bestselling authors of Getting Back to Happy

About the Author

Joshua Becker, the bestselling author of The More of Less and The Minimalist Home, is the founder of Becoming Minimalist, a website dedicated to inspiring others to find more life by owning less. The website welcomes over 1.5 million readers each month and has inspired millions around the world to consider the practical benefits of owning fewer possessions. He is a contributing writer to Forbes and has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, HuffPost Live, and the CBS Evening News. Joshua and his family live in Peoria, Arizona.