Season 4. Ep 84. The Little Way of Living with Less w/ Laraine Bennett - Minimalism, Simplicity, & St. Thérèse

Video Version

Audio Version

Episode Description

This episode of Physically Spiritual is a conversation with Laraine Bennet. We discuss her new book “The Little Way of Living with Less”, Minimalism, Simplicity, The Little Way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Stewardship, Eliminating Clutter, Gratitude, & Freedom

Notes

Laraine Bennett’s Bio - https://www.sophiainstitute.com/author/laraine-bennett

Get the Book - https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/the-little-way-of-living-with-less

Sophia Institute Press Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SophiaInstitutePress/ 

Sophia Institute Press Twitter: https://twitter.com/SophiaPress

St. Thérèse of Lisieux - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%A9r%C3%A8se_of_Lisieux

What is Minimalism? - https://www.theminimalists.com/minimalism/

“There’s actually a neuroscientific reason for this anxiety! When the eye sees clutter around, the mind sees a problem to be solved (“Where does everything go?”).  Our amygdala immediately goes into fight-or-flight mode, causing anxiety. But when the space is clear and tidy and contains only the necessary tools, we feel more focused and sharper. Now, we can attend to the project or task at hand. A proper order (to the space, in our minds) helps us maintain productivity and peace.” Laraine Bennett, The Little Way of Living with Less, p.102 - https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/the-little-way-of-living-with-less

“Spiritual writers and saints have known this for centuries, yet only now contemporary psychologists are catching up with the fact that being grateful makes you feel happier. Dr. Martin Seligman, the founder and leading proponent of positive psychology, studies the “science of happiness.” Simple things like being thankful, expressing our gratitude to others, performing acts of kindness, and writing down things we appreciate each day are ways to increase our sense of happiness. We can consciously, intentionally choose to be grateful (no matter the circumstances!) and thereby increase our joy in life.” Laraine Bennett, The Little Way of Living with Less, p.144 - https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/the-little-way-of-living-with-less

Time Stamps

1:00 The Little Way of Living with Less

2:00 How Laraine’s Story Lead to the Book

4:45 St. Thérèse of Lisieux & Minimalism

8:30 Minimalism v. Simplicity

10:30 Vocation Guides Possession

13:00 Clutter & Anxiety

16:15 Biological Complexity v. Messy Clutter

19:30 Stewardship of the Home

23:15 Gratitude, Happiness, & Therese

27:30A Starting Point for Freedom