Patricia Davis

In this book, we'll look at ways to uncover your own personal psychology behind money, as well as practical methods to make and reach finance goals. From saving pennies here and there by cutting out mindless spending to rethinking your approach to saving entirely, we'll tackle your money issues the simple way: day by day. We'll consider realistic ways to save money, but also look in-depth at what it really means to live a minimalist life and what the true value of the items in our lives actually is.

Let's start with a thought experiment. Take a moment to imagine yourself, only a supremely confident version. Think of how you'd be at work, at home, with those you love and those you don't. Think of all the things you'd do differently. Now, this is the important thing: You can feel this way right now. You can feel brave and confident and full of a sense of your own self-esteem right now, just as you are.

True happiness is an "inside job". Look at a happy person's life and you don't see any magic or unicorns. There's nothing in them that isn't also in you. Though external realities can certainly play a role, happiness doesn't spring from what you have, what happens to you, the situation you are in, where you are, or anything else. Happiness doesn't have much to do with money, with achievement, or with possessions, because plenty of people have all three and are still not happy. In this guide, we'll approach happiness not as something you have, but something you actively do.

The 21-Day Weight Loss Challenge will help you to realize that right now you have fat, as opposed to being fat. It's not your identity; it's a temporary state, a choice. Explore and understand the excuses and reasons that keep you overweight. Why aren't you more active? Why aren't you eating healthier? Why do you eat when you're body isn't hungry?

What you can expect from this challenge is a no-nonsense, common-sense approach to shaking off some of the dieting industry's BS and trying to remember what our bodies know. We'll look at common-sense ways to gradually and safely lose weight that honor our instincts, not go against them.

The dieting industry makes it seem like losing weight is some sort of rocket science. And so it's understandable that when someone seems to stay slender, it must obviously be because they're just naturally that way. By accident, even. We assume some special innate characteristics mean they get to run circles around the laws of physics, eat junk food, and end up with flat abs. The truth, though? Nobody is naturally thin.

During this challenge, you'll try to let go of the mythical ideal diet; we will focus on continuous improvement rather than perfection. And, most importantly, flexibility and joy rather than deprivation. The only one who knows if a diet is good for you or not is your own body. So ask it! During the 21 days of the challenge, we'll look at opportunities to clear away foods that are hindering your health and replace them with better ones.

By living a more minimalist lifestyle, you invite calm and quiet into your daily life, you become more efficient, and you take action with more conviction than before. You don't fall prey to cheesy advertising, and you make your own goals. You think of money as a tool to reach your goals, and not the goal itself. Being minimalist in today's world can feel a bit like swimming upstream. This book will be a good starting point, a catalyst, and maybe even a kick in the pants if you've had enough of chaos, mess, and disorganization in your life.

Let's start with a thought experiment. Take a moment to imagine yourself, only a more calm and peaceful version. Think of how you'd be at work, at home, with those you love and those you don't. Think of all the things you'd do differently, how you would feel and look.

Productive people don't have any more time in their days than you do, and they certainly aren't busier than you are. The main difference is focus. A productive person has a way to cut through life's clutter and nonsense and make sure that most of his or her efforts go to the good stuff - fulfilling work, relationships, self-improvement...anything he or she values, really.