Confession: I ignored my own advice

Read time: 2.5 minutes

You’ll find me presenting reminders to stay true to you on social media and my YouTube channel — and for good reason.

I firmly believe that the decluttering process allows us to discover who we are, our beliefs, and our values and prioritize being that person.

When I started sharing my minimalism journey publicly in 2018, I stated that I wanted to reinvent myself and declutter a persona I clung to in favor of being myself.

So, the “stay true to you” you hear at the end of my YouTube videos is an expression that carries more meaning than just a consistent way to end my videos.

But funny enough, sometimes I forget my own “be yourself” advice when it comes to running my creator business. How ironic.

It’s been four months since I quit my corporate job to bet on myself, and my wife Alexius (who you may start hearing more from soon) has been a great sounding board for all my ideas and plans for the Clarity Club.

Since meeting each other, her advice has always been administered in the correct dosage and at the right time. So this weekend, I told her about certain marketing behaviors/beliefs I was using in my business (even before committing to this full-time).

As we talked further, I started outwardly expressing an internal tug-of-war I’ve been fighting between the “popular best practices” I’ve learned from others and my time in Corporate America — and what I think is a better way.

At least one that aligns more so with my beliefs.

Before my rant continued for too long, Alexius stopped me and suggested (in so many words) that I already knew the answer to my question and to “trust myself.”

This simple advice points back to the advice I’ve given at the end of every YouTube video I’ve created for years. I just didn’t hear it for myself until my wife said it.

• Her: Trust yourself.
• I heard: Stay true to yourself, your beliefs, and your values.

So, for today, here’s how you can apply this to your journey:

Whether it’s decluttering or pursuing a more meaningful career, popular best practices are listed everywhere.

However, you do not get great results mindlessly following what you hear or see others doing. Great results happen when you mindfully apply the practices you believe in while choosing to do without those you don’t.

Minimalism and being yourself don’t have to conflict. 

Building a business and authentic practices don’t either.

Declutter unneeded things, thoughts, beliefs, and relationships. NOT who you are.

Minimalism and being yourself do not have to conflict.

— Ronald L. Banks (@ronaldlbanks) July 26, 2023

Are you new to building an intentional life? Start by identifying your core values. When you understand your values, forming your own opinions and beliefs becomes less about what you feel and more about what you know. This includes knowing what to keep versus what to declutter. Which best practices to apply and which to skip over. Who to give your time to and who not. (I think you get the point). People who don’t prioritize their values often do things, make decisions, and spend time in areas they’d rather not.

Already living an intentional life? Look for opportunities to prioritize your core values further. Find places within your decluttering practice or efforts to pursue a meaningful career where you aren’t getting the result you want. When you find it, ask yourself, “What would this look like if I trusted myself to do things differently? How can I apply best practices while prioritizing my values?” And start there.

That’s all for today!

Keep growing on your journey, and I’ll see you next week.

P.S. Stay True To You

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help you:

⇨ The Decluttering Starter Kit: Skip the overwhelm and jumpstart your decluttering journey. This comprehensive course will teach and guide you through my multi-step action plan for decluttering with less overwhelm and more progress each week. Get access here.