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Voluntary simplicity "has just about as many definitions as there are individuals who practice it. Simple living is not about living in poverty or self-inflicted deprivation. Rather, it is about living an examined life-one in which you have determined what is important, or 'enough,' for you, discarding the rest."
Simple living as a concept is "distinguished from those living in forced poverty, as it is a voluntary lifestyle choice. Although asceticism may resemble voluntary simplicity, proponents of simple living are not all ascetics." Some say voluntary simplicity is "about freedom. It's about owning your own life. Frugality is living with less of what money can buy. Voluntary simplicity is wanting less."
The gang at OnSimplicity.net explain further: "While stress has myriad causes, a significant number of them can be tied to an overwhelming amount of stuff and tightly packed schedules. By simplifying, you're limiting the amount of things in your life that can bring you stress. Your finances will probably be much less stressful as well, since cutting back and spending less typically go hand in hand. A genuine feeling of peacefulness and relaxation is a great reason to simplify your life."
