Read our free ebook: 16 Rules for Living with Less
The Minimalists
The Minimalists are Emmy-nominated Netflix stars and New York Times–bestselling authors Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. Alongside their podcast cohost, T.K. Coleman, this simple-living trio helps millions of people eliminate clutter and live meaningfully with less. Learn More.

You Don’t Have To Explain Yourself

There seems to be an explanation around every corner.

But I only did it because…
And I was just tying to…
No, no, no, what I meant was…
Wait! Let me explain!

If you’re anything like us, you probably spend a lot of time explaining yourself, justifying your actions to others as if you were in a court of law.

But the people who require an explanation probably won’t understand you anyway. You can’t control what they think.

And the people who really understand you—the important people who are closest to you—don’t need any explanation at all. They already get you, because you are enough.

So here’s a simple solution: stop explaining yourself.

If you want to explain yourself, go ahead, it’s okay to do so. Just don’t feel obligated to. You don’t have to waste your time.