Andy Couturier on Increasing your Happiness by Simplifying Your Life

Andy Couturier lived in rural Japan many years ago and it changed his life. As he lived alongside people who were living profoundly satisfying lives, he learned what they were doing (or not doing!) to achieve this level of satisfaction and then he wrote about it in his book, The Abundance of Less: Lessons in Simple Living from Rural Japan. In this interview, Andy shares this wisdom and his experiences in such a way that you can apply the concepts in a practical manner in your life starting today.

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In This Interview, Andy Couturier and I Discuss...

The Wolf Parable

His book, The Abundance of Less: Lessons in Simple Living From Rural Japan

His time living in rural Japan

That the people in rural Japan do not use money to entertain themselves

Their way of life is slow, humble, connected to their community and time for individual contemplation

How they don't suffer from "time poverty"

That all life is connected in rural Japan

Because there is less to do, the garner more enjoyment from each task

The consumerism and busy characteristics of the industrialized west

How "convenience speeds you up"

Ways to make meaningful strides towards living a lifestyle inspired by the lifestyle in rural Japan

Simplify simplify simplify

Travel less, know your home city better

Make meaningful connections with friends by spending more time together

Diving deeper into things in your life in a methodical, thoughtful way

I love doing _____. Wouldn't it be wonderful to spend more time doing it?

Ways to make time for what we care about

How they live profoundly satisfying lives in rural Japan

That you don't have to "go back in time" to live this kind of life

Building his house entirely with hand tools

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