The Matthew Byers Method

      “If you choose bad companions, no one will believe that you are anything but bad yourself.”   -         Aesop     Our direction in life is often impacted greatly by those with whom we associate. Whether it is our spouse, friends or family, each person we allow access to our world affects us more than we could ever realize. From where we decide to go to college, what area of the country we intend to live or even the career path we choose, the people that we spend the most time with exert a great amount of influence. More often than not, associations are a greater factor in one’s success or failure in life than many actually believe or admit.     Do you remember the last time that you were in a toxic long-term romantic relationship? How integrated were your lives? Was the relationship with a co-worker? Did you live together? Were there common friends even before the romance blossomed? Were you both living in the same city or town? Were you married to each othe

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”   -         Matthew 6:24 (ESV)         What is salvation? Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines salvation as a deliverance from the power and effects of sin. Once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior, you are ever seeking to please him. Before accepting the free gift of salvation, you were a slave to sin. After a salvation experience, your life is devoted to Christ. When you are changed from the inside, your heart desires to live a life that gives glory to God. The result of your conversion is that you begin to love others as you love yourself. Materialistic ideologies, wealth and accumulating possessions are no longer a priority. You have been set free!     How does salvation tie in with minimalism? Jesus Christ spoke of principles of avoiding covetousness and living simply throughout

  “If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.”   -         Eleonora Duse         By achieving minimalism in one’s space, relations and life in general, increased relaxation is produced as a byproduct. By living a simplistic life without numerous distractions, stressors and choices, there are fewer factors to stimulate a negative response. Similar to minimalism, relaxation can be achieved through a methodical approach. Often times, this is facilitated by using step-by-step directions from a meditation instructor. However, depending on demographics and other socioeconomic factors, many times these sessions have to be scheduled far in advance and can be extremely costly! I have found that by mastering self-reflection techniques on your own, not only can you reduce or eliminate costs, but you can al