The Little Way of Living with Less: Learning to Let Go with the Little Flower

by Laraine Bennett

Do your possessions “spark joy”? In our materialistic society, we are often plagued with the slow torture of accumulated stuff, which creates disharmony, prevents us from living in the present moment, and keeps us from setting our eyes upon Heaven.

The Little Way of Living with Less is a spiritual journey guided by St. Thérèse of Lisieux toward a “less is more” manner of living. It shares one couple’s effort to downsize, declutter, and detach — and the challenge of growing in virtues that is associated with this process. Indeed, this book serves as a practical antidote to the consumerism and commodification of daily home life today.

Through the words and example of the Little Flower, you will find peace, joy, and security as you learn how to overcome disorder — whether physical, mental, or spiritual. St. Thérèse will help form you in single-mindedness to complete the ordinary with extraordinary, selfless love, and you’ll soon find yourself becoming intentional about making God the center of your life and your home.

Best of all, you will discover that “everything is grace” (St. Thérèse) and will begin thanking God for your many blessings and experiencing His miraculous favors with greater attention to the present moment. Inspired by the Little Way, you will attend with greater confidence to the things above and “choose all” in holiness. Let “the greatest saint of modern times” guide you to:

• Let go of clutter, unhealthy habits, vices, and sin

• Simplify your life and manage fear and anxiety

• Create order, beauty, and vibrancy in your home

• Detach from the world, cultivate poverty of spirit, and focus your sights on Heaven

• Find the happiness and gratitude that come from within

• Become humble and small, trusting in the mercy of God

By living an integrated life detached from materialistic pleasures, you will develop the freedom of a child of God to abandon yourself to the Father’s will. Enter into the Heart of Jesus and make room in your heart to experience the wonders of His love!

Genres: Catholic, Nonfiction, Faith, Spirituality, Religion

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2022

Reviews

[Lisajulia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love ‘The Little Flower’ you will love this book!


Laraine Bennett’s latest book is now a new favorite. “The Little Way of Living With Less” guides the reader with practical advice on how to let go of the impediments in life, both spiritually, mentally, and materially, that prevent us from deeper union with the Lord. It’s not just a book about how to ‘declutter’ the material excess we’ve all accumulated over time. It also provides examples of how to do so with intention!
Each chapter is beautifully organized and filled with anecdotes–often humorous--from the personal experiences of Laraine’s life, as she reflects on the adventures of downsizing from a “McMansion.” With St. Therese joining in on this journey, chapters also include a ‘little examen’ that I know I will refer to often. In Chapter 2, we’re asked: “...[D]o we focus a bit too much on making things “perfect” before we invite people over? Can we focus more on creating a place, where, as St. Therese said, ‘peace, poverty, and joy reign supreme?’”
With some of the most memorable quotes from Story of a Soul, a different virtue is explored throughout, from detachment to gratitude and everything in-between. Additionally there are excellent organizational tips from Jaquelyn Dupuy that correspond with the virtue that’s highlighted in each chapter. The “Rose of Poverty” in chapter 5 includes the important reminder that “someone at some point will have to deal with your stuff–whether it’s you or those tasked with clearing out your space after you’ve passed on.” This point is likely to resonate especially with empty nesters who are at a crossroads making decisions about what to keep and what to purge. Taking it a step further, Laraine asks, “Does this mean we cannot have a home? Or create a lovely home? What does being poor in spirit mean for us?”
There is so much that is relatable--whether a GenZ spreading her wings and just starting to contemplate the big picture of what matters most, or a GenX or Boomer who may have learned too late that what weighs us down in a material sense contributes to weighing down our souls and even preventing a relationship with God that is focused on Him being priority.
This easy-to-read guide is both engaging and delightful, recommended for anyone who is seeking a deeper relationship with God by “Learning to Let Go with the Little Flower in the 21st Century.

[Maria Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific from start to finish

This is the kind of book that I foresee having a real impact on my life. It contains a treasure trove of wisdom from both a secular and a spiritual standpoint. It is terrific from start to finish and possesses valuable insights for the reader.

[Lindsay Funderburk · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. This book is on another level when it comes to deepening your relationship with God. I was blown away. Not only does it help you cultivate a detachment of worldly pleasures, but it also helps you cultivate a spirit of poverty— “Blessed are those poor in spirit…”.

Highly recommend reading this to challenge your way of thinking and acting in this world full of empty pleasures.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a lovely little book. Both practical and spiritual approaches to embracing simplicity. Highly recommend.

[Lexie]

Really beautiful book about detachment/living simply

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never purged more joyfully - clothes, books, doomscrolling- be free!!!

[Not Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, not a bad book. Bennett does a good job on the theoretical and theology side of the issues, but I found was severely lacking in the practical steps side of de cluttering. The few that were thrown in there were great! What it means for me is I will need to look into the organizer herself: Jacquelyn Dupuy. The only other thing is that it was heavy on Bennett's anecdotes and readings and lighter on St. Therese of Liseux.
Again, not a bad book, but I think my expectation of more de cluttering options was let down.

[Alicia McCallum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book combined two of my favourite topics so I found it to be such an enjoyable and cozy read! I’ve always loved the idea of minimalism (as in just owning what you need and love) because I find clutter very overwhelming. I loved how this book combined the concepts of minimalism with the Catholic faith and the detachment from material things that Catholicism encourages! It gave more of a purpose to letting go of excessive stuff.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a review I really didn't want to write, but this book was odd to me, especially given how high ratings it had. I either completely agreed or vehemently disagreed throughout the book.

Favorite moment was for sure how she explained the proper order of Christ rising from the dead, and the first thing He did was fold the shroud and clean house. Beautiful sentiment to our Lord's way of keeping order and wonder in balance!

Least favorite moment...or rather most confusing moment was being informed that the average house size in the US was 6000 sqft. Highly doubt. And I appreciate the wisdom on square footage does not equal happiness, but her qualifier was that large homes didn't work for her and her husband after their kids left the home. I can imagine when we are older, downsizing sounds nice, but in the peak of having children, space is a blessing, whether it be 1000, 3000, 5000+ sq ft. I agree that we should be mindful of excess and the interior disposition of why we are buying whatever size house. Strange that the writer states that small square footage should apply to all families regardless of size, when it only applied to her when her children were grown. Convenient.

Really bummed I didn't like this book more. In theory, it could have been great! Execution didn't do it for me.

[Kelli Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Think of cleaning your room as rescuing it from the nonexistence of chaos, a creative endeavor with an element of the divine! Isn’t that an intriguing thought? In ordering our own spaces properly, we are actually engaging in a Godly endeavor!"

I found this book endearing in its practical advice. I don't have that "I'm a hoader" shame from Marie Kondo because I have no desire to have a special folding technique to make everything fit in each drawer nor from the minimalism movement because I enjoy not washing dishes for 10 every time we eat a meal. I found the link to St Therese a little weak and stretching at times, but still many gems to be found. My biggest takeaway though, you have to live with your stuff, when you die, you pass your unwanted crap onto your loved ones. Truly, they don't want it nor do they value it as you did.

[Melanie Rigney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wondered how much I would get out of this book since I was forced into parting with possessions 20 years ago due to a divorce and relocation. Well, the answer was--A LOT! While the author provides good tips based on personal experience regarding how to separate yourself from that beloved family table and those clothes you haven't worn in years, she also provides help with what is more difficult for me: spiritual decluttering. I found the "Decluttering the Soul" and "Interior Freedom" chapters particularly helpful. I also loved the author's linking of decluttering with the writings of St. Therese of Lisieux.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a handful of books about decluttering/minimalism, even another Catholic one, and this was by far my favorite. Using St. Therese as a guide was a refreshing approach, and the author did it well. I liked how it didn't have a bunch of tips that you could have thought of on your own about what steps to take to live with less. Rather, it was more of a spiritual exercise about detachment, simplicity, joy, beauty, etc. Well done.

[Josie Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good tips, some good moral lessons, and a sprinkle of biographical references. I would have preferred another edit or two before the final printing- parts felt disconnected and the ending felt rushed without a nice bow to tie up all the information. Sometime I wouldn’t mind in a novel but i find helpful in “self help” type books.

[Katie Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book with a group of friends and loved it. Very thought provoking about suburban life and all of our stuff. Was not over the top but had some good ideas and a good message. Also loved each chapter’s connection to St. Therese. She is one of my favorites! And the author talked so much about Joanna Gaines, I had to download her book too and am enjoying that as well.

[Emily Liptak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooooooh did I love this book! It was so digestible but so convicting. I’ve known about a lot of the practicals about living with less and sort of understood why we shouldn’t give too much weight to material things, but the author talks about the orientation of our hearts and the implications of longing for what others and always looking for more. There’s a lot for me to unpack there!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Lovely book about ordering the priorities in your life with the Lord first. A book that will stay on our resource shelf for future reference.

[Miranda Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome! With the shared experiences and the thoughts of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, it is a beautiful book.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Simple ideas that make you stop to really ponder what is important in your life.

[Sydney Forrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the quotes from St. Therese, but the last couple chapters I didn't much care for.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I expected; much of each chapter speaks to the author's own experience with a relatively small "reflection" attributed to St. Therese at the end of each chapter.