Become a "cut" master.

To live an abundant life, you must become a master of the "Cut."

In the small, cramped spaces where I grew up, "abundance" was a myth. People thought that to have a big life, you had to add things—more possessions, more responsibilities, more "busyness." But as I began living on my own at fourteen, I realized that the opposite was true. A big life is actually a very small, very focused one. It is a life where you have cut away everything that doesn't matter, leaving only the few things that do.

This brings us to the tools of the trade. If you want to move from a state of being "overwhelmed" to a state of being "effective," you need frameworks. You need mental filters that do the heavy lifting for you so that your willpower can be saved for the actual execution.

Let’s look at two of the most powerful tools in my minimalist toolkit: The Eisenhower Matrix and The 10-10-10 Rule.

The Eisenhower Matrix (The Filter)

Most people spend their lives reacting. They react to their phone notifications, they react to their boss’s emails, and they react to the latest "crisis" in their social circle. They feel productive because they are moving fast, but they are actually just running in place.

I call this the Urgency Trap. The Eisenhower Matrix is a simple box divided into four quadrants. It forces you to categorize every task and every decision based on two things: Urgency and Importance.

Quadrant 1: The "DO" Zone (Urgent & Important)

These are the things that must be done now and have major consequences if they aren't.

Example: A health crisis, a deadline for a project that pays your bills, or a broken pipe in your kitchen.

The Action: Do it immediately.

Quadrant 2: The "DECIDE" Zone (Not Urgent but Important)

This is where the magic happens. This is where you build your future. Because these things aren't "urgent," the world will never scream at you to do them. You have to choose them.

Example: Exercising, learning a new skill, spending quality time with family, planning your long-term goals, or building a habit.

The Action: Schedule it. This is the minimalist’s secret. If you want a life of abundance, you must spend 80% of your time here.

Quadrant 3: The "DELEGATE" Zone (Urgent but Not Important)

This is the most dangerous quadrant. These things feel important because they require immediate attention, but they don't actually move the needle on your life. They are usually someone else’s priorities masquerading as yours.

Example: Most phone calls, most emails, people "popping in" to ask a quick favor, or pointless meetings.

The Action: Delegate or Say No. If it doesn't serve your core mission, don't give it your time.

Quadrant 4: The "DELETE" Zone (Not Urgent & Not Important)

These are the distractions we use to numb ourselves when we are overwhelmed by the other three quadrants.

Example: Mindless scrolling on social media, watching TV shows you don’t even like, or gossiping.

The Action: Eliminate it.

The 10-10-10 Rule

Decision-making is often difficult because we are slaves to our current emotions. We feel fear, embarrassment, or temporary excitement, and we let those fleeting feelings dictate our long-term path.

When I was fifteen, trying to decide whether to stick to a grueling discipline or go back to the "easy" life of my peers, I used a version of this rule. It removes the "now" from the equation and forces you to look at the "forever."

Whenever you are struggling with a decision, ask yourself:

1. How will I feel about this decision in 10 minutes?

2. How will I feel about this decision in 10 months?

3. How will I feel about this decision in 10 years?

Why This Works

Our brains are wired for immediate survival. We are programmed to avoid short-term pain.

• If you're deciding whether to have a difficult conversation with a partner, the 10-minute perspective is terrifying. You’ll feel anxious and awkward.

• But the 10-month perspective tells you that the relationship will be stronger and the air will be clear.

• The 10-year perspective tells you that you’ll be a person of integrity who stands up for their needs.

By shifting your perspective through time, you strip away the temporary "fog" of emotion and see the decision for what it actually is: a stepping stone to your future self.

Combining the Two for Ruthless Execution

A goal without a system is just a dream. To change your life, you must merge these two frameworks into a daily practice.

The Morning Filter

Every morning, look at your "To-Do" list. If a task isn't in Quadrant 2 (DECIDE), ask yourself: "Will this matter in 10 months?" If the answer is no, and it isn't a "DO" (Quadrant 1), then remove it. 

The Minimalist Mindset Shift: You have to realize that every time you say "Yes" to something unimportant, you are saying "No" to your future.

• Saying "Yes" to a late-night party you don’t want to attend is saying "No" to the energy you need for your morning workout.

• Saying "Yes" to a distraction is saying "No" to your growth.

Abundance is not about having everything. It is about having the right things. It is about the discipline to choose the path that your 10-year-self will thank you for.