As an author, I have written more than two dozen books for readers of all ages. And I’ve spent more than 20 years serving as an advocate in academia, government, nonprofits, and the private sector. But after choosing to chronicle my journey to minimalism, I became best known as the Afrominimalist—the Black woman who started a movement by encouraging people to forgo the aesthetics of mainstream minimalism and instead, focus on living with authenticity and intention.

When I decided to live with less, I never imagined that the name I chose as my Instagram handle would become such a defining moment in my career as well as my life. As the Afrominimalist, I just wanted to tame the chaos in my closet! But learning how to let go of things that no longer served me ultimately became the gateway to what is now the cornerstone of my work: intentional living.

While I began with the goal of living more simply, over the past few years my work has deepened. I now know the practice of “less” can be more than a tool to manage our overconsumption. When embraced as a lifestyle, choosing to do and have less also helps us manage our overwhelm. Less empowers us to release things that no longer serve us, and also serves as a framework to let go of limiting beliefs that hinder us from living the lives we want and deserve.

From writing prescriptive nonfiction like The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living With Less to the forthcoming Less Is Liberation: Finding Freedom from a Life of Overwhelm, my work and writing now centers on championing the power of less to help others simplify, surrender, and boldly step into the next season of their lives. And it is truly an honor.