EP 103: Celebrating the Criticism from our Tiny Home Tour

May 15

Written By Laura Lynch, CFP® ABFP™ AAMS® CDFA®

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Are you drawn to a life that defies norms? A life with less clutter, more freedom, and a focus on what truly matters? Then you might relate to my journey shared in the "Less House More Moola" podcast. Recently, our tiny home tour garnered significant attention, both positive and negative, leading to profound reflections on unconventional living and dealing with criticism. Let's delve into the key lessons learned.

Building Your Dream, Not Someone Else's

In 2016, the goal wasn't to construct a perfect showpiece. The aim was to create a moveable home for a cash purchase on a stunning plot of land. Eight years later, it's a full-time residence that works well, offering a mortgage-free lifestyle. The land, chosen for its quiet and access to public spaces rather than flawless beauty, reflects the importance of tradeoffs to achieve core values. It's about prioritizing quiet, privacy, and access to nature over conventional aesthetic appeal.

Finding Beauty Beyond the Beaten Path

Personal beauty standards evolve. Moving to a desert landscape after living in a lush, green environment revealed unexpected beauty in rugged mountains and dry, scented air. The serendipitous discovery of a unique parcel of land allowed for a specific lifestyle, highlighting that sometimes, the best things happen unexpectedly.

Serendipity and Building Within Means

The tiny home was built for basic needs, for cash, and with what was available. Rather than optimizing for perfection, it was about cobbling together what showed up, demonstrating that amazing results can stem from resourcefulness and adaptability.

Managing Criticism: A Path to Personal Growth

For the first time, I had a sense of being prepared for various comments from others. This represented growth in personal strength, moving away from taking everything personally. Enduring criticism is vital when bringing something new into the world. Two years ago, when launching an unconventional financial planning firm and podcast, I embrased the concept of detractors re-entrenching fans and assigned a positive outcome to negativity. Preparation for critique, particularly as a woman in the professional world, was key.

Living for Yourself, Not for Others

Everyone perceives the world through their own filters. The tiny home was built for us, not for the approval of everyone else. Choosing a smaller space to achieve value-driven goals is radical in a consumption-based society. Rebelliously choosing to use what you have and being delighted by it, perfect or not, goes against societal programming to always strive for more.

Slowing Down and Allowing Gifts

A slower life allows for unexpected gifts to appear. Accepting these gifts requires slowing down instead of always chasing the latest and greatest. Old items often possess better quality and longevity, while newer items might be built for planned obsolescence. This mindset emphasizes reliability and a lower cost lifestyle.

Criticism is Part of the Unconventional Path

Choosing a smaller footprint and a gentler life invites criticism. Exiting conformity requires bravery. There exists a community of like-minded individuals who reject the notion that newer is better, choose to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and believe in personal environmental impact. Aligning with this community helps process criticism. It is more valuable to have the respect of a few admired individuals than to seek everyone's approval. Impact, a gentle life, and resilience are the new priorities.

Building Self-Efficacy for Dealing with Critique

Bravery is built through small increments. Experiencing criticism from inconsequential acts helps build confidence for bigger, braver endeavors. This self-efficacy is vital, as staying within the box prevents one from helping, serving, or building impactful things. Leaving corporate conformity allowed for my expression of different ideas, ideas that stray from the conventional narratives of mortgage debt and traditional financial security.

Grateful for the Criticism

Despite the challenges, there is gratitude for the recent criticism. Taking the risk to expose a personal project to a broad audience was done to help others seeking financial advice for tiny living. Criticism indicates that what you're doing is worth noticing, as people are investing their time and energy to comment. Rooting oneself in core values is vital when taking a leap into an unconventional life.