“The process of living seems to consist in coming to realize truths so ancient and simple that, if stated, they sound like barren platitudes.” –C.S. Lewis
The minimalist lifestyle is about living with only the things you need. Minimalists are free from the desire to buy and accumulate more. Instead, they find happiness in relationships and experiences.
Memorial Day weekend, years ago, I got my life back.
I’ve relived the scene a thousand times. I woke up with a simple job to do: clean out the garage. It was not a project out of the ordinary. In fact, I did it every spring. But on this particular Saturday, for the first time, I’d be introduced to the truth that I didn’t have to. I’d be introduced to the minimalist lifestyle.
Our lives were typical: work hard, make money, spend it on mortgage payments, fashionable clothes, nicer cars, cooler technology, and more toys for the kids. But when everything from my garage was piled high in the driveway while my son sat alone in the backyard, it was a conversation with my 80-year old neighbor that opened my mind to a new way of thinking. She said it like this, “Maybe you don’t need to own all this stuff?”
And a minimalist was born. In that moment, I made a life-changing realization: Everything I owned had not brought meaning, purpose, fulfillment, or lasting joy into my life. In fact, not only were my possessions not bringing me joy, they were actually distracting me from it. We immediately began pursuing a minimalist lifestyle by removing the unnecessary possessions from our home and lives.
This journey towards this simple lifestyle has been far more life-changing and life-giving than I expected. The possessions in our lives define who we are on a far deeper level than we realize. And as a result, the process of removing them teaches us valuable truths about ourselves and the lives we live.
As I consider the years and all that I have learned, the following life-giving truths reveal themselves as the most significant.
Life-Giving Truths About the Minimalist Lifestyle
1. Desiring less is even more valuable than owning less. Minimalism has many amazingly-practical benefits into our lives. It costs less. It requires less time and energy to maintain. It brings freedom, rest, peace, and calm into a hectic world. And it provides greater opportunity to pursue our truest passions. But I have found, over the years, the desire to own less is even more valuable than owning less.
Over time, I have been able to remove myself from the incessant desire for more–even in a society that idolizes consumerism at every turn. And when our life’s desire shifts away from pursuing physical possessions, we are finally free to pursue lasting worth with all our heart.
2. Allow the journey towards less inward. Dropping off a handful of clothing at Goodwill is not hard. Dropping off a full van load of unused possessions is not even that difficult. But pulling up to the Goodwill drop-off for the fourth time with a van load of completely unnecessary possessions initiates a lot of soul-searching. The journey toward minimalism runs through the heart and soul.
Correctly pursued, it forces us to ask some hard questions in deep places about our most intimate motivations in life. Why did I buy all these clothes? Why did I buy a house with rooms we never use? Why do I still flip through the ads every Sunday even though I own so much already? Why am I still envious of my neighbor’s stuff? These are hard questions to ask with no easy answers. But the darkest truth is that unfortunately, far too many people, will never even ask them.
3. The potential of minimalism lies in the addition, not the subtraction. Minimalism is not the goal. Minimalism is, after all, less about the things you remove and more about the things you add. The potential of minimalism lies in what you choose to pursue with your life in place of material possessions.
Choose contentment. Pursue gratitude and generosity. Invest in relationships, grow spiritually, discover truth, and find purpose. Your life is far too valuable to waste chasing possessions. And you’ll discover this life-giving truth as soon as you stop.
4. Minimalism will always vary. I live with 33 articles of clothing. But Leo Babauta lives without a toaster, microwave, or paper towels. And Daniel Suelo lives without money. I am very thankful for Leo and Daniel because I am inspired by those who own less. They cause me to reevaluate my presumptions and strive towards even greater intentionality. But I have long since removed the comparisons.
I am called to live a different life than them. I have different values, different passions, and different pursuits. As a result, my minimalism is always going to look different. Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. And by definition, this means minimalism will always look different.
5. We can change lives. We can change the world. I sat behind a computer screen years ago and started this blog with just a few keystrokes. It was to be nothing more than an on-line journal of my journey towards minimalism. But along the way, something unexpected happened. People started reading. And found new life because of it.
The inspiration continues to grow… both through this blog and in my life. This is a far better way to live than most people realize. It is available to anyone who hears the message of living with less and chooses to accept it with their whole lives. May the invitation to a minimalist lifestyle continue to change lives. And ultimately, the world. This is my hope.
Thank you so much for reading and supporting Becoming Minimalist. There are still exciting days ahead.
Image: Moyan_Brenn
Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com says
Thank YOU Jonathan for the inspiration you are through this website, your books and your example. You’ve guided, challenged and inspired us in so many ways and also made it abundantly clear that minimalism isn’t just a fad–but a way of life. I also appreciate how you emphasis that there are no “rules” or by-laws to going minimal–but that it is unique to each one of us. Congratulations on your first five years–I can’t wait to see where you go with the next! ~Kathy
Cheryl says
Congratulations on your many years of minimalist living! We have started down a similar road and the saying that less is more, holds all the truth in the world.
James M. says
I love this article in its entireity. Althought this wasn’t the first blog I stumbled across that got me motivated into pursuing a more minimalist lifestyle, it was a nice find.
http://exilelifestyle.com/minimalism-explained/
http://exilelifestyle.com/55/#!prettyPhoto
^ those links helped motivate me a lot as well. I am still in college so I am slowly and surely selling my belongings (that I have not used in 3 months) on Ebay, and if they do not sell within 2 listings donating them. :D
I think it is also relevant to not limit yourself to stop purchasing, because some items can take the role of multiple ones you currently have!
Good luck everyone!
Mikel says
I continually try to divest myself of possessions, but always find that “nature loves a vacuum” and I replace an object with another eventually. I find it somewhat humorous that you count the number of articles of clothing you own and wonder…does a pair of socks count as ONE or TWO of those articles of clothing? ;-)
Despite my joking, I admire your tenacity and strength, always!
Karla McEvoy says
Joshua, thank you for sharing your story. When I started on my journey to own less everyone I knew was chasing more. The road to less was hard to travel alone. I was encouraged after finding your site. It was good to know that I was not the only person in the world making this lifestyle choice. Thanks for showing the way!
Gail Gammon says
Joshua, thank you for the encouragement to live a life with intention and purpose. Your thoughts and insights have been motivating for me and I am thankful you decided five years ago to make a change that would not only change your life, it would change many others, too – for the better, of course :)
Katy says
I too, appreciate all you have offered here. I am sold on minimalism, have been for years. But the constant inspiration is necessary to keep moving along on the journey. Thank you for sharing and I always look forward to reading more at Becoming Minimalist!!
Marilene Hunzeker says
Beautifully written. Thank you!
Mike@WeOnlyDoThisOnce says
#4 demonstrates beautiful insight. Everything, in a sense, is relative–we have to choose what we most benefit from.
Christy Fitzwater says
This is RICH content. My husband just preached from James -that the rich people should weep and wail for the misery coming upon them because of their accumulation of stuff. Your words encourage me how NOT to be that rich person. THANKS!