“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
Jaci says
I started my minimalism journey around 6 years ago. It has changed my life. I feel like I am stronger in some tasks, but I work on everything a little at a time so I don’t get overwhelmed.
Thank you for your article.
Bruna Ferreira says
Thank you for sharing your story.
My journey will start now!!
Monica says
May 16, 2020
I watched the “Minimalist” documentary today and
It got me to thinking about my life and where to start my journey.
Anita Raye says
In the last year I lost all my possessions in a fire. In fact my whole town was lost. Sitting in the motel room after evacuting, I felt the urge to journal but could not express in writing what I was feeling. So I started a list of what I currently owned….the contents of my purse (wallet, lip gloss, comb, etc), my car and the glove box contents, some imporant papers in my “Go Box” including my passport. Whem I got to 20 or so items on the list I stopped and realized that I really had plenty. And more inportant, I had my family, my dog and ME.
Since that time, I have been reflecting on the new life I want to create. Minimalism has become my way of life. There is grief associated with this traumatic event but I am also experiencing a sense of liberation. Old habits die hard and there is always opportunities to acquire stuff, but somehow the thrill of acquisitions is gone.
So I am a new to minimalist. I am interested in communicating with others about maintaining minimulism.
N.neelakantan says
Yes anita
As sentiment beings we should try to find the kingdom of GOD within us.
As jesus said
Ask and it shall be given
Danny says
Amen. My kids are getting older, I hit the big 50 and really do NOT want to accumulate ‘things’. The ‘less I have the more I own’ mentality I am working on. I am a nurse and will have more time to pray, become a better person, do good, fish, meditate, make fishers of men…
Michelle says
I’ve been remodeling every closet in my new (1927) house this past month. In doing so, I’ve been face to face with all of my “stuff” that is usually behind a closet door. Walking around it, moving it from here to there during the remodel, etc. I cannot help but wonder why I need to own all these things that I so rarely use. Reading this article today, I am inspired to shift into living with less. It feels like the natural next step.
Jennifer says
Loved this article. I am a college student and living at home. living a minimalistic lifestyle has brought less stress to my busy life and peace. All my belongings can fit in a large container, and of course all my books in another. But, living a life where all I really own can fit where my mom probably fits her summer shoes, is amazing to me!
Barlo Ecker says
Love the articles and comments. as i get older i realize the enslaving nature of “advanced “civilization. A recent National Geographic aerial view of a typical neighborhood in suburban America showed a 3 car garage overflowing with stuff so the vehicles were outside. A dumpster at the curb overflowing with discarded necessities. a backyard full of plastic Walmart toys. And a new SUV on payments with the hatch open ,again bringing the newest and latest home to be used and discarded again. Our past experience of living simply in a third world country required no trash pickup, no landfills, and very little waste. let’s get back to the basics. Which is why we have designed and patented a power source seperate from any grid and saves us $$$$$$$$$. WE need more who think outside the box.
Gib Davis says
Some good thoughts. You may want to add the account about Martha and Mary. “Martha , Martha ….” (Luke 10:38-42)KJB
Mary Lehett says
Thank you for your inspiring articles. I have cleaned out the closets several times over and donate what is worth reselling. It has caused me to make changes in consumerism. My struggle is Papercrafting. There is always one more stamp or ink pad or notion that I want. It is a work in progress. I am a work in progress. Thank you!
Matt says
A short note of thanks for your brilliantly lucid, well-written and succinct blogs. I have been enjoying your posts for a couple of months now, and they really inspired me to live a more minimalist lifestyle. Thank you!!
Lucrecia says
I grew up with a mother that deinitely was a minimalist and got rid of everything she didn’t need anymore, the woman never sold anything to anybody but for some reason always found people in need to give the stuff and in some way or another always people help her when she needed, I think she got back what she gave away, not worth money but with goid deeds… and now she’s 80 years old and even though I have a long way to go to become what I was taught growing up I remember the feeling of not having to take care of things and finding where to put it. I married into a family of pack rats and when I couldn’t fight them anymore a I feel as if I joined them. It has been a rough journey but I’m trying to do it. I was unhapoy, I was struggling with a lot the acquiring of things became an escape but in reality I got trapped into buying needless things that just made matters worse. I want to be someone that doesn’t have the heaviness of owning uneeded junk on her shoulders… your messages are inspiring me more and more and I hope that I can look around my surroundings in a few months and feel free of that burden. Thanks.
Sasha Cohen says
This is a beautiful post. I love the part about spreading gratitude. That is something that I had to work hard on in my life. I struggled with finding meaning in my life but thankfully, I got some advice and direction from a self-help book. I have been struggling with personal issues for 10 years and have found reaching out online to seek the advice of others has helped me through the good and bad time. I had a ton of issues with my midlife crisis and have started to follow the advice of Dr. Robi Ludwig. I saw her on a tv show once and I really appreciated her take on current psychological issues. She has written two books but my favorite book is Your Best Age is Now. I have read it and loved it! I highly recommend it to anyone out there struggling with dealing with midlife. I got hit hard during my 40’s and this book really helped me to become a better version of myself.