“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
Justin says
Thanks for this post, it’s really such an inspiration:)
tana says
the hardest part is being married to a pack rat, however I loved last time we moved and when pulling things out of the attic he asked “is this all mine?” yup hon! and thats only half the attic! I was reaffirmed in being minimalist when my grandma passed recently and no one in the family wanted more than 1 or 2 of her “treasured” items. I think about this when I am asking myself if I want to keep something, what would my kids think if they come across it someday after I pass?
moya says
I have moved to a bigger house.JOKE.Five years ago I suffered fron really bad asthma and decided to get rid of the carpets ,then I donated all my dark mahogany furniture to help shelter the homeless, donated 70 % of my clothes and 80% of my books and about 20 boxes of other stuff.I tiled my whole house and got all white /cream bed wear curtains and towels.My house looks really big and wish I had done this 20 years ago .Thougt this might help people who think they need a bigger house Mine is 1400 but the feel is 4000.Now that we travel e lot we are wondering if its too big . Am 63 but feel look and think 45.More time now for cooking healthy meals, writing and living. Enjoy.
Mark Adam Douglass (Minimalist Couple) says
Desiring less has been my greatest triumph in my journey through minimalism. It has been so freeing.
I also agree, that all of the positive elements I have added to my life, since removing all of the excess and negative, has helped to make my life so much more joyful.
I am so glad your journey is going so well, and I am so glad you are your story with us all.
Brady F. says
Thanks for the great posts Joshua! It’s great that you are inspiring people to choose voluntary simplicity, as I think simplicity will become a necessary part of society in our future…
Andrew C says
Joshua,
Your hope will continue to live on and continue to enrich other people’s lives.
Hope= faith when the minimalism benefits are realized and appreciated.
Dee says
Been on my journey to simplicity for several years now and in the home stretch! Bottom line, tomorrow is yard sale day and 70% of what I own is in the garage to sell. I started with 4 rooms and an attic and now down to two rooms. Have things to donate, give away and I find a freedom in seeing less and really having more. I still have much to learn and appreciate this site!
Kagey says
I find the combination of the message of this blog and that of the FlyLady, which is “you are not behind, start where you are” to be a powerful combination. It can be so overwhelming to begin the process of not only the physical de-cluttering, but also the changing of mindset, that it is good to hear the forgiving message of “you’re not behind” — with the encouragement the becoming minimalist blog keeps giving me. I haven’t really started my minimalist journey, but I’m digging in this weekend.
Thank you for the continual encouragement!
Steve Hayes says
It is a really inspiring message. I liked the first one you cited here: Desiring less is even more valuable than owning less. This is so true! People are so materialist nowadays that they even forget about the really important things to be worried in life. That is a great reminder!
Great message… thanks.
Karin says
Thank you for all the inspiration you give through your blog!