My very first media interview was for the Albany Times Union back in 2010.
I had found minimalism two years earlier, had started this blog, and a wonderful reporter for the paper in Albany emailed to see if I’d answer some questions for her article.
I was flattered, and immediately said yes.
Then, I proceeded to spend HOURS working on my reply to her 7 or 8 emailed questions—carefully working to craft each answer as perfect as I could get it… lots of pressure you know. :)
I thought long and hard about how to answer every single question. That was, until, I reached the last question of the interview.
While I don’t remember the exact wording, the last question was something like, “Do you think minimalism is just a phase you are going through? Or is this something you intend to keep up for the rest of your life?”
It was, by far, the easiest question of the entire interview.
I wrote quickly, “Minimalism is not just a phase of life for me. I will never go back to a life chasing and accumulating things I don’t need.”
I had just spent hours thinking about and answering questions about minimalism:
- How were you introduced to it?
- What did it mean to me?
- What things have you gotten rid of?
- How has it positively affected your life?
After reflecting so specifically on how minimalism had improved my life, our family, our home, our finances, even stress levels, answering the final question was a no-brainer.
Why would I ever return to a life spending money and time accumulating physical possessions?
That is why one of my most central themes on Becoming Minimalist has always been to focus on the positive aspects of minimalism. Articulate the benefits. List them. Define them. And repeat them over and over again.
Because the more we as individuals focus on the positive life-giving benefits of minimalism, the easier it becomes to reject the empty promises of consumerism.
Do you want to choose minimalism for your life? Then take time to consider how it will improve your life in practical ways.
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Imagine, for just a moment, you are alone in a field.
To your left stands a large mass of people pursuing endless consumerism, thinking more stuff will bring them joy and happiness.
What kinds of lives do they live?
Notice them competing against one another for more money, nicer cars, bigger houses, and more clothes for their closet. They appear never content with what they have, always desiring more. They own a lot of stuff, but their arms and homes are too full. And yet, they continue to accumulate more.
To your right stand those who have purposefully chosen to live with fewer possessions.
They own what they need and are content with what they have. They have freed up time and energy to spend with their kids and the people in their lives. They experience a satisfied level of contentment in their belongings. Excess money is not required to accumulate more, but it can be easily shared with others.
Which now would you choose?
The crowd on the left may be larger and the billboards along the way may promise a better life by turning that direction. But the more we consider the lifestyle benefits of choosing right, the more likely we are to choose it.
Consider the options. Consider the benefits. And choose wisely.
Rhonda says
Same. I don’t ever intend to go back. I have been a minimalist for ten happy years. We live among Mennonites and driving their children to school as a bus driver, they REMINDED me of many important things, simple living was the one that stood out and one that I had forgotten having grown up in the 70’s. We don’t need all that stuff, will never use it and all that money spent and wasted could have been saved to hold people over in what we are going thru as a country now here in Canada.
So many people think minimalism is a phase or trend. I know first hand how HARD it is to break the cult-like brainwashing marketing and advertising has on us but it CAN be done. I have been “influence free” for 5 years of my minimalism journey and I knew I had to tackle the hold marketing has on us through MANY steps and the most important one was to accept the person I was, what I looked like and tell myself over and over the opinions of the other 7.8 billion people I will most definitely never meet, do not matter. I never want to be the envy of my friends. If I want my friends to envy me, I don’t want friends. I had someone once close to me learn that lesson the hard way. What is frightening now is people still are not getting it now that inflation is on our doorstep and they have no money, hold so much credit card debt and are living paycheck to paycheck.
Mary Kay says
I’ve been a minimalist for as long as I can remember. I was raised knowing the value of the things we own and to always choose quality over quantity. Too much “stuff” has always made me feel anxious and uneasy. Our home has always been easy to clean and maintain because there’s no excess. It’s a very calm and peaceful place to be. I’m glad to see others embracing this lifestyle.💕
Debra says
I was raised to be a minimalist before there was a term “minimalism”. I have always gravitated towards minimalism. And I have found my greatest comfort there.
Carol says
I’ve always been organized. I prides myself in having everything in its place with matching containers and of course, labels. Until I was introduced to minimalism by Josh Becker, I didn’t know any other way. Now, I minimize before I organize. Once I made that change, I second guess everything I buy. It has changed my life. On my tombstone, I want it to read: “get a dumpster” to remind all -you don’t need all that stuff!!!
Linda Landine says
Thank-you, an excellent reminder. One that is necessary to hear often when you are swimming hard against the tide in a world that constantly tells us “you have earned it” or “you deserve it”.
Angela says
I’ve always been a minimalist, before I knew the word existed.
I look at it this way, if I want something enough I will have it.
Fortunately I don’t need or want much. I wouldn’t have liked to change my whole mindset to get there. Some of us are naturally that way inclined. What doing your course has helped me with is my tendency to be untidy, that’s improved greatly. Really enjoy your articles Joshua. I’m sure you’ve helped many people.
Angela
Angela says
I’ve always been a minimalist, before I knew the word existed.
I look at it this way, if I want something enough I will have it.
Fortunately I don’t need or want much. I wouldn’t have liked to change my whole mindset to get there. Some of us are naturally that way inclined. What doing your course has helped me with is my tendency to be untidy, that’s improved greatly. Really enjoy your articles Joshua. I’m sure you’ve helped many people.
Reannah says
Thank you for sharing about your journey to minimalism. The other day, I was inside a reused store. I was conversing with an employee about their international/national section of items they routinely arrange. I had found a Quan Yin figure, made out of glass. We both agreed that those are hard to come by. I mentioned to her, at one point during the conversation, that an antique store nearby where I live sells Quan Yin figures, but they are large and for people who have big homes – with a lot of space. The Quan Yin figure I held in my hand could easily fit into my tiny 450 square foot apartment. Believe me, I can’t wait until we have more space. Previously, we lived in an apartment that was 650 square feet – and I thought that was small! Lol I have moved, a lot, and I’ve lived with different people in different spaces (even in a hotel). Someone in their 70s once told me that people my age don’t want large homes. They’d rather spend their money traveling. That’s exactly how I feel. Last year, I made a huge move across the country. It forced me to downsize twice, because it didn’t work out. Moving has helped me lean toward minimalism because it’s a pain in the neck to own so many things when you move. Not only that, but when you live in tiny spaces, owning less becomes more practical. I think that minimalism has many benefits, and I can only imagine living with just a suitcase full of items. I believe that more importantly, though, living green is even more important. Doing things to help save the planet are what will save the planet. Maybe minimalism is in alignment with this. I think that consumerism is, no doubt, an issue, at large in our society. I believe that buying reused is a good alternative, though. For anyone with hoarding issues, that’s an addiction to stuff. There’s merit in owning less. The freeing up of space to allow room for time with family and friends was an example you mentioned. For me, I’ve let go of things in exchange for experiences. I left behind thousands of items in CA and in return, I got to see the Grand Canyon (is how I see it). Lol What a worthy exchange! I’ll never forget the hard decisions I’ve made and how they got me here. I feel like an evolved human being. My hope is that people will recognize the value in letting go of stuff to open the doorway to experiences and connection awaiting them.
Jessalynn Jones says
Great article. When you step out of the rat race it is easier to see how crazy it is. I enjoy simple living because it allows me to be uniquely me. If I was trying to buy all the things I would have to work all the time at a job that I don’t enjoy and then I would not have time to enjoy the hobbies that makes me unique and I’d be too stressed out to give my family the love they deserve. Minimalism has given me my identity back.
Rhonda says
Yes! How right you are about the rat race! There is just zero value in it and never was. It was a unique thing that started in the 90’s and has enslaved people ever since. I fell very sad seeing people I know trapped in this awful life now getting sick from it.
Betsy says
Great article. I’m so much happier and appreciative of less. It’s worth the steps needed to get to minimalism.