Misconceptions have always swirled around the word minimalism.
When I first began speaking on the topic 10 years ago, I’d ask organizers not to use the word in the title of my presentation.
“Too many misconceptions,” I would say. Use simplicity or decluttering… people have less misconceptions about those phrases and will be more likely to attend.
And, in both of my books (The More of Less and The Minimalist Home), I took time to discuss misconceptions and explain how minimalism isn’t about subtracting joy from life, it’s about adding purpose, meaning, and passion.
But the conversation has turned over the past decade. People are no longer afraid of the word: minimalism. In fact, just the opposite is true.
People are intrigued by the idea and desire more of it in their lives. Just yesterday, I was asked to speak to a Women’s Group in January. “You were the most requested topic by our women,” the email said. The tide has definitely turned.
Minimalism has become more mainstream than I ever imagined.
But with this cultural acceptance of the lifestyle, I am noticing a new misconception emerge. The misconception becoming more and more prevalent these days is this:
Minimalism is to everyone what it is to me.
This week alone, I received three messages containing the misconception. They were worded like this:
- Minimalism means we should choose to waste less of our life stuck at work.
- Minimalism means we should repair, re-use, and buy secondhand as much as possible.
- Minimalism means you should use less words and write shorter posts.
These examples of “Minimalism means…” could be added to the countless others I have heard over the years:
- Minimalism means we should care for the environment and look for ways to live zero waste.
- Minimalism means we shouldn’t save money, but give it all away.
- A true minimalist wouldn’t be on social media.
- Minimalism means you should cut off every relationship that doesn’t serve you.
And the list continues.
Each time, the author makes the same misconception: What minimalism means to me is what it must mean to everyone else.
But this line of thinking couldn’t be further from the truth.
Minimalism is always going to look different from person to person based on any number of important factors: family size, socioeconomics, residence, occupation—just to name a few.
But even more importantly, minimalism is about promoting our values and passions in life. And because each of us have different values and passions, minimalism is never going to look to everyone else as it looks to me.
There are some minimalists who don’t view minimalism as a means to work less… they embrace minimalism so they can work more.
There are some minimalists who are not interested in buying secondhand items for their life…. they embrace minimalism so they can purchase higher quality items instead.
There are some minimalists who have embraced minimalism not because they want to write less… but because they want to write more.
There are many minimalists who adopt minimalist principles because climate change is of utmost importance to them… but there are also countless minimalists who are not nearly as concerned about the environment as others may be. The cause motivates some, but not all.
When I first embraced minimalism, it was because I desired more time to spend with my kids and there were no other motivations in mind.
There are some minimalists who have decided people are different than things and decluttering relationships is a much different conversation than minimizing possessions. They may have even embraced minimalism as a means to find opportunity to restore broken relationships.
In each and every case, minimalism means something different.
Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value by removing everything that distracts us from it.
It is about owning fewer possessions and becoming more intentional with our limited resources.
But what we value most will always determine how it is lived out in our lives. Because what is important to me is different than what is important to you.
A blessed life we live if we start the journey of minimalism. I couldn’t agree more with everyone’s journey starting with different reasons. It seems having to write about what you spoke; we need to consider minimalism our minds. Haha Cheers to living less for greater rewards of peace.
Minimalism to me is a Peace of Mind.
I would just like you to knew,how much you have inspired me to change my perception of stuff in my life. And buying more stuff,that I don’t need or for other people.Quality time and memories are worth more to me and my family.Thank you and bless you and your family.
And that is exactly why I follow your posts!
Well said, Joshua Becker!
Thank you for writing this article. It reaffirms what I have always believed about minimalism. Living a simple, purposeful life is worth the effort to achieve and maintain it. ?
Thank you for this post, Joshua. I totally agree with you but … ;-) … I believe that becoming a minimalist or heading to a minimalist lifestyle goes hand in hand with me being “low(er) waste” as I consume less / if I buy something it is mainly organic / comes with less packaging / is of better quality that lasts longer etc. I wonder why neither you or your minimalism-colleagues ever linked these two major topics together.
Almost all of my colleagues (including me) link those topics together.
I love, love, LOVE this post! It is so true and is always a good reminder. I’m so thankful you shared it. I agree with how it always starts with YOU – your values and priorities. From there you work to intentionally live out those values and priorities. Sadly, sometimes we get sidetracked or forget what’s most important to us. Like you said, we have a limited amount of resources, so it is essential that we are intentional about how we use it.
I too am trying to live a more minimalist life so I can spend more time with my family and pursing my passions. I’m definitely not an expert, but I try to implement things in little ways, like reflecting on all my to dos and planned activities and asking myself whether I really need to be doing those or not. For me, it always helps to pause before I just do, do, do. It helps me clarify things and ensure my actions align to my priorities.
Again, thank you for sharing!
This post encapsulates soo much! I use minimalism to work more, and increase my focus and efficiency. Not to do less by any means. I love that you included so many of the misconceptions and meanings in this post! Wonderful!
I’ve always adapted to the concept of minimalism as something personal and intimate to me asking myself why do I want to live more minimally these misconceptions come when people just simple embrace the idea of minimalism without discovering it for themselves if you don’t know exactly what you’re striving for in this minimalistic lifestyle than there always be misconceptions
Thank you for this. I am so tired of reading posts from people who say they can’t do this, they’re behind, so and so did such and such and therefore I can’t do it, yada, yada. Minimalism is different for everybody. Find what works for you. Rinse. Repeat.
Drop the “should”. Any should is merely an attempt to consciously control & direct our unconscious habits and forge new ones… but the shoulds also bring a case of guilt along with them, due to our own perception of accomplishment. I just want to become more reflective and less unconscious about what I choose to spend my time with…wether family, reading, online, or just ‘skylarking’. Less “stuff” seems to help with that… as less unconscious distraction.
For me, minimalism is beginning to be about eliminating the stresses in my life. If it stresses me out and is not necessary in my life, it has to go.
I guess you could call me a cheapskate minimalist. I like bargains so i usually shop for used clothes and used furniture, my husband is a furniture refinisher, so we have always liked antiques. I would rather use my money to travel, and amusement parks like cedar point. To me life is about fun. Really not into material things. Camping, hiking and outdoor activities are what we enjoy the most. And were retired now, so i have had more free time to go through my stuff. I suppose if i have too much of antything, it is clothes. And im working on that.
Thank you, Joshua. Joined your class last year and it made a difference in our home. You are doing a service to others in your work and appreciated by us.
What we learned, or our convictions about anything, isn’t universal. We can find references to simplicity/non-materialism in scripture from different traditions. On the secular level, studies show the more stuff the more stress. The prophets knew what they were talking about (imagine that ?) Our approach to minimalism, or whatever term one refers to it, is as varied as our biology.
I am fairly new to minimalism but I can see how it means different things to different people. The misconception I want to address was the one that said people should write shorter blog posts. Words are powerful and glorious! Words have the power to change hearts and minds. Keep on blogging and bringing your ideas to the world. Thanks for all you’ve done! I’ve been encouraged and challenged in so many aspects of my life!
I really appreciate this perspective because in my approach to minimalism, what I’ve noticed is that the goal is less about what I own or buy, and more about asking myself: is what I own or buy in alignment with my values and my family’s values. At first, I just thought it was about owning less. Now I see it as only buying/ owning things on purpose. It’s a process:)
Trying to teach and preach to someone else to become a minimalist is sometimes hard won, but I do try, because I myself have found so much joy in this life style. (My husband has been onboard now for a couple of years, bless his heart!!!) Anyway I just wanted to relate my own experience with my mother. She was NOT onboard to become a minimalist, but (I had already started practicing years before it became vogue) when she had to go into a nursing home I told her this is the ultimate minimalists experience, she could only bring her clothes. We made a fun time out of it for her and she only brought her most favorite, beautiful clothes to wear. We told her to finally wear them out. Other patients would steal her clothes and wear them proudly as their own. As her clothes dwindled, we would replace them with more of her clothes we had stored in our home. Her beautiful Hudson Bay blanket would always be on someone else’s bed, but so be it. As alzheimer took it’s toll so did the wardrobe. At her death, one patient asked what I was going to do with all her beautiful clothes? I told her I think they should stay in the home and someone else can have them. She broke down in tears and I gave her the prettiest sweater in the wardrobe. She was so grateful. When I ride by I see her sitting outside on the deck IN THE SWEATER that was my mothers. Mom would be happy to pass on her clothes to someone who would appreciate them. Her final act of minimalism, to give.
Regina Rivard thank you for sharing today… I’ve been learning about the time for death cleaning. Although I am a bit young at 47 to be anxious about it (maybe, since we all don’t know our last day) I have recently helped an elderly friend do so. It was a profound experience for me and has really been the final push to want to live smaller… If not physically at this very moment then mentally. I still have tween children at home so moving towards living smaller is challenging. I have a close family member whom is a hoarder and I am an interior designer which also means I’m a visual beast and love visually pleasing spaces, items, textures, lusciousness. Two good reasons on their own to be mindful about what I acquire. The guilt of accumulation is always at my back and I’m in the middle of the heart and mind battle on this all… Today between reading Joshua’s very allowing and freeing post and your beautiful story of grace and humanity it was a hug for me at a much needed time. I am struggling to let go of even more things, some with family ties, than I already have over the last 10 years of an almost-divorce-long-term-separation situation unto which we saved our marriage but had to move and downsize 2x during that experience… On the upside we also grew through it too! We’ve been letting go of stuff, hopes, dreams and such for ten years and are trying to shift to new dreams and hopes. New ways to move into the next part of our journey as a family. Now I’m thinking of what a burden is and isn’t and that the word little isn’t a negative word. :-) I also don’t want to leave a burden, guilt or work for my children on our behalf when our time does come. THANK YOU to you both Regina and Joshua for freeing my heart a bit more today! Blessings and positive mojo being sent your way!
Your welcome, Aimee. Thanks for your kind words. We both have Joshua to thank.
That is so beautiful! I have done the same with my mother and her clothes at her facility! It is so much fun to see the other ladies enjoy sweaters, hats, pants that no longer fit my mom. She is now 94 and still physically strong while her brain chemistry is fluid. Thank you !
Wow! What a very beautiful way to live, and die! Thank you for telling your story !
Wow! so very beautiful! You made my day!
Well said! I agree completely!
Thank you for making clearer the various concepts of minimalism. Minimalism for me will enable me to free up more time for Christian growth and service, family, projects, work (if teaching my delightful music students is work), and our RV lifestyle.
Minimalism , to me, involves eliminating or reducing the things in life that no longer provide joy or happiness so that I can freely appy my resources and efforts towards the things that do provide joy and happiness.
I want to be a minimalist so that I can have room to breathe. An empty space feels better to me than a cluttered one. Rooms look better with less stuff in them. It’s easier to clean and that leaves more time for doing things I enjoy. Less stuff equals more living.
This is a very helpful post. I don’t think I really got this idea until I read your most recent book, which was very helpful in defining this idea. One of the things I have trouble with in regard to minimalism is the often heavy reliance on technological ownership as opposed to physical ownership. I like real things and never felt like a “true” minimalist because I have a library in my house, 4 bedrooms, and other physical supports for a non-minimal life. But if you look at the things I find important—it’s books, people, hospitality, comfort, and space. And being able to host loved family members who live far away. My task is to minimize the space I have so that it supports those goals—something I now have the desire to do.