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.
Nancy Romanack says
And that is exactly why I follow your posts!
Well said, Joshua Becker!
M M Thomas says
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. ?
Beate Gubler Rolli says
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.
joshua becker says
Almost all of my colleagues (including me) link those topics together.
Krischelle @ Happiness in Between says
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!
Alyce says
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!
Diamond boyne says
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
Linda says
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.
Richard T Lennox says
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.
Connie says
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.
Darlene Appling says
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.