“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
There are no unanimous opinions. Beliefs held by 100% of the population are not called opinions, they are called facts. And other than the most elementary truths (2+2=4, the sky is blue), 100% belief in anything is becoming increasingly rare.
Change, by definition, requires us to embrace a new (or contrary) opinion. Whether we are seeking to change ourselves or the world around us, there is no transformation without the introduction of a new idea. And new ideas are almost always met with confrontation on some level.
For me, this occurred just hours after making the decision to remove our unneeded possessions and pursue minimalism. I made a phone call to my mom to tell her the news. She was less than excited. She had plenty of preconceived notions about minimalism—at one point even wondering aloud how we were going to eat if we stopped going to the grocery store.
We laugh about it now, but in the moment, it was significant. Only hours into my journey, I was forced to decide if I would succumb to the pressure of popular opinion or if I would pursue what my heart was telling me to be true.
To be fair, years later, I have learned to present minimalism differently and cut off many of the most common objections before they even surface. Nowadays, rare is the individual who argues vehemently against my understanding and case for minimalism. I have learned to promote the positives of minimalism rather than the negatives of consumerism.
However, on a macro-level, the objections refuse to slow. The stakes are just too high. There are businesses and economies and governments and personal livelihoods based on the pursuit of consumption and mass production. The introduction of any idea that seeks to tear it all down will be met with confrontation. It will require us to stand firm against the sway of popular opinion.
How then, in the case of pursuing simplicity, do we hold an unpopular opinion? How do we stand firm against the sway of popular opinion in this regard or any other? Whether we are in conversation with family and friends, attempting to live in a countercultural manner, or alone battling our own thoughts, here are some helpful principles to remember.
How to Hold an Unpopular Opinion
1. Celebrate your uniqueness. Your life was never meant to be lived like everyone else. You don’t look the same, you don’t sound the same, and your deepest-held values are unique. Throwing that away just to conform to popular opinion is one of the cruelest things you can ever do. And it will always prevent you from living your fullest life.
2. Remember popularity and accuracy are not the same. As the proverb goes, “Don’t think you’re on the right road just because it’s a well-beaten path.” Our desire should be to discover and hold the right opinions, not just the prevailing ones.
3. Count the benefits. Discover, remember, and focus on the benefits of your belief structure. Be able to quickly articulate to yourself and others why you hold the position that you do by embracing the positives. In the case of minimalism, whenever I explain my countercultural decision to others, I always highlight the benefits of owning less. It helps makes a stronger case for the lifestyle in both my mind and theirs.
4. Find strength in community. Unpopular is not the same as alone. From politics to religion to world views, there is no shortage of opinions available in our world. And almost certainly, while unpopular, there are others who believe the same as you. Find them. And discover greater resolve because of it.
5. Understand the counterarguments. Thinking critically and asking questions go hand in hand. Know your opinion, but work hard to understand the case and arguments against it. If you are right, you have nothing to fear. If you are wrong, you have everything to gain.
6. Hold opinions humbly. When discussing opinions of any kind, exercise humility with others and with yourself. We live our lives with certain assumptions and biases based on experiences. Sometimes these experiences lead us to truth, but other times they lead us away from it. Find the proper balance of humility and fierce resolve in all of your opinions.
7. Present your case boldly. I think owning less is a better way to live. Because of this opinion, I feel a responsibility to tell others and present the case for it whenever possible. Inviting others to a better way of life is an act of love. We must see it as such and stand firm in the face of opposition. This obligation remains true whether we are speaking of minimalism or countless other unpopular opinions.
Your life is valuable. It is the greatest asset you own. And it holds potential for great things.
Don’t slip into mediocrity by living your life based solely on popular opinion. (tweet that)
Phil Pogson says
Point 6 is so powerful in effectively influencing others – so glad you included this.
Evie'sMom says
Very well written, as always. I am very new to this whole minimalism thing. Just stumbled upon it last week actually. Having read several blogs I’ve discovered I have been living on the fringes of this lifestyle for years. I always declared, after having cleaned my closet once again, that I am the opposite of a hoarder! Whatever that was. Minimalist. I was so excited as I blazed through the many blogs online. I went home and tore through my house, as my husband watched the dust fly. In one week we have made several trips to St. Vincent de Paul and Half Price Books. I have not been keeping track of how much has gone but it feels like a lot and it feel amazing! I turned 30 this past Friday and my parents came to visit my husband, daughter and me. I excitedly told my parents of my new found lifestyle. My dad was intrigued and said he had read about this too. My mother was, to put it plainly, disgusted. She asked, “Is this a mental disorder?” Which is a common question she asked me given my degree in psychology and counseling. I said, “No, quite the opposite.” My dad chimed in about how he had read about a minimalist kitchen, where there is nothing on the counters. To which I replied, “I know, I love it!”. My mother made a statement that so perfectly described her way of life and thinking, “If I walked into someone’s house and they had nothing on the counter tops I would think, ‘They don’t have anything!'”. Perish the very thought! Needless to say the weekend was full of me trying to get my point across and her telling me how insane the idea was, how we NEED things and how having things defines who we are. I don’t think I changed her opinion, I never have on anything. However, I do feel happy to know that I don’t share those opinions, no matter how popular they be.
charmaine harrell says
Wow
I love the way you have done this and the way you said it makes you feel
Fantastic
I now want to go and take everything off my work tops …….
Brilliant
Thank you for sharing this
Charmaine
Terra says
I have a calendar page (photo) posted on my bathroom door with an accompanying quote by Thich Nhat Hanh which reads, “In true dialogue both sides are willing to change.” I try to keep this in mind during conflict, not for the other, but for myself. It doesn’t mean you have to agree, or change your mind, but the openness is there, the listening is there…
Manthropology says
In my opinion, the best way to hold an unpopular opinion is by telling everyone else they are totally wrong and ramming my opinion down their throat.
Lindy says
Thank you, Joshua! I read your blog often, and found this entry particularly relevant. As a vegetarian, homeschooling (unschooling), minimalist family of 5, we have had discussions about this topic more than once. Your article was a joy to share with my husband and kids!
saadia says
I have raised my kid without junk food in such a way that he doesn’t even ask for it. When all the neighborhood kids are having ice cream, he is the only one not having it.
Sarah Burgin says
This is a very interesting post, I think holding an unpopular opinion can be quite a challenge of a person’s character strength.
Thanks for posting, I enjoyed reading this :)
HappinessSavouredHot says
One challenge when holding an unpopular opinion is to not become (or at least appear) judgmental of others who do not hold that opinion.
Sometimes I wish I could “shake” people, but (un)fortunately, we all have to come up with our own “truths”, and only when we are ripe.
I try to practice understanding and humility despite the strength of my opinions. :-)
Nice post!
Ann Kilter says
Reminds me of a famous poem by Robert Frost. Here is the last verse.
“I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
And so it is, that has made all the difference.
Lindsay says
How do you make money as a minimalist? I’m not asking to be snide, I really want to know. If you’re traveling cross country and always seeing and doing, how to you support yourself and your family? I’m working on becoming less of a consumer and love this blog! =) thank you all!
joshua becker says
Sure Lindsay, I can answer that for you. Almost all of my income comes from my writing. There is a small percentage of income that comes through speaking, but only a small amount. Also, my wife works part-time, so that helps. I actually don’t do a lot of traveling. I travel for some speaking opportunities and a few family vacations, but we’re never too far from home (especially during the school year).
But that’s just how I do it. There are minimalists in most every available industry nowadays. Getting out of work is not the goal.