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“Simplicity, clarity, singleness: These are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness and joy as they are also the marks of great art.” —Richard Holloway
I am often asked the question, “So what is minimalism anyway?” It is a question I receive from people I have just met and from people I have known for many years.
I typically answer them with a short, simple explanation:
MINIMALISM IS OWNING FEWER POSSESSIONS.
Like I mentioned before, minimalism is intentionally living with only the things I really need—those items that support my purpose. I am removing the distraction of excess possessions so I can focus more on those things that matter most.
That is my short, elevator-pitch answer.
But oftentimes I desire to answer more in-depth. When people ask follow-up questions that allow me to explain simple living further, I like to add:
IT IS INTENTIONALITY.
It is marked by clarity, purpose, and intentionality. At its core, being a minimalist means intentionally promoting the things we most value and removing everything that distracts us from it.
It is a life that forces intentionality upon us. As a result, it forces improvements in almost all aspects of your life.
Intentionality looks different for everybody, as no two individuals are the same, but it requires each of us to dive deeper and become more introspective about our values and passions.
IT IS FREEDOM FROM THE PASSION TO POSSESS.
Modern culture has bought into the lie that the good life is found in accumulating things—in possessing as much as possible. They believe that more is better and have inadvertently subscribed to the idea that happiness can be purchased at a department store.
But they are wrong. Embracing minimalism brings freedom from the all-consuming passion to possess. It steps off the treadmill of consumerism and dares to seek happiness elsewhere. It values relationships, experiences, and soul-care. It lets us see all that we already have and reminds us to be grateful.
In doing so, we find a more abundant life.
IT IS FREEDOM FROM MODERN MANIA.
Our world runs at a feverish pace. We are too hurried, too rushed, and too stressed. We work long, passionate hours to pay the bills, but fall deeper into debt every day. We rush from one activity to another—even multitasking along the way—but never seem to get anything done. We remain in constant connection with others through our cell phones, but true life-changing relationships continue to elude us.
Becoming a minimalist slows down life and frees us from this modern hysteria to live faster. It offers freedom to disengage. It seeks to keep only the essentials. It aims to remove the frivolous and keep
IT IS FREEDOM FROM DUPLICITY.
Although nobody intentionally chooses it, most people live in duplicity. They live one life around their family, one life around their co-workers, and another life around their neighbors. The lifestyle they have chosen requires them to portray a certain external image dependent upon their circumstances. They are tossed and turned by the most recent advertising campaign or the demands of their employer.
On the other hand, a simple life is united and consistent. It has learned a lifestyle that is completely transferable no matter the situation. It is the same life on Friday evening as it is on Sunday morning… as it is on Monday morning. It is reliable, dependable and unfluctuating. It works in all circumstances. It is honest and transparent.
IT IS COUNTER-CULTURAL.
We live in a world that idolizes celebrities. They are photographed for magazines, interviewed on the radio, and recorded for television. Their lives are held up as the golden standard and are envied by many. People who live simple lives are not championed by the media in the same way. They don‘t fit into the consumerist culture that is promoted by corporations and politicians. Yet, they live a life that is attractive and inviting.
While most people are chasing after success, glamour, and fame, minimalism calls out to us with a smaller, quieter, calmer voice. It invites us to slow down, consume less, but enjoy more. And when we meet someone living a simplified life, we often recognize that we have been chasing after the wrong things all along.
IT IS NOT EXTERNAL, BUT INTERNAL.
In my first book, Simplify, I outline 7 guiding principles to help anyone declutter their home and life. The principles outlined in the book have helped hundreds of thousands find freedom by removing much of the physical clutter in their homes. The book concentrates almost exclusively on the externals of life. And while it helps people find freedom from external clutter, it does not take the next step of helping people find freedom and unity in their heart and soul.
I have learned embracing this lifestyle is always a matter of the heart. After the external clutter has been removed, we create the space to address the deepest heart issues that impact our relationships and life.
IT IS COMPLETELY ACHIEVABLE.
Becoming a minimalist is completely achievable. My family stands as living proof. We were just your typical family of four living in the suburbs accumulating as much stuff as our income and credit cards would allow. Then, we found minimalism. We have embraced minimalist living and will never go back to the way life was before. We stand as living proof that simple living is completely achievable (and unique) to anyone who seeks it.
Typically, I find that those who are generally interested in knowing more and take the time to ask the follow-up questions are drawn to the principles of a minimalist lifestyle. After all, it offers almost everything our heart has been asking for all along.
If this perspective is completely foreign and you need more guidance on how to become a minimalist, you can find a list of our most popular posts here.
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General FAQ About Minimalism
Will minimalism automatically make me content?
Although it is a great start, it isn’t an instant cure. It is a pathway, not the end goal.
Becoming a minimalist will give you more time and will free up more of your money than ever before. But we must focus on gratitude every single day in order to see the results.
It’s that journey of intentional self-improvement, and appreciating what we already have, that will bring us contentment.
What is a minimalist lifestyle?
It means living with things you really need. It means removing anything that distracts us from living with intentionality and freedom.
Is minimalist living boring?
Minimalist living is the opposite of boring. It removes mundane activities that take away from spending time with our loved ones. Once we rid ourselves of the unnecessary, we’re able to decide what will define our lives.
Some travel the world full-time. Others will find themselves more involved in their families’ lives than ever before. Becoming minimalist frees us to live a bigger life with a more passionate pursuit of our greatest purpose and goals.
Does this mean I can’t be sentimental?
Remember, less is not the same as “none.” There are no specific rules to simple living and nobody is required to get rid of things that bring value to their life. Most minimalists keep some sentimental items in their life… they just keep less than others. And instead of stuffing our sentimental belongings in a storage unit or a garage, we proudly display them in our own home.
For more reasons why you should switch to minimalist living, consider these stats:
- Adult Americans throw away more than 68 pounds of clothing every year (US National Library of Medicine cites the EPA Office of Solid Waste)
- 20-21% of working Americans say they aren’t saving any money for retirement. Many of the ones who are saving put away no more than 10% of their income. (Bankrate.com)
- The average American household has 300,000 items (Los Angeles Times)
- The average family in America spends $1,700 on clothes each year (Forbes)
To get started with making your home clutter-free, I recommend this helpful Declutter Your Home Checklist.
Stina says
I really enjoyed your explanation. I’m discovering more and more why minimalism is the exact way of life for me. Every day I try to move toward it. Thanks for sharing your insight!
Dr Liz Gordon says
I do not understand the concept of living with what you need. If a light bulb blows to-day I need a replacement now. Where do I keep the spares- ditto every area of family life….
Me says
Lol. In your mind. Is plenty space there.
Me says
The whole concept seems to allude you. Nah, keep 5 globes in reserve.
Me says
Damn them elusive light bulbs!!
Esther says
It’s about focusing on your freedom to live for the moment, not to live for material things ,so if the light bulb blows out, go get a new one, it’s not about having, it’s about living with what you have, knowing the fact that you don’t need three cars, you don’t need a thousand clothes, that you’re not going to wear, its living with basic necessities, not wasting, understanding that it’s your hard-earned money ,and that you should value it, use it to be able to have the freedom to be who you want, to go where you want, to have the job that you want , how to make use of what you have, not to waste.
Dean says
Nice article! I have had that desire much in my later years. It’s like the feeling one has after they clean out the garage full of stuff they don’t need or doing a move from one location to another and toss stuff they don’t need. It gives me the feeling of having less reliance on stuff and a life of simplicity rather than complexity in a world full of busyness.
Also it’s a way toward less bills, less pressure to pay those bills. My goal is to have the feeling of freedom and part of that is not being in debt which I currently have.
And I think a big one for me is if I try to accumulate less than I have more to give away. The bible says it’s better to give than to receive. Now wouldn’t the world be a much better place if there were more givers than people wanting to receive?
Betty says
Thanks for sharing!
Been on this journey or discovery…
Meg Holloway says
My goal is to minimize more in 2015. Ha! I live in a very affluent area and people are always rushing to and fro. It is somehow fashionable to be busy and announce it loudly and proudly! I don’t fit in with these busy types. I love simplicity and solitude. Thankfully, there is much natural beauty here in Colorado! With that said, consumerism is rampant and highly flaunted here; expensive outdoor equipment and clothes are emblems of success and acceptance. I am walking a fine line but shedding unneeded baggage.
Larry Tansinda says
This whole idea of living with just what you need is an appropriate paradigm shift today and necessary for tomorrow. It can only bring back the true values of what is important and subsequently enhance human relationships in any community.
Thanks for sharing
Eugene says
thoughtful and to the point. Is it really important to be the same at home and at work? We can be the same at the core at the same time flexible to adjust the new realities without compromising our core values
Garrett Gates says
i am not sure what i would call myself, i fell that i am somewhere in-between a minimalist and a materialistic person. My big thing is once i have something i don’t always have to be upgrading it all the time. i have a few examples. my friend noticed a fews weeks ago that there are 5 other people in out town that have the same truck as me, exactly the same, same paint, rims, body style, ext. and he made the comment that its time to get a new vehicle. i asked him why, it still works perfectly, and it does what it was intended to do. same friend sad something for my laptop case, some of the satin covering is coming off of it and he said looks like you need a new case. I again replied why, the case part of it still works? it may be a little dank looking but why do i need a new one? and lastly a different friend asked my why do i still have the same old phone? this firmed has upgraded his phone twice in the last year. my phone still works great its fast and has memory on it still, i don’t need a new phone. i am the kind of guy that uses something until it no longer usable or until it can no longer serve me in the way i need it to. my big question is what word can be used to describe my lifestyle? i feel this word is somewhere in-between minimalist and materialistic. i want to know so i can look into this life style and see how others are living their lives this way.
Vijay Damodar Ubale says
My thougths also like you.
GB says
Frugal
Tara says
I, too am like you and while I have found no label for myself, I have found a phrase I have used over the years, “waste not, want not”.
GloryAnn Amaris says
I believe you are heading as a minimalist. Goo for you why throw out these of they work.
Nisreen Khrais says
Simplicity and spontaneity sometimes leads to things more beautiful than that we’ve searched for through duplicity.
lydia says
I just retired and your “minimalist” is just timely for this stage in my life.