“Choices are the hinges of destiny.” – Pythagoras
Because of the nature of this website and our personal story, I have the opportunity to read scores of e-mails from people who have decided to choose minimalism as a lifestyle. Usually, I tell them the same thing, “Good for you. Enjoy the journey. You’ll never regret following through with your decision.”
And make no mistake about it, minimalism is a decision. It is a choice to live counter-cultural. We have been told since birth to consume and collect. Deciding to become a minimalist rejects those messages and intentionally chooses less instead.
While life is full of decisions, some of them are bigger than others. Some of life’s decisions can be made without much forethought. But other decisions should be made only after all of the consequences have been considered. Becoming minimalist is one of those decisions – it is not a decision to be entered into lightly. While on the surface, minimalism seems like just throwing away a bunch of clutter. It is, in fact, a journey that will ultimately end in your heart, mind, and soul.
Because of that, it would be wise to think through the impact that minimalism will have on your life before choosing it. Consider how this one decision will affect your entire world:
It will rock your emotions. As you begin to purge your possessions, you will begin to wrestle with the “why’s” of your belongings. “Why do I have a basement full of stuff I never use?” “Why have I held on to old t-shirts or jerseys from high school?” “Why have I never thrown away these mementos from a past romance?” or “Why exactly is it so difficult for me to part with these items?” The truth of the matter is that you have known all along the location of your garbage can, recycling bin, or local goodwill. You have kept all that stuff for a reason… and discovering that reason is going to be an emotional process.
It will rock your values. At its core, minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things you most value and the removal of anything that distracts you from it. In order to remove nonessential items from your life, you will need to identify the essentials. You will be forced to identify and prioritize your essential values… maybe even write them down. As a result, you may come to the difficult realization that you have spent much of your life pursuing things that aren’t really all that valuable.
It will rock your view of society. Our world invents, produces, promotes, and purchases material possessions at an alarming rate. Our world loves stuff. It’s how they find security, impress their neighbors, and prove their worth. Becoming minimalist not only changes your view of possessions, it changes your view of society, culture, and its messages. And while your mindset has changed, society has not. So be prepared, culture begins to look much different when you are on the outside looking in.
It will rock your lifestyle. There are countless practical benefits of minimalism. You will have more time, more freedom, more money, and less stress. Subsequently, your lifestyle will begin to change. You may choose to get out of debt, work less, travel more, or start blogging (at least, that’s what I did). No matter what you decide to do, minimalism is going to change your lifestyle.
It will rock your relationships. Once you have made the decision to become minimalist, you will find minimalism to be a topic of conversation that surfaces regularly. People will be intrigued with your new lifestyle and they will ask you about your progress. You will enjoy speaking about the positive impact that the decision has made on your life. And they will soon desire the freedom that you are enjoying.
It will rock areas of your life that you never dreamt possible. The principles of minimalism will eventually creep into other areas of your life. You will soon begin removing nonessential items elsewhere in your life. Eventually, you will simplify your time commitments, your goals, your screen time, and maybe even your diet. A simplified lifestyle naturally flows out of a minimalist lifestyle.
Minimalism is a lifestyle that should not be entered into lightly. But don’t get me wrong, minimalism is a lifestyle that should be entered.
Just consider how this one decision will affect your entire life:
- You will recognize emotions that are keeping you from living life.
- You will live life for things that are valuable and lasting.
- You will recognize the false truths championed by society.
- You will experience a lifestyle you never thought possible.
- You will inspire and encourage others to live in freedom.
- You will ultimately simplify almost every area of your life.
On the surface, minimalism seems like just throwing away a bunch of clutter. But it is, in fact, a journey that will end in your heart, mind, and soul. And that’s why you’ll never regret it.
kathleen says
I’ve begun to declutter and minimalise in earnest and am finding it a liberating experience.
However, it is negatively impacting on my family relationships.
I live alone, but my Mum and Nanna are over involved in my life, always going through my house finding out what I’ve thrown out, where it’s gone, and why I’ve gotten rid of it. They say things like, “you’ll regret it later”, “you should have a bed base and bedside cabinets and a dressing table”, “you look poverty stricken”, and “you need to make your house homely, so that visitors feel comfortable here”.
They think I’m mentally ill for making these choices, and it’s seriously undermining my serenity and self belief.
I’m 33! I’m too old to be constrained by what my “two mothers” think of me and my life choices. But it is still a problem.
How to deal?
Nancy Coney says
You don’t have to be a monk. Have what makes you comfortable.
Have one flower vase. Tell them it is for them.
Your experience is normal. It takes them out of their comfort zone. Smile at them and tease them about something they keep in a positive manner. Keep it light hearted. It’s not your responsibility to convert them.
di says
Move out.
di says
Meant “move away”.
di says
We have lived without bureaus for years. I store small items in large decorative, cardboard boxes in the bottom of each of our closets.
We’ve never had a desk.
We have an old couch with a new cover and an old rocking chair. We don’t have a TV. I do have a radio.
We don’t have a dining room set. We eat in the living room.
When company arrives, we sit in the living room and the kids play on the floor.
Thundermug says
I think people who mindlessly consume and surround themselves with clutter are those who are mentally ill. I applaud anyone who desires to pare down and seek happiness thru less.
Eepers says
Meet them for lunch at a park. Then they will be forced to criticize the outdoors. If they are still harsh they are toxic people.
Ruby says
Wonderful writing. To me, minimalism feels like the key to freedom. I find myself being drawn to writings on minimalism regularly, to offset the bombardment of advertisements and messages that sometimes have me reverting back to my old self. I started my “journey” about 6 months ago. In the process, I have discovered what is truly important in life. I feel like I have found joy in the most simple of things. I used to be a very cynical, depressed woman, and this had so much to do with me comparing myself to others — always believing that had it better than me. I have changed my entire outlook on life, without antidepressants…and I credit minimalism (the simplifying of my life) for this.
di says
Attitude…
joshua becker says
@mark – the writer of this post is on the lower end of the middle-class. and he thinks you are dating the wrong women.
di says
What is the lower end of the middle class? Is that the same as just above the poverty level?
Lydia says
If you are struggling with poverty, there is a great resource called The Dave Ramsey Show. You can listen to the podcast for free, and there is also a youtube channel.
It sounds like you’re pretty bitter about not having money. I want to encourage you to look for ways of making money outside of the regular grind. Many people start businesses out of their homes to raise themselves above the poverty line. If you are not willing to work to be out of poverty, it is not reasonable for you to complain about it.
Good luck!
Mark says
I am assuming that the creator of this page has a high paying job. I have always been a minimalist. I am a man in my late 20’s. I can tell you from first hand experience that being a minimalist will only hurt you in the relationship department. That is, unless you have a job that pays very well. Women don’t seem to care if you don’t own many possessions. However, they still want to know that you COULD provide them with those items if someday they wanted them. It is the harsh reality of dating in an industrialized nation. Still, I will maintain my current lifestyle. I just thought I would add perspective from a different side. A side that is often overlooked due to lack of popularity.
di says
I agree. I was a single Mom with 2 kids and one small income. There had been no dating opportunities for years until my kids left home and I inherited. All of a sudden, I became very popular, which ended up turning me off to many a beau.
Lydia says
Di and Mark, it sounds like you’re not pursuing a very high quality of person. Perhaps your insistence of people doing things your way has inhibited potential relationships as much as your personal situation.
I am a minimalist, but my husband is not. We have learned to work together to accommodate one another’s lifestyles.
An intelligent, kind, generous person will not base their opinion of you on your possessions or lack of possessions. Anyone who does is not worthy of your time.
Ahmed says
yes it should be thought about carefully.
Mara says
what a beautiful post! i have found all of your points to be true in my own experience on the minimalist journey. we still have a little too much stuff, but that problem is getting solved steadily. we still have two ancient cars because cannot go without at least one working vehicle, and one serves as backup for the other (i know, i know). we don’t have grandchildren just yet, but when we do i will be sure to check in with you for some tips on minimalism around kids.
but seriously, the minimalist experience makes everything so much clearer, particularly cultural and political issues, and makes it so much easier to make conscious choices in nearly every conceivable way.
di says
I changed to one car when my insurance agent pointed out that for $5.00 per year, we could get coverage for a rental car.
Having one car sure saves a lot of money and the car we do have is easier to maintain.
Leo says
I guess I could add in that it also leads to home improvement. As we’ve been getting rid of “stuff” I’ve found that we can now paint/refloor our rooms. When we moved in, each room was a place for our stuff but now the rooms can become an actual environment rather than a container.
di says
I’ve always had very little. My home is simple, but elegant. It is beautiful, comfortable, peaceful and inviting.
Steve says
Becoming a minimalist has cost me money and I am constantly buying things!
…”At its core, minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things you most value and the removal of anything that distracts you from it.”…
If, like me, you value minimalist design and aesthetics you will always be searching for things that better match it’s principles.
For example, if I have an ornate cup to drink my coffee from then the ornament on that cup would drive me to look for a more minimalist version.
That means I am always assessing what I have got and comparing it what’s available now to see if I can get a more minimalist type.
Yes I am constantly getting rid of stuff.
The point I would make here is that a minimalist lifestyle is different from a simple lifestyle. I think a minimalist is concerned about the aesthetics of stuff (and other lifestyle elements).
di says
Minimalism is defined differently for everyone. Your point of view involves aesthetics. Others may find alternatives or do without.
Greg - Live It with less says
I am finding that career and business oppurtunities are arising as well. By simplyfying my life, my dreams and hopes are more clearer.
di says
When you’re poor, how do opportunities arise? I’m almost 60 and still looking.
Charlotte says
Good question, di. I have lost almost everything financially from trusting very deeply, someone untrustworthy. I retired early to grow our own food and live minimally as we agreed we wanted to do and then he changes his mind and cut me out. I should not have trusted, but I loved him and believed in us. I’ve recently decided to sell everything just to survive. I am again employed but my dreams of living a consciously minimal life are replaced with food stamps and part time work. It’s very minimal but also very frightening. I’m grateful I have a retirement account, but it’s rapidly dwindling and I’m still aging. I work very hard to believe God has not forgotten me. You are not alone di. I will pray for us both.
Lundie says
We’re just beginning this journey. I am amazed at the level of peace it has brought to our home and we’ve only done a “first wave” of clutter purging.
Thanks for being a great resource for those of us with young kids who aren’t looking for a “Only 50 possessions” lifestyle. I believe this moderate form of minimalism IS possible for us!
di says
I lived with extreme minimalism most of my life, because I didn’t have a choice. The only choice I chose was not to be in debt.