When it comes to minimalist living, some people may wonder whether they are a minimalist already or what they should do to become a true minimalist. For me, there is no absolute definition of what a minimalist is. Being a minimalist means different things to different people. … There is no single set of rules or standards that you must follow and meet to be a minimalist. There is no such a so-called true minimalist, either. You choose your way of thinking about minimalism and you choose your way of minimalist living. So I’m not going to give you a perfect definition of minimalism. Instead, I’ll share with you some thoughts about how minimalism means to me, how other people think about minimalism and a few values that most minimalists have in common.
How other people think about minimalism
As I just said, we don’t have a sole definition of minimalist or minimalism but our own views about what this lifestyle means to us. Here are some thoughts that other people have about minimalism that you may relate to in some way or other.
The Minimalists (Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus)
“If we had to sum it up in a single sentence, we would say, Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important—so you can find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom.”
“It’s simply getting rid of things you do not use or need, leaving an uncluttered, simple environment and an uncluttered, simple life. It’s living without an obsession with material things or an obsession with doing everything and doing too much. It’s using simple tools, having a simple wardrobe, carrying little and living lightly.”
“What Minimalism is really all about is reassessment of your priorities so that you can strip away the excess stuff — the possessions and ideas and relationships and activities — that don’t bring value to your life.”
“Minimalism isn’t about owning the least amount of stuff, but about simplifying your life and enriching it with what makes you happy.”
“Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it.”
“I believe that minimalism means:
- Detaching self-worth and personal identity from possessions
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Not worrying about the things we own, whether too much or too little
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Understanding what things actually do bring joy and more importantly, why
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Having a framework to actively manage what matters and what doesn’t
- Having more flexibility to manage what life brings, both good and bad”
“In my life, minimalism is:
- Ultimate simplicity
- Living with less
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Making time and space to discover what is really important
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Working towards real freedom
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Redefining freedom
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The answer to “enough is enough”
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Expecting and welcoming change
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Spending more time with people who lift me up and lifting them right back”
What values minimalists have in common
As you could see, people have different opinions about minimalism. As time goes on, those opinions may change. And yet, no matter how differently we think about minimalism, I know that people who practice this lifestyle always have something in common.
- They live with less
- They live intentionally
- They focus on what matters to their life
- They choose experiences over things
What minimalism means to me
Living a meaningful life
For me, minimalism is not merely about owning less stuff or living with only the essential things, or getting rid of unnecessary things but also about decluttering stress and negative thoughts, bad relationships or any things that weigh on my mind and stop me from living a meaningful life.
Simple living allows me to make time and space for what is important to me. I spend time planning my future and pursuing my dreams, my passions in life. I feel happy with what I have and the fact of having less doesn’t bother me. Experiences have become my priorities because I know they are what makes my life more valuable.
Living more intentionally and mindfully
Being a minimalist, for me, is being intentional about what things I choose to let into my life. They may be things that I want to buy, people that I want to connect with, or memories I want to hold on to because I know they are there for good reasons.
Being a minimalist, for me, is also living a more sustainable life. The less I consume, the less waste I produce. And when I choose quality over quantity, I know I’m doing something good for the environment.
Last but not least, minimalism allows me to slow down and take a breath. I no longer mourn for the past or worry about the future because I know how important it is to live in the present.
So above are some thoughts on minimalism that I’d like to share with you in this post. What does minimalism mean to you?
Thanks for reading.
Just be,