Why Minimalism?

What minimalism means (to me).

Let’s start with what it doesn’t mean. It is not a set of rules one must follow or you’re a failure. It is not a religion. It is not limited to one type of person, place, or way of life. It is not having less than 100 items to your name. (Although, that might be an interesting experiment to try some day.)

It is fluid. It is different for each individual and even each season in our lives. It is a process.

Minimalism is a way of life that eliminates the unnecessary to make room for the meaningful.

When we eliminate what is not beneficial in our lives, it makes room for what is truly important. And, what is important is different to each individual. I cannot tell you what a minimalist lifestyle will look like for you. I can only share with you from my own experiences hoping you will find benefit in it somehow.

I am not an expert, either. So, let’s learn together.

Release clutter. Set it free, so you can be set free.

Clutter in our lives is destructive. It becomes a white noise, a distraction keeping us from focusing. It robs us of our time, energy, thoughts, money, relationships and eventually our joy. Clutter becomes a heavy burden.

Many times we don’t realize just how weighted down we are until we shed those unwanted items and look back on our lives from a new vantage point.

Clutter can be anything. It can be never-ending to-do lists, our possessions, our own negative thoughts, or even people who are not contributing something positive to our lives.

(Note: I am not advocating being unkind in any way, but sometimes we need to let go of relationships that are not good for us. Pray for them. Wish them well. Even, do for them, but don’t let them be an anchor to your soul.)

Freedom!

A minimalist’s way of life assists in finding freedom. It helps identify and eliminate what is causing fear, worry, guilt, and that sense of being overwhelmed from one’s life.

There is no longer the stress of a to-do list that is impossible to accomplish. There is no longer a list of bills that you don’t know how you are going to pay. There is no longer constant distractions from unnecessary obligations that only drain you of your limited energy.

Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with possessions or money. They are simply tools. There is nothing wrong with responsibilities. We all have them. Take a moment and stop to think if they are truly necessary. Do they help you reach your ultimate goals, your destiny?

There is nothing wrong with any of these things. It is the meaning and importance we attach to them that becomes the problem.

Is that possession, money, or goal more important to you than your health, relationships, destiny, well-being, or your limited and precious time on this planet? What about your contribution to society? Are these things taking away from your ability to love others and love yourself?

Where do you want to end up? At the end of your life, what do you want to look back on? What is your purpose here? Your destiny? That is what we are trying to figure out and all this stuff is distracting us from these dreams.

Don’t worry, what is meant to remain in your life will.

This is what minimalism means to me. Losing the junk so you can find the gems.

Here are a few benefits that long time minimalists say they have discovered on their journeys:

• More purpose-driven choices
• More time
• Living in the present
• Freedom to pursue passions and dreams
• Realizing purpose, vision, or mission in life
• Less discontentment and more happiness
• True freedom
• More creativity
• Less consumerism
• More able to commit to healthy a lifestyle
• Inner development
• Ability to think beyond themselves
• Less obstacles and weightiness
• More room for what is right for them
• Freedom to be themselves
• Feeling light and energetic
• Less debt

What is the ultimate goal anyway? Here are mine…

• To love and be loved.
• To live a happy, healthy, and productive life.
• To use my talents to benefit others.
• To travel and see this planet before I’m too old.

This is my goal for this blog. To pursue ways to simplify and make room to live a life of meaning. I hope this blog helps you understand my take on minimalism. But even more importantly, I hope it spurs your own discussion about your own dreams and assists you in your personal pursuit of a simpler lifestyle.

How about you? Do you agree or disagree? What does living a good, simple life mean to you? Share some of your goals and ideas about what minimalism means to you below.