Minimalism

Minimalism: Less is More.

Minimalism is a way of life where less is more. Less stuff, less worries, more time, more space, and more peace.

The new age consumerism, advertising, and the consumer goods and services companies always try to sell more, grab your attention and feed your lives with stuff you “should” have, that you don’t really need. Bigger TV, Smarter Phones, more clothing, and less peace of mind.

With every advertisement and every interaction, they leave you feeling that, what you have isn’t enough, and you need to buy more.

We start living only to make money to buy things that we don’t really need.

I am pro-money obviously, but the point is, we don’t really have to spend our hard earned money into buying and consuming things that may not even make us happier.

Maybe we could increase our earning potential and spend it on something that we may find fulfilling, maybe we like to paint or to travel or to make connections or to write. Financial freedom, does have a good value and can help us do a lot of things that we otherwise would think twice of doing.

We try to fill the voids in our life with stuff, but in all honesty, that feeling is fleeting, buying gives us a temporary relief, and that’s it. After a couple of days or a week later its back to normal.

You don’t have to get rid of what is valuable to you. That’s the point of the practice, to identify what is valuable to you.

Fashion & Consumerism

Fashion changes every week, a trend being pushed by the big companies, they want people to buy the newer trends rapidly. Some of the companies even burn and tear their goods if left unsold, so that the immediate fashion is rendered useless, and people go for the next fix of ‘latest fashion’.

Our self worth doesn’t really reside in the variety of clothes we wear, its the quality of our life and our work that makes a difference

This frequent out bursts of fashion purchases is causing many of us to throw away barely used clothes just because ‘they are out of fashion’.

A lot of this ends up in the garbage and landfills, negatively impacting the environment.

This argument can be extended to any goods/services. Do we really need 2 TVs? 2+ Cars? Newer Phones(only after 6 months)? A lot of discontent and non-sustainability is caused by this kind of consumerism to individuals, as well as to the society.

On analyzing and considering what is really important to us, we choose to focus our attention on the things that matter.

This gives a sense of relief and calm, as now there are lesser things to worry about.

Minimalism is not about being a hermit/sage/hippie, no, its rather about being aware and in control of collecting and living the goods and experiences that really matter to us.

Before buying anything, there are some questions that you can consider and ponder upon.
Do I really need that? Does it have any utility in my life?
Will it add value to me and those who are around me?
Can I afford it? Can I manage life without making the purchase?
Is owning this thing tied up with my self-worth or with my identity?
Does it make me happy? Is that a necessary question?

I follow this technique, not to the extent that they (the minimalists) follow it. It has had a calming effect on me, and it gives me more room to breathe, both physically, and mentally. I like the idea and will apply it more.

Takeaways

Lets not get overwhelmed by all the things we don’t have and take a good look at what we have and what we really need and that which makes us genuinely happy.

This post is inspired by: Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus, who have helped over 20 million people live meaningful lives with less through their website, books, podcast, and documentary.

References:

  • Minimalism Documentary on Netflix
  • theminimalists.com

Ujjawal Sureka
A Student of life.

PS: If this post resonated with you, let me know in the comments, also share if you think it will be useful to others. Thank you, and have a great day.

All the images in this post are a courtesy of Pexels.com

Published by

uzzawal1911

My purpose in life is to promote renewable energy to an extent where it has a restorative effect on the nature, and also to realize the massive potential of humans as a species.

26 thoughts on “Minimalism: Less is More.”

  1. I relate to this post. Although I’m fully aware that we live in a world culture that mostly promotes a philosophy of “more.” To have less is not always to have less. And often I feel that more actually creates extra worries, stress, pressure, etc. Sometimes you don’t need doubles of everything: one is enough. That’s terrible about the landfills. We should better find a way to giveaway resources instead of simply trashing them. Good questions to ask; I’m going to try to incorporate this for awhile, and see how it works out!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Yes, you got that absolutely right Benjamin. I have experienced that too, the feeling of less is more.
      Yeah, the question of sustainability is a huge one, and it brings back the reduce, reuse, and recycle notion.
      As you said, giving away the things we don’t need to the needy is one of the best things we can do.
      I hope you find this idea of value.
      Have a great day 🙌

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  2. Absolutely agree with your thoughts U. I go back to my childhood days where life was minimalistic and we were a happy lot, minus the stress.
    Today our desires never seem to be satiated.
    Actually this lockdown did give us a glimpse that even today is it possible to live life minus all the paraphernalia.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Yes, now that you point out, I guess that was a criteria of the ‘happier times’.
      Yes, thats true as well, the lockdown has taught some of us to sit with ourselves and consider whats important afterall.
      Thanks for sharing your thoughts Radhika, have a great day 🙌

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  3. If you don’t throw money at all of your problems, your ingenuity is challenged.
    It is a satisfying feeling to find solutions using the resources you already have. I have experienced this even more during the pandemic.

    Thank you for this thought-provoking post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for sharing your view cheryl. Its true, a lot can be solved by what we already have, and that actually grows our creative potential.
      I am happy you like the post!
      Thank you and have a great day! 🙌

      Like

      Reply

  4. What a beautiful and meaningful post. I agree to each and everything you said. I do believe in minimalism and living a minimalist life. So glad to find someone who thinks alike. Great work Uzzawal.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks a lot Nikhar, its amazing that you relate to the post and the idea. Its an empowering feeling really. We look more towards who we are rather than what we have.
      Thanks for your words, have a great day 🙌

      Like

      Reply

  8. The post is very nicely written and definitely tells you that minimalism doesn’t only exists as a straight lines, shapes and shades of white, beige and grays. You can be colorful and minimalistic, just know what brings value to you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Yes Seli, we are all guilty of it, its only human to do so, but to be aware of what we really need is of far greater significance in this modern world.
      Thanks a lot, stay blessed! 😊

      Like

      Reply

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