Minimalism is a concept that is hard to define, per say, because it varies from person to person. I recently watched the documentary called “Minimalism” on Netflix, and it really altered my views on consumerism, and the large impact that corporate America has on us as consumers. In this documentary the leading character is a self-proclaimed minimalist, who claims to have found freedom in the lack of acquiring “things.” He got rid of all the unnecessary things he owned and started living the same life he did before, but only with items he deemed absolutely necessary—in order to avoid putting his happiness in material things. I sometimes find myself putting my happiness in the things I own, rather than the people I meet and experiences I have, a surefire way to end up dissatisfied with life.
From the minimalist website, this is what they claim minimalism is capable of:
“Minimalism has helped us…
- Eliminate our discontent
- Reclaim our time
- Live in the moment
- Pursue our passions
- Discover our missions
- Experience real freedom
- Create more, consume less
- Focus on our health
- Grow as individuals
- Contribute beyond ourselves
- Rid ourselves of excess stuff
- Discover purpose in our lives”
http://www.theminimalists.com/minimalism/ (Here’s a link to their website—check it out, pretty cool stuff!)
These two guys are traveling the US sharing the impact that minimalism has had on their life, and teaching others how they can trim down their belongings to the necessities only. They have many ways that you can kick start your path to minimalism, including a “30-day minimalism game”, where you and a friend get rid of one thing on the first day, two on the second, three on the third, and so forth until the majority of these material goods are out of your house and out of your life. This type of minimalism is probably a bit extreme for the average person, but if you are searching for a new sense of purpose maybe this is worth a shot.
Sure, pure minimalism is not for everyone, but maybe we can all start to take little bits and pieces from the minimalist ideology and implement it in to our own lives. A change I plan on making after watching this documentary is finding satisfaction in being, rather than owning. Tying my happiness to myself and the person I was created to be, instead of the things I acquire as I go through life. Fads change, there will always be a new gadget that everyone must have or new clothes that put your old clothes to shame, but who you are is forever. Find happiness in loving yourself for who you are, not for the things you have. Being a minimalist is a big jump—and I’ll be the first to admit I’m probably not cut out for that lifestyle, but this documentary is absolutely worth the watch, because it offers such insight on putting yourself first, and material items second. From here on out I plan to trim down my buying and put much more thought into the things I acquire, being sure that I am purchasing as an actual need, instead of purchasing to fill a happiness void I may have stumbled upon.
