What exactly is minimalism? A question I have asked before and have recently been asked by several people. Today, I am going to define Minimalism for you (or at least try to).
Minimalism to each individual is different. What I perceive of minimalism can be (and most likely will be) different than the meaning you get out of it. Minimalism is broad yet simple. To me minimalism is living life with no attachment to things and being comfortable with what I have. Now, that doesn’t mean that I do not enjoy certain luxuries. I own an iPhone, a laptop, a projector for my entertainment and a guitar. These are really the only things I own. I do have my bed and my desk but other furniture in my apartment was either “paid forward” or is just there temporarily. If tomorrow I lose any of these things, I will be discomforted a little but my life wouldn’t end. They are just things – they can be replaced.
Minimalism, at least to me, isn’t necessarily living like a Zen monk or a Hare Krishna devotee (though if you’d like to live like that, then you have found your definition of minimalism and I respect that).
Minimalism doesn’t just apply to material things but also to one’s way of thinking and dealing with life. It can mean not to worry about too many things or just focusing on only what matters. When you say to yourself or when people advise you that “Don’t care too much about what others think” or “What others think of you is none of your business” – that’s Minimalism or at least a little part of it. As simple a concept as it is, it can be hard to implement. But, once implemented, it is very peaceful and productive. I still struggle at times in being completely minimalistic with my thoughts, but actively making an effort has brought me a long way. One thing I’ve learned for sure is simplicity and minimalism is a constant process and not the final destination; one should always be eager to learn and grow. This involves learning from and teaching others – great things aren’t done alone.
One reason for me to establish this blog is to have people like you and me collaborate on thoughts and share our experiences. I will write/share as much as I can on this blog and would love to get feedback from you and have an online community where we can all add value to each other’s lives.
