I’ve admired the minimalist lifestyle for some time but thought it was too extreme for me. How could I possibly pare my wardrobe and personal possessions down to all fit in one backpack? This is what I thought minimalism was. As I started to delve into it a bit more, I realized that like many other things, there’s a spectrum and many of the principles of minimalism I had already in some way began incorporating into my life. When I came to that realization, I began my own personal journey. Here are 3 simple things I did to kickstart my minimalist journey.
3 Simple Things That Helped Me Shift My Perspective About Minimalism
1. I defined minimalism for myself.
For me, minimalism isn’t about aesthetics. It isn’t even about how many things I own, although as I take the journey, I’m realizing that as a result of my shift in thinking, it causes me to re-evaluate what I do own. In order to make space for more of what’s important, I have to get my surroundings to a state where I can easily think. Space where I am not distracted by clutter, as organized as it may be. Minimalism for me is about being intentional. Focusing my energy on what’s important, the value of experiences over possessions.
2. I stopped biting off more than I could chew.
Attempting to minimize my entire house is more frustrating than liberating. At the end of a long weekend of purging and donating, I’d look up and feel like I’ve made no progress. It’s deflating. I’ve shifted my focus to decluttering zones. Sometimes that means a room – if it’s small enough, other time’s that means a corner, a closet, or even a shelf. I’m taking my time because there is no reason to rush. It’s a journey.
3. I stopped comparing my journey to others.
This one is so easy to do, the comparing part, not the stopping of it. All of the minimalism videos on YouTube, the perfectly perfected minimalist spaces on Pinterest and Instagram could have you feeling like you aren’t even halfway there. Questioning if you even know what you are doing or have what it takes to get “there”.
If part of minimalism means owning less, then my version of minimalism could be very different from someone else’s. If minimalism means placing value on experiences rather than things, we are already doing that. This is a personal journey, and while there is nothing wrong with finding inspiration in others, there really is no need to compare because we’ve all got our own paths to walk.
With these three things, I was able to take the first few steps forward. Focusing on my thoughts rather than my possessions has really made a big difference. I am still very new in my journey, but I look forward to where it takes me.
What mental shifts have you made to start working toward one of your goals?
With Intention,
Sean and Simone
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