Minimalism is a lifestyle lots of people might consider rigid but I believe it is a lifestyle that one chooses to adopt. It is not enforced.
It does not mean that we have to follow strict rules or guidelines, rather we live a good, simple and intentional life.
Being a minimalist means I will continue to choose things that will help me grow and improve in better ways and remove things that might distract me or bring about stress in all forms.
The three adjectives that I feel makes for an ideal minimalist lifestyle for me are;
Restraint
Nothing good comes out of wanting to have it all. Well, that’s what I think anyway. A Lack of restraint or contentment itself negates the idea of being a minimalist.
Where does it end? Our urge to have anything and everything might lead to us having to make not so good decisions and choices like Cluttering, Impulse Buying and many more.
A minimalist should have some level of restraint on their wants and desires. This doesn't mean we shouldn't strive for greater heights or better things, rather it should be more of dedicating time and energy to the things that really matter and not just chasing everything like an unrestrained cat.
Uncomplicated
I don't know if I should call this an adjective but I think a minimalist should let go of the idea of trying to fit into everything because that itself could spark up a whole lot of problems.
What happens when a minimalist finds him/herself in a group of maximalists? What then? Could relationships like that work? I don't have a specific answer to that but despite the differences in their lifestyles, I guess It might work.
Relationships like that only work as long as that minimalist stays true to him or herself and not be a people pleaser. He or she should let others know that this is the lifestyle that they have chosen for themselves and they should be happy and willing to stand by it. That is what I refer to as an uncomplicated lifestyle.
A minimalist shouldn't be a people pleaser nor sacrifice their interest and values for the benefit of others who might not see things their way.
Simplicity
This, I believe, is also a core definition of a minimalist lifestyle. Keeping things simple helps reduce stress and helps me become more focused.
Making decisions about things becomes easier and there is more time to spend on things that truly matter in my life.
Choosing to adopt a simple lifestyle is the best thing that could happen to a person.
Living a simple life is not akin to being poor nor does it express lack. What it does express is the fact that life can follow a simple trail with needs met according to order of priority with no mumbo-jumbo included.
I have seen people who feel having a lot of things is a sign of a good life. They would go as far as to borrow money to buy these things and at the end,they would be in huge debts and still be unsatisfied.
I don't want to ever live that kind of life as I detest being in debt and owing people money. If I must borrow money and that's a big IF, then it would be for raising capital or to clear up an emergency and not to buy stuff that I don't need or may never use. Simplicity is key to happiness and it is also key to being a true minimalist.
In conclusion, everyone has their own idea of what minimalism looks like but for me, staying true to my choice of lifestyle is all that matters. I'm proud to be a minimalist.
Thank you all for reading.
Images used are mine.