Becoming a minimalist does not happen overnight, it takes education, intention, and organisation. While this way of living is certainly not for everyone, most of us could learn a thing or two from this "less is more" philosophy. The concept of minimalism exists across many disciplines, including music, art, architecture, design, and lifestyle just to name a few. At its core, the minimal way of living is about the intentional promotion of the things we value most and the removal of the things that distract us.
In the realm of architecture and design, minimalism describes the reduction of a subject to its necessary elements or principles. Instead of filling space with things, minimalist designers focus on the limitations of space and the inherent connections between design elements. By using well-defined spaces, lines and planes, fewer elements are given more functional and visual purpose. This type of design aims to be both clever and simple, with individual parts and details often repeated and reduced to their basic geometric form.
Minimalism is not just about fancy houses, however, it also defines a new and inspiring way of living. You can become a minimalist regardless of where you live or how much money you have by saying no to the all-consuming passion of consumerism. Instead of believing the capitalist mantra that possessions bring happiness, minimalists value less tangible things such as relationships and experiences. Becoming part of this lifestyle can be as simple as removing clutter from your home, choosing your purchases more carefully, or learning how to do things yourself.
According to Joshua Becker from Becoming Minimalist, "While most people are chasing after success, glamour, and fame, minimalism calls out to us with a smaller, quieter, calmer voice. It invites us to slow down, consume less, but enjoy more. And when we meet someone living a simplified life, we often recognize that we have been chasing after the wrong things all along ... I have learned minimalism is always a matter of the heart. After the external clutter has been removed, minimalism has the space to address the deepest heart issues that impact our relationships and life."
Minimalism is not anti-stuff, it's about learning to live better and more meaningful lives without the distractions of clutter, debt, and visual noise. You can do this by giving away unused clothes, getting rid of pointless decorations, buying better quality things, and learning to value experiences over possessions. As much as we try to avoid it, the hard truth is that physical, mental, and emotional space is limited - by getting rid of some things we create room for what's really important. Not only will your head and home be clearer, you may also experience freedom from debt, greed, stress, obsession, and overworking.
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