I’ve created numerous blog posts with the word minimalism in the title because I assumed that whoever was reading the post would already have a grasp on the term. But I was wrong to assume.
Many images flash across the mind when the word minimalist or minimalism come up in conversations. Thanks to the media, images of stark white walls with limited to no furniture and a single plant dominating a corner of the room come up or images of an all black and white wardrobe with only three pairs of shoes. But that is not what minimalism is.
So what is minimalism?
Minimalism varies from person to person. What minimalism means to me may not be what minimalism means to the influencers I look up to. But after evaluating minimalists I admire and their definitions of the term, I noticed that they all lead to one end goal: to live a more meaningful life.
“What minimalism is really all about is reassessment of your priorities so that you can strip away the excess stuff,” Colin Wright writes on his blog Exile Lifestyle.
Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn from TheMinimalist.com defines minimalism as “a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important — so you can find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom”.
Joshua Becker from BecomingMinimalist.com simply says, “minimalism is owning fewer possessions”.
I agree with all three definitions. Minimalism to me is owning fewer possessions in order to live a more intentional and productive life. Minimalism is not a “one stop shop” either. You have to continually work at reassessing your priorities and adjusting as time goes on because what may be enough for me now, may be too much for me in the future.
To read more about minimalism, I’ve linked below the minimalists that inspired me to convert to this lifestyle.
The Minimalists (Ryan Nicodemus & Joshua Fields Millsburn:
https://www.theminimalists.com
Podcast: The Minimalists
Becoming Minimalist (Joshua Becker):
https://www.becomingminimalist.com
Also check out The More of Less by Joshua Becker
The Exile Lifestyle (Colin Wright):
https://exilelifestyle.com
Podcast: Let’s Know Things
drtanya@saltedcaramel
This is such a great post Aaliyah. I also believe that minimalism is not just having a capsule wardrobe or emptying your house of possessions. It is a mindset and a way of life.
Thanks for all the links. I am going to save your post and go through them all.
aaliyahinspired
I’m extremely happy to hear that you liked the post! Thank you so much for taking the time to read. I hope that you will enjoy future posts as well:)
drtanya@saltedcaramel
You are most welcome.
And I will indeed.