The Why Behind the How

Many times we try to jump into a project without thinking about the costs. We don't look at who else is affected by the choices that we make, and how it will affect our future. These are important to think about, though. We need to understand the "why" behind the "how". Before we know how to live life we need to know why we should live life. 

Minimalism is becoming more and more common in today's world. So many people are trying to become minimalists or are fascinated by that life. Some try the minimalist life because they think it looks fun. Others have specific reasons. But, what are some good reasons? Do all minimalists agree on what the advantages of switching to this life are? Are there any disadvantages that need to be considered?

1. Less Stuff, Less Stress

This is kind of a myth. Our stresses can be related to the products that we own and the mess that they create, but there are many stresses in life that take place because of the people and situations we are in, instead of the objects in our lives. And, in fact, there are some who would not be able to thrive in the minimalist world because they would always be stressed about the little number of objects that they have- wondering what would happen if something broke or was stolen. 

2. Saving Money 

This can also be a myth, but sometimes this is exactly what happens. Many people take minimalism as quality over quantity. This means that they might spend three times the amount they would normally on a specific outfit because they only have a select few. This is a good thing if they are buying better quality products, yes, but sometimes that is not what ends up happening. Just because something is labeled as a more expensive product does not mean that it is of better quality. 

3. For the Gram

Some people simply want to switch to this lifestyle because it is trending. Some think that they can gain more popularity, enjoy the trend, or be a better person soley because they are following the in-crowd and they heard that minimalist lifestyle is the way to go by so many people. You see, living only based on other people's opinions or the way that others live their lives is never the way to go. We are each created as unique individuals. Even if no one else says it, it is clear that one lifestyle is not the same for everyone- including the minimalist lifestyle. 

CONCLUSION

I have personal convictions for why I want to become a minimalist. Some are similar to what is listed above, but I have others as well. For example, I have plans that include me not staying in one space for too long. This means for the rest of my life I will be packing up my belongings and transporting them. If I own less, it means I will carry less around. It means that unpacking and packing should look simplier. And, if I can understand and get a better grasp on minimalism BEFORE the packing and moving begins, than I can be wiser about what I chose to take with me and what does not come along. 

Can you think of another reason WHY someone (maybe you) would think about switching to becoming a minimalist? Let me know in the comments. I want to be here for you! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mini Me Stats

 The best way, I have found, to waste money, time, and products on items that I do not need in my daily routine is to understand who I am and what I need. So, here I will list out the "boxes" I have found I fit in, so I know to not buy outside of these categories. However, you may have different specifications or more "boxes" that you need to fill. That is okay! Find what works for you.  Hair:  - Fine Hair: I have a greasy scalp, no heat damage but I have overall hair damage. So, I should not buy shampoos or conditioners that do not match my hair needs.  - 2A Waves: This means I have a bit of a wave to it, but not from the top of my head (it starts about midway down my long hair). I might want to invest in some wave-defining creams but nothing has worked so far.  - High Density Hair: I do not need to worry about adding any hair to my head. In fact, I shed enough that some might argue I have some damage to my hair, but the shedding has not significantly changed m...
Read more

My Exceptions to Minimalism

While this may not be the best habit to have, I have already discovered that I will have exceptions to what most minimalists live with. This is okay because I understand that minimalism in and of itself will not solve all of my problems. Yet, I am setting up boundaries so I can still restrict my exceptions and accept most of the minimalist systems. So, I allow myself 10 exceptions (including the sub-exceptions), which I will list here:  1. My care comes first. If I choose to splurge on about three (3) products at one time to help my physical care, this is okay. For example, right now these are my three:      a) Toothpaste: I want to spend a little more on better quality toothpaste to take care of my teeth. This one will probably not last, as I have learned from my research that whitening toothpaste is not that accurate or effective. While I did not mind splurging so I could feel better about my teeth, I am understanding that it is more than simply the brand or type o...
Read more

Minimalism in Moving

I know it has been a long time since I have written in this blog. However, I have not given up on this minimalist journey. In fact, I would say that I have been learning and growing in so much more areas all related to minimalism. I currently have another minimalism roommate. I have been able to talk through some of my really weird quirks related to minimalism that my roommate understands. We are able to verbally process our items to help us to not collect a whole bunch of items.  The biggest motivation of my minimalism journey, which has been mentioned before in these posts, is that I am going to be a traveler in my future. I do not want to have many items to carry around with me across the world. And it does not make sense to leave many possessions wherever I leave that I do not have access to. So, instead, every time I move it gives me an extra opportunity to look through my possessions and decide what is worth holding onto and what is not worth keeping.  My most recent pur...
Read more