Minimalism is an ongoing process.
It seems that after each new experience I have a new insight or revelation which changes the way I live my life. Some are great, and some are not so great, but all of these ideas have helped me to improve my minimalist lifestyle. It's been said that if you look at your life in five years, you will be amazed at the changes. This goes for my life as a minimalist and for anyone else who has made a personal change in their lives.
When I started out on this journey I was very confused about what should be done. I began to realize that there is not one easy answer for everyone when it comes to being minimalist. For example, at the beginning of my journey I had a set amount of things that I thought was an acceptable number to own. When I lost some items along the way, and got rid of some other items because they were taking up too much space in my life, I realized that these numbers did not work for me. The real truth is that this number is constantly changing based on my needs at the time. It's like a game of Tetris – things always fit together, just not in the old way that I was used to.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/272256739963643465/It's impossible to say how long it will take you to get a complete minimalist lifestyle, but there are some things that I have learned which make the process much easier. Each of these items relate back to your attitude and approach to minimalism.
You can become a minimalist overnight, but to be truly minimalist is a lifetime commitment.
I have to admit that there were times when I wondered if minimalism was really for me. It took a certain amount of courage to make the commitment, and as the changes came along I found it easier to stick with it. Now, minimalist living is fully a part of my life and who I am.
It has been said that we should not modify our lives to fit the habits of others (or society). We all have different tastes and preferences – some like country music, some like rock. Some people enjoy live theater while others would prefer movies in the theaters. So, why should we be forced to all live the same way?
Minimalism does not make you a better or worse person than anyone else in society – it just makes you who you are! It's not about consumerism, so don't let other people put limits on what you can own. If they do that, then they are really limiting their own lives by what they think of your lifestyle.
While you may be a beginner at minimalism, you will still learn some tips and tricks that can make your life easier. When you are a true minimalist, then you do not need to buy things to make yourself happy. You will be content with the simplest of things – because that is all that is required for real happiness in life.
You need a place to start
Beginning with the easiest change you can make, and don't worry about changing everything at once.
If I could give you one piece of advice about minimalism, it would be to take things one step at a time. I know that you might have read all the blogs and websites out there which list dozens of reasons why you should become a minimalist – and perhaps your first thought was “I want ALL OF THAT!”. And then you realized how much work it will be and you went through the list deciding that it was not for you.
Don't let this happen! Keep your eye on the prize – which in this case is very simple: live a less cluttered life. So just go ahead and start small, like with one book, or one piece of clothing, etc.. One thing at a time – and then you can add to it as you go along.
You learn to appreciate the little things. Do you need a fancy new car or an expensive wardrobe, if your current one is still comfortable and fits you? You have everything that you need right now! Going through life without some of the stuff that we think is important can be hard at first – but it will make you happy in the long run. You don’t need all of those things to have a good life, and your freedom is much more important than material goods.
You are responsible for yourself
You do not have to be a victim and place all the blame on society for making you want more stuff. Decide what is important in your life, and then set your own goals to achieve it.
The reason that so many people (yours truly included) have difficulty in the area of minimalism is because they do not accept full responsibility for their own lives. They believe that everyone else has somehow forced them into living a lifestyle which they are unhappy with.
I know that everyone would like the convenience of living without challenges – but sometimes those challenges can make us stronger as individuals. If someone does not have to fight through a challenge, then they have never really learned how to be strong. You can choose the life you want, and you do not have to be a victim of your circumstances.
This may sound selfish at first, but it is actually a freeing experience! As for being unselfish with your possessions, remember that it is your life and you get to decide what happens with it. You do not have to be a slave to anyone or anything else – including their way of viewing the world!
It is important to stay healthy, both mentally and physically! Minimalism can help you to improve both your physical health and emotional health as well. By having less stuff in the world around you, you can gain more time for yourself, which will ultimately bring more happiness into your life.
Quit comparing yourself with others
We cannot possibly do everything in the same way. In fact, we may never be able to do what others can’t do, so how about we just accept it and move on? If you are a minimalist, then be proud of it! Be proud of all that you have done to organize your life and make it into the way you want it.
The only person who can be a minimalist is yourself, so quit trying to be someone else! You might have read about minimalism on the Internet and thought that everyone was doing something different. You are not a bad person if you struggle while trying to become more minimalist. If anything, it is quite the opposite.
All that we can do is our best – and sometimes that may not mean we live up to all of the ideas of minimalism when it comes to material goods. That is okay – because we were not made to be perfect. We have free will and the opportunity to grow into better people than we are today!
So if you are thinking about becoming a minimalist, then at least think of it as a lifelong process that will help make you wiser and more tolerant. We all have a different view of the world. The more viewpoints that you can consider – the better your own viewpoint will become.
Be flexible – your goal is not set in stone.
You will make changes as life goes along. You will succeed in reaching minimalism, but you do not have to do it all at once. It is a lifelong journey, so take your time and enjoy the beauty of the world around you!
You may not have to give up all of your possessions – but you can still simplify and organize what you do manage to keep. This is an exciting time for you, because now that things are in order – you can concentrate on more important things in life! Your mind will become clearer and your conscience will feel lighter! You will have peace of mind as you know that your material goods aren’t distracting you from your goals in life.
This is a chance to do something that will benefit you for years to come. If your family and friends are worried about your decision to become a minimalist – take some time and explain how minimalism can make them happier as well! There are plenty of people who can benefit from the changes that minimalism can bring, if they are willing to open their minds to it.
If you have children and want them to follow your example – keep in mind that they need to learn how to make the right decisions for themselves. Even when they do something different from what you want, you should respect them enough to allow them grow into adults who can think for themselves.
Start changing your life – Today!
You can accomplish anything that you set your mind to! If you are not sure about what minimalism can do for you – read as much as you can about it and see how other people are doing it. You will find many success stories, in which minimalism has helped people to become better versions of themselves!
We live in an amazing time that allows us to learn more about the world than ever before. Become a minimalist to show gratitude for all of your material possessions. You can gain contentment in life by valuing the things that are important – spending time with loved ones, eating well and having something to do. A modern minimalist really has no reason to complain! Take some time to think about all of the things that you have, and which ones are really worth it.
You can live a minimalist lifestyle and still have fun while doing so. Your days will be filled with spontaneous adventures that you wouldn’t have had otherwise – because you didn’t need to own certain things in order to have fun. Try new things, have new experiences and make a lasting impact!
Use your time wisely and live a life worth living. If you are really looking for ways to improve your life – minimalism is the way forward. You can free your mind from all of the clutter that clutters our minds on a daily basis, and still feel fulfilled in life. All of the happiness that you desire is right within your grasp – if only you would allow yourself to see it!
The world is changing around us, don’t let it change you as well. You can make this change happen, it is within your grasp if you would just take it!
I hope that sharing these insights as I've started transitioning to the minimalist lifestyle have helped you – and I hope that this list of explanations will help to make the whole process much easier. If there are any questions or concerns that you have, please feel free to ask me in the comments section below. I would be glad to hear from you, and hopefully I can help to answer your questions!
Good luck with making the choice of minimalism in life, and may all of your wishes come true!