“Minimalism is about creating a simple life for yourself so you have the energy, time, and other resources to contribute beyond yourself in a meaningful way.”
—Ryan Nicodemus
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Live Q&A with Ryan Nicodemus
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The Next Step
Achieving happiness is not always the result of minimalism unless we’re more intentional with it
By Damon Bernard
It’s likely that everyone feels better about themselves after becoming a minimalist and feeling like they’re getting their life on track, I know I did. But this satisfaction can sometimes be temporary. You see, I was sitting in my room one day and I looked around. Everything was clean and neat—there was no clutter and there were no distractions whatsoever. When I sat there I was pretty bored. Being a minimalist wasn’t as I expected it to be. That’s when reality struck me. I always thought that becoming a minimalist would give me happiness. It turns out I was partially wrong. There was something missing.
So you’re a minimalist. That means you have all the focus in the world you need to start doing something useful with your life. What adds to that is that you might also have created more time for yourself, time which you would usually spend on your phone or something else that is not particularly important. The next step is to focus on your goals now that you have the time for it.
What are your values? What do you want to achieve in your life? Perhaps you want to write a book, learn a new language, work out more intensively, or travel further. Learning and doing these things gives us skills or memories that we can keep for life—they add value to our lives—unlike all the clutter we find ourselves buying. What gives us happiness is the process of adding that value to our lives and achieving goals that we set for ourselves. You need to focus on these things, otherwise you will feel stuck. If you wait too long with that, it could lead to dissatisfaction and that is ultimately the opposite of what you want to gain.
To me, minimalism does not give us happiness per se, yet minimalism can be the first step in achieving happiness. It is an important step. It gives me the opportunity to focus on myself. In fact, after I sat there in my room I also realized that I wanted to start writing more. I also became fascinated with languages. Although I had a tentative interest in the past to do or learn these things, I just never got to the point of realizing them—I never prioritized them. That was until I adopted a minimalist lifestyle, which gave me the focus and discipline to put in a greater effort to live a more fulfilling life.
Minimalism Redefined
How self-defining minimalism results in the most authentic and inspiring life
By Madison Robertson
Minimalism isn’t a new concept. In fact, it dates back hundreds of thousands of years, with the Tibetan Buddhists practicing some of the earliest forms of minimalism through asceticism or the practice of systematic deprivation in order to encourage greater insight and gratitude. This systematic deprivation in search of gratitude not only served their spiritual desires but also piloted the idea of intentional living with less. As time has passed, the practice has taken on new forms and meanings. Today, minimalism is something that spans art, architecture, environmentalism and more.
Minimalism has many definitions. For some, minimalism is an art and design form characterized by stark contrasts and straight edges. For others, it is a form of budgeting that keeps finances in check and curbs the constant urge to shop. It has even become a social media aesthetic, filling people’s feeds with neutral-toned capsule wardrobes that cost more than what I make in a year. And for some, it goes even deeper; it becomes a spiritual lifestyle focused on gratitude and a life lived with intention.
All of these definitions of minimalism have one thing in common: simplicity. No matter the definition, everyone understands that the “minimal” part of minimalism is essential. And that’s what matters. That is the key to how minimalism looks in your life. Whichever definition resonates with you, from the aesthetic to the spiritual, that is the definition that will help minimalism take root.
The more personal you make minimalism, the more you will learn. For me, minimalism is a way of living in search of deeper meaning and spiritual growth. Minimalism applies to every part of my day, from the food I eat to the clothes I wear, and the way I budget. I still choose to wear colorful clothes and I have more than one pair of shoes. The way that I define minimalism allows me to continuously learn and foster my passion for minimalism as a practice.
I challenge you to think about how you would define minimalism and then, how you can implement your definition—the one that resonates with you—into your everyday life.
A Little More of Less
A few other articles we think you might enjoy…
Minimalism, Music, and Multitasking by Victoria Kuryan
How Much Is Enough? by The Minimalists
7 Things Standing Between You and Joy by Courtney Carver
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