Minimalism [Alone] Can’t Change Your Life
Goal making is important for many minimalists, and for good reason. In fact, I recently talked about some of my goals for 2011. Consciously creating goals and reviewing them adds clarity, focus and direction. Leo Babauta’s Zen Habits, I believe, has played a significant role in the now popular convergence between minimalism, simplicity, and positive goal setting.
I notice many people interested in minimalism, specifically new information seekers, who read a bunch of interesting and valuable information about minimalism from places like:
Meg Wolfe at Minimalist Woman
Josh Becker at Becoming Minimalist
Courtney Carver at Be More With Less
Penelope at Brazen Careerist
Colin Wright at Exile Lifestyle
These sites definitely provide value and each differs in their perspective on minimalism. The problem lies in where I see many people who suddenly think, “great this is awesome, all I have to do is adopt minimalism, create goals, and life will be awesome!”
But unfortunately I have found life doesn’t work this way. Rarely is there a magic bullet to anything. And living a minimalist path isn’t one either. I am directing my word of caution primarily at those new to minimalism or interested in trying. But the advice also applies to those, including myself, who are more familiar with minimalism but have encountered some frustrations.
Minimalism, alone, can not change your life.
It can only provide a path.
I think it’s an important point to get across because I rarely hear it spoken about. Getting rid of excess, creating goals, and trying on new ways of thinking is wonderful. But be careful to monitor your expectations as well. It takes time for the changes that most often get made to set in. And it also takes persistence to continually challenge old habits again and again.
Minimalism’s biggest help is to create a sense of direction. But once the direction is set, the decision to consistently take action still lies with yourself. And this fact remains whether one chooses to adopt minimalism or not.
Hi Reggie,
I couldn’t agree more. That is the whole concept behind my blog on decluttering. The instant quick fix is where people often go wrong with that too. They decluttering their homes in a short period but give no thought to changing their behaviour (which doesn’t happen over night and isn’t easy) so the clutter just builds up again. One has to change their mindset and there will always be hiccups along the way. Even though adopting a new attitude can be life changing, life is still very unpredictable and by no means are we in control of that. There is no quick fix to life but we sure can make big improvements.
Hey Coleen thanks for stopping by! I’m glad someone can relate to what I wrote because it’s just a sentiment I don’t see too often. You are the poster example of someone who has taken steps, literally, one day at a time. And it’s stuck for you to where I’m sure decluttering doesn’t take nearly as much thought or effort from when you first started because you have done it everyday and small chunks at a time. And that’s what I’m trying to say. I think taking it small and slow is SO crucial for people serious about a long-term lifestyle.
Reggie,
What you’ve stated is not popular, but it should be obvious. I don’t remember where I heard this, but “Wherever you go, there you are.” If we embrace minimalism, or any other way of life or thinking, we still, at the end of the day, are the same people with the same desires, needs and goals. Minimalism is not an end in itself; it’s one of the tools getting us where we are going.
Willow
Hey Willow! Yeah I agree with what you’re saying. I know for me when I try something new, I look for that instant gratification feeling. Sometimes it happens but more often than not for me, it doesn’t. And in the long run, I think that’s a good thing because anything worth having doesn’t happen in one shot, but incremental and habitual steps!
Time and persistence. Yes! Wonderful post Reggie. It took me time (3 years) to walk my full journey. That’s was just to get to the point where I was finally, actually minimalist. It takes me persistence (on-going for a 1 1/2 years) to continue as a minimalist, retraining my thinking, resisting urges to accumulate or go on an emotional shopping binge. I did break down once and binge shop, luckily I returned everything (but the towels, which I did need) the next day.
Thanks for a great perspective and viewpoint on some of the deeper aspects of being minimalist.
Cheers,
Tanja
Hey Tanja thanks for commenting. I am real happy for you to have took the dedication and effort (because it definitely is effort lol) to go on the minimalist pat. I would love to hear more about the time you binged shopped. I’m glad you brought this up because I don’t think it would be that unusual for most people but it’s something that doesn’t get talked about much. Also I really appreciate you taking the time out to leave a comment and share some of your own story because I LOVE hearing from real-life people who are living it out as well!
I wrote a post about an “almost binge” called If You Want to Stay Dry Stay in Dry Places, but I never wrote about the other one.
Surprisingly (or not) it wasn’t a very popular post. I think most of the folks who are into minimalism either have moved past the consumer addiction or don’t want to talk about it in a public setting like a blog.
For me, I know it’s an on-going process. I stay away from temptation to keep from slipping up. I’ve got the credit card bills to prove that shopping to fill a hole is never a good idea! (Cut them up and paying them off slowly.)
Hey Tanja! Yes I am hoping that many people into minimalism are past the consumer addiction stage. I know that the Recession has forced many people to virtually have little choice to go crazy spending like they otherwise might have in the past. I hate how credit card companies also target people by encouraging reckless spending. Although the responsibility ultimately lies on the creditcard holder, those companies use the consumer culture and people’s insecurities to encourage the debt.
Also I think it’s great you are paying down the credit cards. I just went through that and it’s a weight off my back.
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Nice one Reggie! It’s something I see time and time again and not just with minimalism. People really expect minimalism to be The One that solves all their problems. It won’t. Minimalism is a useful tool, but it’s just a tool, not a silver bullet.
Hey Tony, my man! Yeah I think minimalism gets over sold as the one stop shop for solving all problems. But it’s much more healthy to just view it as a roadmap and not the final solution. I know that you get that and you’ve also written different themes about that before. I just checked my email and saw that you are now IN the Phillippines! First, I’m jealous lol. But second, I’m going to go over and read your post! Thanks for stopping by.