Choosing a minimalist lifestyle has been one of the best things I have ever done for myself. It has helped me to live with only what truly adds value, purpose, and peace to my life. It helps me feel much better about my environment and gives me the confidence that, with the right mindset and approach, I can become the person I aspire to be.
Minimalism is not about being stingy or wanting to avoid certain things and people in my life, but it has given me a reason to choose what is truly important rather than hoarding unnecessary things.
The Elements that make up my lifestyle:
Being intentional: Trust me, this is one major aspect of being a minimalist and embracing such a lifestyle. I hate seeing things scattered everywhere around me without purpose. Holding onto possessions that do not serve me makes my space feel like a dumping site. Every possession, every habit, and every commitment has a clear reason for being there. If they aren’t serving me, they leave, and in this way, I declutter, making everything spacious and comfortable.
Quality over quantity: If there was something I was bad at before, it was getting things without knowing if they were good or not. I only went for the outer appearance, and before I knew it, they didn’t last long. It made me feel sad to waste money on them. But after much observation and understanding what quality truly means, it changed my perspective.
I no longer go for quantity or stack things everywhere, but I understand that even one quality item used for many years and still looking good serves better than non-quality ones that are just lying around in my home. I love to use something that lasts me a long while, and after that, I dispose of it. This is something minimalism has taught me, and I embraced it.
Mental decluttering: One good thing I have taught myself is to avoid any bad news or negativity around me. Before, it was so easy to consume a lot of bad news on the internet rather than the good news, and this affected my mind, making me have a negative outlook on life. It also made me feel sad, which then spilt over into my daily life.
But with this minimalist lifestyle, I embrace only consuming good content and stay away from those constant sad news stories that always pop up every now and then. I understand that we are in control of what we feed our eyes and minds with, and so, we must learn to guard our hearts with all diligence.
So, what is absent? One thing that I can say is that I am free of debt and financial strain. I don’t spend beyond my means just to maintain appearances or have lots of possessions around me. I hate to go into debt, and so, this lifestyle has helped me learn to live a simple life and appreciate the little I have while still enjoying the peace it brings.
While others crave more items, thereby going to borrow from others, I tend to be content. Whatever I need and don’t have the money for, I save up until I can afford it, rather than borrowing which always gives me sleepless nights when I do.
Recently, I went to get some deodorants because the ones I was using were almost finished, but on getting there, the prices were above my budget. I had to tell the woman that I would come back when I had enough, but she told me I could take them and pay back later. I made her understand it’s not part of me to do that because I know myself: once I am in debt, I feel uneasy and wouldn’t sleep well until I have settled all. But with this life, I am glad I don’t go beyond what I can afford, which has stopped me from going broke.
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