Screw Minimalism
Ever seen a minimalist?
What were your thoughts? Did you feel inspired by them or did you just feel sorry for them and their empty lives?
Well, in this post I will cover the topic, give you an insight into what minimalism really means and also tell you why the term minimalism is actually insufficient and sort of misleading. Let's get into it.
Not about having less
Many believe minimalism was simply about having less. And looking at the term this common assumption does make sense. In reality though this is only half the story. Because guess what, it's actually quite the opposite! Minimalism has much more to do with wanting more than it is about having less. More time, more space, more money, more freedom and consequently more life is what a minimalist is really seeking. To put it how it is, it's about choosing a rich and meaningful life instead of one that might look great from the outside but is empty beneath the surface.
I hope you now understand why the term minimalism is pretty misleading. It suggests a false image of what minimalism really means and feeds the popular illusion of it being just another aesthetic trend.
Way to do it
You have learned that minimalism is not about having less, but what now? How do minimalists get to this rich and fulfilling life? Is it just removing physical clutter? No, minimalists don't own as little physical objects as they do just for the sake of it. It might be one of the more visible consequences of taking on this lifestyle but it's definitely not the core of it. The fundamental change hides backstage: It's being intentional that makes a person a minimalist. Watching what you really need, being aware that some things add to your life while others only take away.
To summarise, a minimalist is intentional with the spending of his resources. Space, time, money and mental capacity are all finite resources. Using them wisely is what makes the difference.
Intentionalism
As we have now figured out minimalism is not about wanting less but in fact about the opposite, wanting more. Minimalists attempt to achieve this by intentionally spending their assets. So why is it that we still call minimalism the way we do when really it is about something different? Well, I guess mostly because the term has already been established and it'd be pretty hard to get it out of people's heads now. Nonetheless, I'd like to introduce an alternative: Intentionalism. Now you tell me, but I think this term is so much better. It puts the emphasis back on what minimalism is fundamentally about and at the same time still works with everything we have been calling minimal so far.
Fairplay
Alright, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Whether the term minimalism is fitting or not sort of depends on the underlining definition of it. Let me break it down for you.
When we think of minimalism as the mondern synonym of its ancient predecessor stoicism, the term does seem appropriate. The stoics' goal was to make their happiness independent of circumstances outside of their control. By living with less as one example of their practices they attempted to lower their bar of physical expectation. They did this in order to free themselves from craving physical possesions, something that would risk constant happiness.
When we look at the term from my personal point of view though where minimalism is more so a tool to create opportunities for a richer and more fulfilling life the term does come with a degree of insufficiency.
Conclusion
The term minimalism has overtaken the world in a storm in the past years. Just look at its instagram hashtag with almost 50 million posts! On first sight it might all make total sense: Minimalism must be about owning less. Clean desks, empty wardrobes and kitchens with only one spoon. If you dare to look beyond layer one though, the question arises whether that's all there is to minimalism. Is it really just about decluttering? I disagree. In my opinion minimalism is about being intentional with one's resources. As a minimalist I don't choose less, I choose more. I choose to live life to the fullest, do the things I enjoy and not let anything hold me back from doing so!
But what aboutyou, what are your thoughts on this? Do you have a different understanding of minimalism or do you share my perspective?