Minimalism in practice

Minimalism is often mistaken and misunderstood. A lot of people consider it to be an act of misery. A lot of people think that it is a tactic to cover-up for the stingy behavior. A lot of people even think that minimalism is a label to be pretentious. Another misconception is that it is a lot of hard work. Sone believe it is boring. But you will understand the beauty of minimalism once you start practicing it.

In today's world, the mass production is at peak. Influencers, manufacturers, and mass market owners push the ideas of "maximalism" down our throats. They promote the ideas that we should have a single product in all colours, textures, and patterns. Everything is a need (remember the YouTuber saying "you need this in your home, closet, car, or kitchen) as per their charts. They make it sound as if not purchasing something will lead to the end of the world or we will fall behind without buying or consuming their products. But is it really true? Do we really need all this? This is where minimalism starts. Minimalism begins with a simple question: Can one suffice? It progresses into a more complicated question: How much is enough?

For me, minimalism was an alien concept until I got introduced to it in 2018-19. I started to understand minimalism to fuel my curiosity. As I studied and understood minimalism, I see it as a way of life. I see minimalism as a way forward. While we start with minimalism, I will first mention the basic concept of economics that drew me in: Need vs want.

Is just one enough? I asked myself and I went down the rabbit hole. As I asked myself various questions, my needs and wants became clearer to me. I needed only one but I wanted a lot. I realised that I can easily cut down my wants and focus only on my needs.

Let me explain this with a simple and relatable example. Office dress code asks to wear black trousers. How many trousers do I need? One pair or maybe one more for extingency. How many I want? As many textures, fabrics, and patterns that exist in the market. Do I regularly use all of them? No. Do I have a favorite? Yes and that is the one I reach for again and again. In this case, I should restrict myself from buying any more black trousers. When I have the impulse to buy a new black trousers, I should ask these questions again to remind myself what I need and what I want.

A lot of people consider minimalism with closet cleaning or decluttering. It is a part of minimalism but it will come at the later phase. To begin with minimalism, first we need to start by differentiating into needs and wants. It will definitely be a good starting point. If you plan to embark on the journey with minimalism, do not wait for tomorrow. Start it today by understanding what you need and what you want. Take the first step to start thinking.

Start shaping your thoughts today for a minimalistic tomorrow.