Minimalism is an age-old concept that’s gained more popularity in recent years- it challenges what has become the way of our lives, where the vast majority of us own an excess of stuff. Our modern day society is set up so that marketing is everywhere, and reaching new heights such as contextual advertising (the ads that are tailored to you online). And now, more than ever, we have an array of choices and convenience. In this era, it’s easy to indulge in owning excess possessions.

And that’s where minimalism comes in as an inspiration, especially when it comes to dealing with decluttering. But with the emerging popularity on the term ‘minimalism’, there seems to be a lot of confusion on what minimalism truly is. Just to clarify, there are essentially two concepts of minimalism. There is true minimalism and the modern day concept of minimalism:

True Minimalism

The actual definition of true minimalism is to only own what you actually NEED to survive. That means no smartphone, no computer, no shoes- only the absolute necessities required for survival.

A great example of a true minimalist is Mahatma Gandhi. At the time of his passing, he owned eleven items, two of which included his eyeglasses and a spoon. His final possessions are proudly on display at his last residence in New Delhi, India.

All of Gandhi’s Posessions at his time of passing.

There are certain cultures where true minimalism still exists around the world, and with pride. Throughout all of my travels, I saw this concept being carried out the most in India. There were men that owned nothing but a bowl and a straw mat, sitting on the street on the principle of minimalism.

In Thailand, there are monks who are also true minimalists. One was kind enough to explain to me that he only owned an orange robe, prayer beads, a needle and thread, a razor, and a bowl. In certain parts of the world, it still works, is truly appreciated, and is fully carried out, often for a lifetime.

Monk’s Robes Hanging Outside of a Monastery

Being a true minimalist takes a lot of self discipline and dedication. But just imagine if you saw a true minimalist here… a man sitting on a straw mat with no possessions, except for the absolute necessities? A lot of cultures are curious about the concept, but not very tolerant of the actual ideal. What would you think of him? How would you treat him?

So true minimalists are rare in our modern society. The way we have evolved, we technically don’t need certain things, but to keep up with the rest of society and to function as efficiently as others, we have them. For example, a computer, an internet modem, a smartphone. You don’t need them to live, but nowadays, you do need them to thrive.

I don’t know if it’s a good or a bad thing- in fact, I could argue both ways. Regardless, it’s become counterintuitive in our age to be a true minimalist and still live in peace and balance with the rest of society. But taking the concept of true minimalism and applying it as an inspirational concept to shed the excess from our lives is incredibly beneficial in aiding to decluttering. Which leads us to…

The Modern-Day Concept of Minimalism:

If you google minimalism, tons of articles and blogs come up. Most are referencing the modern-day concept of minimalism, which draws from the principles of true minimalism, but puts it into a modern-day perspective. Modern day minimalism is very subjective, because it’s up to each individual to strip what they don’t think that they need from their lives.

The fact that the concept is gaining so much popularity indicates something. It’s kind of a realization, a revolution if you will, that people want to reclaim their lives from material possessions to focus on life more, the intangibles, the experiences, and they are taking an interest in stripping the excess items from their lives.

My Thoughts on Minimalism:

I think that minimalism is inspirational and something to draw from when evaluating our own lives and our own relationships with stuff. For example, people are sometimes so afraid of getting rid of things, but true minimalists have showed us that we we can live with the most minute of possessions and still be alive.

But it’s important to have a balance and not to go overboard. Stuff does have a place in our lives, owning our own things help us to be self-reliant, and certain possessions that aren’t necessities can make us happy and our lives more comfortable.

The key is to only keep what you truly need, love, and use. Anything else counts as clutter, so let it go. After the excess is decluttered from your life, you can focus on the more precious gifts in life- health, new experiences, family, and friends. None of which are tangible possessions 🙂