I have long adapted a scarcely acknowledged lifestyle
principle called minimalism. “What is minimalism?” you ask. It’s about leaving
your hands empty. It’s about more for less; letting go and enjoying the
remains. Simply put, minimalism is the art of getting rid of your stuff in
order to remain with the things that are important and that you can control.
I first discovered this stuff in 2011 when I was a bored
intern at a certain small corporation. I was instantly fascinated because it
was a new idea. How could one possibly advocate simply throwing all your stuff
out in a world where having more implies more security. The truth is that
seeking security from possessions translates to an existing fear of not
possessing. No one pursues security if they are not afraid of losing something
in the first place. So why not just let some of it go and be at peace.
At first, this is not why I tried it. I just enjoyed the idea of
not having to keep my place tidy with all the stuff I had; the cables, old
radios, newspapers, paperbags, CDs… All I needed was to toss it all away and I
would be forever done with clutter. It’s a three step process. First you look
around your environment i.e your home, office or wherever else you stay.
Secondly, pick out everything you don’t use and don’t see yourself using
anytime soon. Finally, throw it out or give it away. After this, go back to that
room and look at what remains then question whether you REALLY need it. Pick
the stuff you realize you still don’t need and throw it away. Finally, go back
and look for stuff you may feel you need but you believe you can survive without.
Throw them out. If the 80-20 principle holds true, you should be left with at
least a fifth of what you previously had. Way less baggage, a lot more control
and a lot more happiness.
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