The Art of Minimalism
Is less really more?
At the mention of minimalism, many imagine a wardrobe of 10 neutrally-coloured clothing items. Others may imagine rooms with blank walls and minimal furniture. In March of 2020, the internet erupted when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s stark, empty monochromatic home was featured in Vogue Magazine. The then couple described it as a “minimalist monastery,” but others who enjoy flamboyance find this form of minimalism impossible.
The minimalist design concept has recently been on the rise, garnering both fans and critics. However, the true definition of minimalism transcends the aesthetic of living with only the bare necessities; minimalism is centred around the practice of surrounding yourself with items that bring genuine happiness and joy and removing everything else that distracts from that purpose. In other words, minimalism adds intentionality back to consuming.
Minimalism is an antidote to the culture of overconsumption, where society has set the standard that we are at our happiest from the accumulation of many items. We are conditioned to believe that the more we have, the more content we are. However, when we have too much, it is impossible for us to genuinely enjoy our possessions, and we continue to hold onto them because of the feelings we associate with them. When we have too many possessions, we cannot take full advantage of the value each item brings us; a more practical and intentional alternative is reaping the full benefits of the items you have, instead of adding to an idle collection. For instance, one of my favourite ways to wind down is lighting candles, but building a large collection of candles will not help me enjoy my candles more; instead, it hinders me from being able to appreciate each individual candle. When I encounter a candle scent I really enjoy, instead of building a collection, I take a quick note of the candle name, so I can buy it when I have space for new candles.
Make deliberate choices about the things you own and the items you buy. It is essential to redefine happiness and how it relates to material objects. While owning things is not inherently wrong or harmful, it is crucial to be surrounded by items that make you happy. Not everyone can thrive in necessity minimalism, but the issue lies in compulsory consumption.
Being a minimalist is courageous. Identifying the items that genuinely bring joy and happiness, and value to your life and the unnecessary junk is no easy task, but it is necessary to free up your time, space, and mind to focus on what adds purpose to your life. When many people embark on their journey to live more intentionally and adopt a more minimalist lifestyle, they struggle to evaluate items that are necessary to keep. “Just in case” is not an explanation and more of an excuse to avoid considering the item’s necessity and coming to terms with things that need to go.
On the other hand, it is crucial to note minimalism promotes less, not none. I kept my fair share of sentimental items. In a large memory box in my room, I’ve kept the recorder I played in grade 2, items of my old schools’ uniforms, every handwritten card I’ve been given, my first piano books, the Ramona and Beezus books I read as a child, the projects I of which I was most proud from elementary school, every single agenda from school since the first grade, and other sentimental items from my youth. Every so often, I like to go through this box, and admire the progression of my penmanship, and remember my memories associated with these items. Practicing minimalism while being a sentimental person is completely possible. Minimalism promotes the idea of keeping the most significant things. Because the significance and purpose of objects are different for each person, minimalism challenges us to think introspectively and dive deep into our passions and what brings us joy.
Minimalism is a journey of intentionally appreciating the items we already have, bringing us a sense of contentment. Incorporating minimalism into our lives empowers us to free ourselves from the idea that we find happiness through things instead of life itself. Minimalism may be a challenge at first, but once you unlearn the harmful messaging promoted by overconsumption, you will realize practicing a minimalistic lifestyle is entirely achievable and even necessary given the current prevalence of frivolous living in the world.
Resources:
https://sunilsharmauk.medium.com/the-art-of-minimalism-less-is-more-50a25fdb712
https://theminimalistvegan.com/what-is-minimalism/
https://www.theminimalists.com/minimalism/