Hi guys, I'm Eileen. Lately I've been talking a lot about luxury minimalism because it has
just been so life changing for me, so I'm really passionate about this way of living,
and I want to spread the message to more people. I think once you have a little taste about
what minimalism could do for you, you'll never look back. However, I think there are some
misconceptions about minimalism, which might turn some people off. So today, I want to
dive into what minimalism is not about, my hope is for more people to get a better understanding
about this way of living and hopefully, you will welcome it into your life. First of all,
minimalism is not defined by a number. Being a minimalist doesn't mean you can only have
2 pairs of shoes, one handbag, and no leather jacket. I think minimalism is never about
removing everything from your life, but rather it's about removing the excess, and the things
you don't really care about, to make room for those that make you happy. And I don't
think it should be restricted by a number either. So for example, I think a minimalist
can definitely have 5 pairs of high heels, as long as all these shoes are being used
on a regular basis, and the owner actually finds enjoyment from them. Having 5 pairs
of high heels doesn't disqualify you from being a minimalist. On the other hand, if
you never ever wear high heels, having one pair is too much, so why would you have 5?
In another word, when it comes to minimalism, number is just a number, intentionality is
what matters. Number 2, minimalism doesn't look the same for everyone. I think if you
search the word minimalism, you will come across a lot of typical pictures, such as
a clean bedroom with a white background, or a wardrobe with next to nothing in it. But
the thing is, we all live very different lifestyles, and we have different background, budget,
hobbies, and so on. So it's almost impractical to follow any sets of template too religiously,
because no one knows how to best live your life apart from yourself. You can absolutely
enjoy the many benefits of minimalism even if your life, your house, or your wardrobe
don't look like what you see on social media, such as Pinterest. I think it's also really
important to remember that minimalism is not a competition of who has the least items.
So never compare your version of minimalism to anyone else's. Moving on, minimalism is
not about depriving yourself. I think some people stay away from minimalism because of
the misunderstanding they have to give up on absolutely everything, including what they
truly enjoy. But the truth is, minimalism actually gives you a better understanding
about what truly makes you happy. I think from scratch can be a good place to figure
out what you can't live without, and everything else is just distraction. So example, I think
it's really helpful to ask yourself the question, if you are moving abroad tomorrow, what would
you bring with you? Once you've identified these, don't be afraid to welcome them into
your life and enjoy them fully. So for example, if you really enjoy reading books and the
books keep you inspired, by all means have a collection of books. Similarly, if you really
enjoy leather jackets, and you feel confident in them, by all means own them and wear them
with pride. Minimalism is never about owning nothing, but rather owning only the things
that make you happy. Next, minimalism doesn't solve all your problems. It will make your
life better in so many ways, but it's not the happy ending. I must say, I'm generally
a lot happier now after embracing minimalism, but my life is not perfect. I still have negative
emotions, struggles, and problems. However, as I remove the unnecessary chaos and burden
from my life, I have so much positivity, peace, and gratitude. So for me, minimalism is not
the end point, rather a way of living. And it allows me to live a simpler but fuller
life. The next one is quite an important one, which is, minimalism doesn't just apply to
things, it can also help to create a healthier diet, lifestyle, and even personal finance.
For example, minimalism has really helped me to curate my social commitments. I used
to attend social events which i didn't really enjoy going, but I did it just because I didn't
want to disappoint anyone. Where as now, as I simplify my life, i have a better idea about
who I am as a person, and I'm also able to look after my feeling, and my personal needs
a bit better. So for example, I don't really enjoy going to the movies or the concerts.
In the past, I would feel quite guilty about turning down an invitation, but now I will
just politely say no, because I know I'm not doing anyone any favour if I force myself
to do something I don't enjoy doing. In terms of diet, minimalism has also changed the way
I consume. I used to go to Starbucks not because I particularly enjoyed their coffee, but it's
just where you go to get coffee. On the weekends, I would also mindlessly open a bottle of wine,
because that's just how you're supposed to relax and unwind. And when we went grocery
shopping, we used to buy whatever we felt like. After we discovered minimalism, our
diet has changed so much for the better. I'm now more than happy to make my own coffee,
I've also cut down on my alcohol consumption and I feel so much lighter and more energised.
We also make sure to do some proper meal planning before we do out grocery shopping. So overall,
minimalism doesn't just help to reduce your physical possessions, it can also improve
your life in so many other ways. Next, minimalism is not the same as frugality. When you believe
in minimalism, you're basically embracing the idea of buying less but using the items
for longer. So naturally, you'll only buy better quality pieces, which usually cost
a bit more. I think Vivienne Westwood put it perfectly she said buy less, choose well,
and make it last. For me, having a minimalist mindset has saved me a lot of money. So even
though the pieces I buy do cost a bit more per item, my general consumption has gone
down drastically. So overall, I'm actually spending a lot less money. Moving on, minimalism
is not just about saving money, although it is one of the major benefits. So if you want
to cut down your expenses and put yourself in a better financial position, taking on
minimalism is often a good way to start. Nevertheless, I know a lot of people embrace minimalism
for reasons other than saving money. So for example, having a small luxury collection
gives me flexibility. So if I want to move abroad tomorrow, I'm not really tied down
by my physical possessions. Other benefits include sustainability, less cleaning chores,
less stress and anxiety, and more time. When I'm not constantly looking for the next thing
to buy, or burying myself in the world of social media, I free up so much time for myself
and my wellbeing. This year, one of the best things I've done for myself with my spare
time is learning on Skillshare, and I want to thank Skillshare for sponsoring this video.
Skillshare is an online learning platform with thousands of inspiring classes. You can
classes about anything here, whether if it's minimalism, personal finance, meditation,
photoshop, and so on. This week I really enjoyed the class by Amanda Rach Lee, it's called
Art Journalling for Self Care. Amanda showed us how to journal with words, drawing, colouring,
and pictures. You can certainly be as creative as you want, the idea is to put your thoughts
on paper, because it will give you a clearer picture about how you're feeling, what makes
you happy, what inspires you, and so on. I love journalling anyway, but Amanda made it
look so much more interesting. For less than $10 a month, you will get unlimited access
to thousands of ad free classes, and the first 1000 people to click on the link down below
will get a free trial of premium membership, so make sure you take the opportunity to learn
and grow. Last but not least, you can certainly embrace minimalism graciously without forcing
it on the people around you. I feel like sometimes, when we across something so good and so exciting,
we just have to share it with the people we care about. And sometimes we unconsciously
impose the idea on them. Now at least with minimalism, I truly believe the benefits speak
for themselves. So in time, the people around you will start to notice the positive changes
on you anyway, and they might slowly warm up to the idea of minimalism. And even if
they choose not to take on minimalism, we should just acknowledge everyone is different,
and we don't all have to like the same things. There you have it, those are the things minimalism
is not about. Essentially, when you embrace minimalism, you're basically saying, you're
ready to give up on the unnecessary chaos and distractions, and you're choosing to live
a simpler life. There are no specific rules or templates you have to follow, and no one
can really say you're doing it wrong, because only you know how to best apply minimalism
to your own life. I just really wish I found minimalism earlier in my life, and I hope
more people will discover the joy of having less. So that's it from me, thank you so much
for watching, and don't forget to share, like, and subscribe. I will see you in my next one,
have a nice day.