Minimalism has held a consistent role in my life for the last five
years. And since 2016 I’ve learned many valuable lessons about myself and life.
So today I thought I’d share 5 of those lessons with you
in hopes that it sheds new light on your experience with minimalism
or at least gives you something to think about as you continue to grow on your journey.
Most people don't care like you think they do.
Before minimalism, I can admit that I was overly concerned about everyone else’s opinion of me
to the point that I was buying more and doing things in an effort to control those opinions.
So I did and bought everything I thought I needed
in order to uphold this false persona and somehow convince myself that it was working.
However, I later learned through minimalism, that most people don’t care like we think they do.
See we live and waste so much of our life trying to impress other people with the things we own,
buy and use. But the reality is that most people don't really care and those that do have entirely
too much time on their hands and should spend more time getting clear about their own values instead.
To give you a simple example, at this current moment in my life
I’ve been wearing the same few outfits 98% of the time.
And you know what, I’m not ashamed of it and I don’t care if other people notice.
As a matter of fact, I like how simple and easy it makes getting dressed every
day. And if you’re curious this CUTS shirt I have on has become the daily driver of that.
These shirts are minimalist, of quality, and comfortable. And since I like them so much,
CUTS is hooking you up with a 15% off discount if you use code RONALDLBANKS at checkout.
They also have amazing colors if black isn't your thing
so I’ll leave a link to those details down below.
We don't really need as much as we think we do.
A real-world example that I keep coming back to, to illustrate this lesson is traveling.
Think back to a time where you’ve taken a road trip or a flight somewhere.
And regardless if you were only staying for a few days, a few weeks or longer.
The fact of the matter is that you only packed the things you needed.
See it’s amazing to me how we can go from "have to have" when we’re in the comfort of our own homes,
to "what do I need" when it’s time to travel somewhere else.
At the end of the day, we don’t need as much as we think we do
and minimalism has definitely taught me that.
Minimalism gives you peace of mind.
Now I’ve talked about this before in other conversations but
when you choose to own less you’re also choosing less responsibility
and as a result of that, you’ll gain more time and more resources.
See when we own more it’s going to require more of our time
to manage those things and more money to pay for and maintain them.
Many of the benefits my wife and I have received from minimalism
include less time and energy to clean our home.
Less things to pay for which means more money we can use to reach our other financial goals.
There’s also less stress and worry among other things.
Every day we feel a sense of peace of mind and we love it.
Excitement fades but value remains.
Over the years as I’ve bought and decluttered things in my life
I’ve learned that material possessions come and go all of the time.
Which means the excitement we feel around them fades as well.
And because of this, I’ve really been paying attention to what it is that I truly want
in my life. What is it that I truly value?
And ever since I made this shift in my perspective I’ve started thinking
differently about the things I buy, use and own. Knowing that the excitement of it being new is
going to fade I base my consumption decisions on purpose and value.
What purpose will this serve in my life
and what value will I receive by welcoming this thing into my space.
Minimalism doesn't solve all your problems.
Without a doubt, I’ve learned that minimalism is only the beginning.
Meaning that there is so much more to this journey than just declutter old t-shirts and baggy jeans.
And although minimalism is great at helping you focus on what matters to you,
it’s not a stop gate for other problems or feelings you may experience in your life. For
example anxiety, or overthinking, and you should know by now that I’m a certified over-thinker;
there’s also burnout and exhaustion, feelings towards family or relationships.
See all of these things are real and require you to sometimes take a step back
and focus on you and your mental health.
I hope I shared something with you that resonated with you and if so comment below and let me know.
Keep growing, keep learning and always stay true to you because I'm always staying true to me.
I’ll see you in the next one.
Peace!