“It is the preoccupation of possession more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly” – Bertrand Russel
In today’s perpetually advancing world, everyone is busy hustling – to find a better job, to own a bigger house, to buy the latest opulent item in the market. An upgrade to a digital gadget gets us to ditch our old device. An advertisement about a new product triggers a flinch to try it. Just a display with label “Sale” is enough for exorbitant shopping. And the list goes on and so does our mortgages, debts and credit card bills. Hoping to find happiness and comfort in each leap of the race, just to find ourselves in a rabbit hole yet again.
To live more out of intent, make every conscious thought, and not just be driven by an external force. Minimalism helps us question what things add value to life. It is about simplifying, decluttering and purging. Hence one starts to live more out of intent than habit, more out of purpose than emotional impulse.
The rat race everyone is running is driven out of fear, heedlessness. Without the purpose, or clarity one becomes prey to external factors. The freedom one has, is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibilities. For every human that has ever been on a pursuit of happiness, at some facet of life, indulgence became the delusional substitute for contentment. The reason why one allows the external factors to steer their course without them even knowing is –
- Self Validation: When one doesn’t know their self-worth, not only the lack of clarity lingers but also, one’s identity- who they are, what they want is decided by the mere opinion of others. When the car one owns become their status quo, or when the purchase is brand driven and not pro-utility and sustainability, one is trapped in a sham of worldly appreciation. It’s the belief that one has to prove something to others even if it burns a hole in the pocket. Minimalism is about understanding that a purchase should be more purpose-oriented than a statutory coffer.
- Fitting in the Box: A notion attached to what’s necessary to lead a normal life drives many credulous youths to superfluous procurement. It is one of the pillars on which consumerism stands strong and a capitalist wager their marketing strategy. Advertisements target the impressionable teenagers, who are petrified to be shunned by their groups if they miss on the new trendiest thing. The loss of individuality can be linked to one’s apprehension to not budge out of the herd.
- Filling the Void: It’s the job one despises or the scant interest in the insipid humdrum life that creates an emotional gap of discontent. Most people try to fill this emotional gap through a reckless spree of purchases. While for some materialism dupes to find meaning in their lives through the bootless purchase otherwise lost in the nebulous cloud of purposelessness. Often it’s the mawkish impulse to please the senses through instant gratification materialism has to offer.
- Fear: Living out of constant insecurity, often leads to cache-ing of items one might never use in their lifetime. “What If?” is the trepidation that ushers one to believe that safety is just a product away. Many a time instead of assuaging those apprehensions its a causation of anxiety, resulting in another stockpiling and a vicious circle is set
And hence the things one owns end up owning them. The moment it’s emblematic of one’s self-worth or it symbolizes security, or sentimental value is attached to a belonging. the possession reins control. Minimalism is the realization that materialism and happiness can never converge. Minimalism is the philosophy that beliefs in “Less is better”. Simplicity, clarity, and singleness are the attributes that give one the power to live, vividness and joy.
Unlearning the learnings 