Taylor-Leigh
The word “minimalism” is somewhat of a buzz word these days. It can be considered an extreme ideology to some, a stripped, boring way to live to others, and to those like myself, simply a way to characterize what I like to call intentional living. About 6 years ago, minimalism came to me as a goal to get rid of as many possessions as possible so that I was left with the bare necessities. While it started as a way for me to lighten my load for my desired nomadic lifestyle, life has had its twists and turns, and I now view it as a continuous journey of questioning what truly adds value to my life through my relationships not only with material things, but with people, the media, & anything else I consume. So if you were to come into my home and see my stack of books for example, this might not look very “minimalist” in the stereotypical sense, but that’s because each book has meaning & value to me, I love them, and I let go of the ones that no longer serve me.
Throughout my journey of intentional living thus far, here are some ways it has changed my life.
- More appreciation for what I do have
As my 9th grade history teacher always said – life sucks because we want stuff. Living in a capitalistic society, everywhere we go we are trying to be told that our life is not good enough until we have this one thing. It keeps up wanting more & more – a shinier car, a bigger house, a higher job on the corporate ladder, another of the exact same shirt just in case something happens to the one we already have. It’s easy to lose sight of what we do have. Minimalism has taught me to appreciate those things, especially the ones that truly fulfill me. And at the same time, I am prepared to let them go at any time.
2. More meaning to life, less meaning to stuff
Don’t get me wrong. Physical objects can hold lots of memories and emotions, but at the end of the day, they are just dispensable things, often times weighing us down or distracting us from the people and experiences right in front of us. I’d rather focus on the mountain that I’m hiking than the outfit for the photo I’m taking at the top.
3. Less time spent organizing
Like I said, minimalism is a continuous journey of questioning what truly adds value to my life. But at least I don’t have to turn my house upside down anymore to declutter or find something. That leaves more time for the activities that bring me joy.
4. More mental clarity
It’s like the saying, your outer world is a reflection of your inner world. They go hand in hand. Cleaning out your physical space = cleaning out your internal space, & vice versa. That explains why my mother would always vacuum when she was upset, lol. But really, I was surprised after I let go of so many of my clothes how much time & energy I saved picking out an outfit.
5. Unattachment
When we aren’t so attached to things (or people or outcomes or anything), the more flexible life we can live, filled with opportunity and only ourselves to rely on. Less attachment = more go with the flow. And I’m all for that.
6. Personal growth
It’s kind of a no-brainer how minimalism has contributed to my personal growth, but just to reiterate….we are growing, changing, and evolving everyday, & yet so often we have junk sitting for years & years not adding value to our life. And if that relationship isn’t evolving with me, would I be better off without it?
7. Looking at all relationships in a similar way
We can have a relationship with pretty much anything. My relationship with food has been a huge tandem with my minimalist journey. I find that the simplest, whole foods are the ones that satisfy me the most and provide me with the most energy. Junk food is pretty much akin to junk objects in my world – empty. I have also realized over the past few years how much social media drains me & my mental health, so I have minimized my time consuming online as well.
8. Learning where fulfillment truly comes from
Similar to the junk food analogy, we may get momentary pleasure from consuming exciting foods & external things, but afterwards we are left wanting more and more, never to be truly nourished. That’s because true fulfillment comes from inside.
9. More intentional spending
I’m not saying to ask your partner not to buy an engagement ring & to instead use that money on a meaningful experience together (not like I’ve ever done that, jk I have – no shame!) But my point is, I always think twice about my purchases and spending (or saving) my money with more meaning. In fact, people used to ask me how I afforded to travel – & the answer always came down to priorities. Not only prioritizing how I spend my money to save it, but how I use it whilst traveling. Buying food from local markets rather than going to restaurants, staying in hostels rather than hotels, and doing free walking tours rather than a helicopter tour. If you’d rather experience the more lavish side of those things, that’s cool too, but my point is that I can still travel on a budget, and in fact I feel more connected to the culture when I do so.
10. More intimate relationships
My relationships are less about stuff, gifts, fancy things, “romance,” AKA barriers between us, and more about each other, simplicity, true intimacy.
Do I still have family members that are big gift givers? Yes. But as long as I’ve communicated to them what matters to me in terms of gift giving, then I don’t feel bad when I don’t reciprocate their grandiose gestures.
11. Less waste
Less consumption = less waste, naturally. The true “low” or “zero-waste” movement comes from consuming less rather than replacing everything with reusable materials. This also means being more mindful of where things go when I get rid of them. To the trash or to someone who would be appreciative to receive a “new to them” one?
12. Focus more on connection
Have you ever felt like when you enter a group of people they size you up when you get there? Cool, me too. It feels weird, and it’s only natural. But if the people treat me a certain way based on my outer appearance, then they aren’t exactly people I want to spend my time with. Focusing more on the connection between each other is what matters most to me.
13. Save $$$
Similar to the less waste point, this one is kind of self explanatory. Additionally, I’ve learned that the more I shop/buy, the more I want to buy, like a spiral consumption effect.
14. People don’t actually care
Sorry not sorry to say it. With reducing the items I own and buy, I have learned that people don’t actually care what I wear or own. Sure, they may notice, but everyone is so focused on themselves that they’ll still go to sleep at night if I wear the same top twice in one week or if I post on social media or not. Like I’ve said before, the people I want in my life are the ones that look beyond the external.
15. Hypervigilant on how materialistic our society is
The first year or two that I started living a more minimal lifestyle, the world looked a little glum. I started noticing how much time, energy, money, and value we give to things that don’t actually matter in the long run. This especially made the holidays kind of…dreadful. While I still notice all of the materialism, this shock has since subsided, and I am able to enjoy things like holidays more, by focusing on slowing down and spending time with those I love.
16. Overwhelmed by stuff
Now, I actually like empty space and owning less, to a point where shopping, stuff, and constant consumption overwhelms me.
Minimalism may make my life a bit out of the norm, but despite the differences, I consider it to be the biggest blessing in disguise & ultimately, a life worth living.
I’m Taylor-Leigh. I’m here to share my experiences & the freedom I’ve found through intentional living & authentic expression.
Cover & last photo by Todd Ferrante. All others curtesy of Unsplash.