What Is Minimalism

4/15/2017 What is Minimalism?
TART HR POPULAR OOK PAKING HOP FFCT UNCLUTTRD
What is Minimalism?
WRITTN  JOHUA CKR · 113 COMMNT
“implicit, clarit, singleness: These are the attriutes that give our lives
power and vividness and jo as the are also the marks of great art.”
—Richard Hollowa
http://www.becomingminimalist.com/whatisminimalism/ 1/25
I am often asked the question, “o what is minimalism anwa?” It is
a question that is received from all different angles – from people I have
just met and from people I have known for man ears. I tpicall answer
with a short, simple explanation: “I am intentionall tring to live with onl
the things I reall need.” ut I alwas desire to answer more in-depth. I
alwas hope the will ask follow-up questions that allow me to
explain the lifestle further.
And when the do, I like to add:
MINIMALIM I INTNTIONALITY.
It is marked  clarit, purpose, and intentionalit. At its core, minimalism
is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal
of everthing that distracts us from it. It is a life that forces intentionalit.
And as a result, it forces improvements in almost all aspects of our life.
MINIMALIM I FRDOM FROM TH PAION TO PO.
Modern culture has ought into the lie that the good life is found in
accumulating things—in possessing as much as possile. The elieve
that more is etter and have inadvertentl suscried to the idea that
happiness can e purchased at a department store.
ut the are wrong. Minimalism rings freedom from the all-consuming
passion to possess. It steps off the treadmill of consumerism and dares to
seek happiness elsewhere. It values relationships, experiences, and soul-
care. And in doing so, it finds life.
MINIMALIM I FRDOM FROM MODRN MANIA.
Our world lives at a feverish pace. We are too hurried, too rushed, and
too stressed. We work long, passionate hours to pa the ills, ut fall
deeper into det. We rush from one activit to another—even
multitasking along the wa—ut never seem to get everthing done. We
remain in constant connection with others through our cell phones, ut
true life-changing relationships continue to elude us.
Minimalism slows down life and frees us from this modern hsteria to live
faster. It finds freedom to disengage. It seeks to keep onl the essentials.
It seeks to remove the frivolous and keep the significant. And in doing so,
it values the intentional endeavors that add value to life.
MINIMALIM I FRDOM FROM DUPLICITY.
Although nood intentionall chooses it, most people live in duplicit.
The live one life around their famil, one life around their co-workers,
and another life around their neighors. The lifestle the have chosen
requires them to portra a certain external image dependent upon their
circumstances. The are tossed and turned  the most recent
advertising campaign or the demands of their emploer.
On the other hand, a simple life is united and consistent. It has learned a
lifestle that is completel transferale no matter the situation. It is the
same life on Frida evening as it is on unda morning… as it is on
Monda morning. It is reliale, dependale and unfluctuating. It works in
all circumstances.
MINIMALIM I COUNTR-CULTURAL.
We live in a world that idolizes celerities. The are photographed for
magazines, interviewed on the radio, and recorded for television. Their
lives are held up as the golden standard and are envied  man. People
who live minimalist lives are not championed  the media in the same
wa. The don‘t fit into the consumerist culture that is promoted 
corporations and politicians. Yet, the live a life that is attractive and
inviting.
While most people are chasing after success, glamour, and
fame, minimalism calls out to us with a smaller, quieter, calmer voice. It
invites us to slow down, consume less, ut enjo more. And when we
meet someone living a simplified life, we often recognize that we have
een chasing after the wrong things all along.
MINIMALIM I NOT XTRNAL, UT INTRNAL.
In our first ook, implif, we outline 7 guiding principles to help anone
declutter their home and life. The principles outlined in the ook have
helped thousands find freedom  removing much of the phsical clutter
in their home. The ook concentrates almost exclusivel on the externals
of life. And while it helps people find freedom from external clutter, it
does not take the next step of helping people find freedom and unit in
their heart and soul.
I have learned minimalism is alwas a matter of the heart. After the
external clutter has een removed, minimalism has the space to address
the deepest heart issues that impact our relationships and life.
MINIMALIM I COMPLTLY ACHIVAL.
A minimalist life is completel achievale. M famil stands as living
proof. We were just our tpical famil of four living in the suurs
accumulating as much stuff as our income and credit cards would allow.
Then, we found minimalism. We have emraced an intentional lifestle of
living with less and will never go ack to the wa life was efore. And we
stand as living proof that minimalism is completel achievale (and
unique) to anone who seeks it.
Tpicall, I find that those who are generall interested in knowing “what
minimalism is anwa” and take the time to ask the follow-up questions
are drawn to the principles of the lifestle. After all, it offers almost
everthing our heart has een asking for all along.
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Aout Joshua ecker
Writer. Inspiring others to live more  owning less.
WJ estselling author of The More of Less.
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Comments
ldia sas
April 21, 2014 at 4:44 PM
I just retired and our “minimalist” is just timel for this stage in m life.
Repl
Nisreen Khrais sas
April 23, 2014 at 7:44 AM
implicit and spontaneit sometimes leads to things more eautiful than
that we’ve searched for through duplicit.
Repl
Garrett Gates sas
August 24, 2014 at 10:04 AM
i am not sure what i would call mself, i fell that i am somewhere in-
etween a minimalist and a materialistic person. M ig thing is once i
have something i don’t alwas have to e upgrading it all the time. i have
a few examples. m friend noticed a fews weeks ago that there are 5
other people in out town that have the same truck as me, exactl the
same, same paint, rims, od stle, ext. and he made the comment that
its time to get a new vehicle. i asked him wh, it still works perfectl, and
it does what it was intended to do. same friend sad something for m
laptop case, some of the satin covering is coming off of it and he said
looks like ou need a new case. I again replied wh, the case part of it
still works? it ma e a little dank looking ut wh do i need a new one?
and lastl a different friend asked m wh do i still have the same old
phone? this firmed has upgraded his phone twice in the last ear. m
phone still works great its fast and has memor on it still, i don’t need a
new phone. i am the kind of gu that uses something until it no longer
usale or until it can no longer serve me in the wa i need it to. m ig
question is what word can e used to descrie m lifestle? i feel this
word is somewhere in-etween minimalist and materialistic. i want to
know so i can look into this life stle and see how others are living their
lives this wa.
Repl
Vija Damodar Uale sas
Ma 22, 2016 at 3:00 AM
M thougths also like ou.
Repl
G sas
Novemer 1, 2016 at 1:09 PM
Frugal
Repl
Tara sas
Decemer 19, 2016 at 9:17 AM
I, too am like ou and while I have found no lael for mself, I have
found a phrase I have used over the ears, “waste not, want not”.
Repl
ugene sas
Decemer 20, 2014 at 2:34 AM
thoughtful and to the point. Is it reall important to e the same at home
and at work? We can e the same at the core at the same time flexile to
adjust the new realities without compromising our core values
Repl
Larr Tansinda sas
Decemer 20, 2014 at 3:29 AM
This whole idea of living with just what ou need is an appropriate
paradigm shift toda and necessar for tomorrow. It can onl ring ack
the true values of what is important and susequentl enhance human
relationships in an communit.
Thanks for sharing
Repl
Meg Hollowa sas
April 4, 2015 at 12:10 AM
M goal is to minimize more in 2015. Ha! I live in a ver affluent area and
people are alwas rushing to and fro. It is somehow fashionale to e
us and announce it loudl and proudl! I don’t fit in with these us
tpes. I love simplicit and solitude. Thankfull, there is much natural
eaut here in Colorado! With that said, consumerism is rampant and
highl flaunted here; expensive outdoor equipment and clothes are
emlems of success and acceptance. I am walking a fine line ut
shedding unneeded aggage.
Repl
ett sas
Ma 28, 2015 at 12:06 PM
Thanks for sharing!
een on this journe or discover…
Repl
Dean sas
eptemer 3, 2015 at 10:34 AM
Nice article! I have had that desire much in m later ears. It’s like the
feeling one has after the clean out the garage full of stuff the don’t
need or doing a move from one location to another and toss stuff the
don’t need. It gives me the feeling of having less reliance on stuff and a
life of simplicit rather than complexit in a world full of usness.
Also it’s a wa toward less ills, less pressure to pa those ills. M goal
is to have the feeling of freedom and part of that is not eing in det
which I currentl have.
And I think a ig one for me is if I tr to accumulate less than I have more
to give awa. The ile sas it’s etter to give than to receive. Now
wouldn’t the world e a much etter place if there were more givers than
people wanting to receive?
Repl
Dr Liz Gordon sas
Januar 4, 2016 at 1:27 PM
I do not understand the concept of living with what ou need. If a light
ul lows to-da I need a replacement now. Where do I keep the
spares- ditto ever area of famil life….
Repl
Me sas
Octoer 7, 2016 at 12:55 AM
Lol. In our mind. Is plent space there.
Repl
Me sas
Octoer 7, 2016 at 1:00 AM
The whole concept seems to allude ou. Nah, keep 5 gloes in
reserve.
Repl
Me sas
Octoer 7, 2016 at 7:19 AM
Damn them elusive light uls!!
Repl
sther sas
Januar 7, 2017 at 11:27 AM
It’s aout focusing on our freedom to live for the moment, not to live
for material things ,so if the light ul lows out, go get a new one,
it’s not aout having, it’s aout living with what ou have, knowing the
fact that ou don’t need three cars, ou don’t need a thousand
clothes, that ou’re not going to wear, its living with asic necessities,
not wasting, understanding that it’s our hard-earned mone ,and that
ou should value it, use it to e ale to have the freedom to e who
ou want, to go where ou want, to have the jo that ou want , how
to make use of what ou have, not to waste.
Repl
tina sas
March 2, 2016 at 12:28 AM
I reall enjoed our explanation. I’m discovering more and more wh
minimalism is the exact wa of life for me. ver da I tr to move toward
it. Thanks for sharing our insight!
Repl
Duhaltach rad sas
April 26, 2016 at 4:12 PM
He I’m currentl writing an essa aout minimalism and I was just
wondering what ou would elieve is what ou need. As humans all we
reall need to survive is water, food, air and shelter. ut I wish to find out
what ou will feel the minimal we would need to live a comfortale life it
and wh ou think we need this stuff.
Repl
Neophte Polhistor sas
Ma 25, 2016 at 4:44 AM
A eautiful literature, a marvelous writing, thank ou ver much.
Repl
Me sas
Octoer 7, 2016 at 1:16 AM
This is the wa 2 live. Capitalism, consumerism, outright greed muddies
effectivel our everda lives. e like the sheeple or live our life as “U”
feel just, devoid of materialistic influences. I “LOV” it & feel more free
than m famil & peers.
Repl
Richard Calcavecchia sas
Decemer 22, 2016 at 1:51 PM
Justone thought in regard to “minimalizing” our quantit; what do ou
do aout heirlooms.
Repl
Kip sas
Decemer 22, 2016 at 5:41 PM
I feel I live a fairl minimalist life, ut m focus is not that removing clutter
and possessions makes me free, it’s having something more important
than stuff fill the void in m life. I follow the teachings and lifestle of
Jesus Christ, and tr to live simpl and as servant to others through the
guidance of the Hol pirit. I’ve found I don’t desire stuff ver much
anmore, I’d rather live to please m Lord and this gives me peace. I like
our minimalist ideas, ut having a spiritual relationship with God makes
it etter. The Creator of all things cares aout us, no matter how
insignificant we ma seem, and we are promised he will e with us no
matter what if we elieve and trust.
Repl
Glen sas
Decemer 25, 2016 at 2:50 AM
I am 43 ears old, I am a disaled veteran, I am a father, a husand
and grew up poor. M father died when I was 11 and m mother fought
sustance ause for decades. he committed sucicide last Feruar.
M grandmother mostl raised me. he worked all her life sewing
uttons on women’s apparel and got paid per utton. he grew up in
the Great Depression. he instilled in me a sense of frugalit,
appreciation for the things we have and caring for them to last for as
long as the possil can. The values of minimalism reall resonate
with me. omewhere along the wa I have lost those earl teachings,
I have let the people around me shame me into feeling like I am
cheap and inconsiderate if I am not uing gifts, dinners, drinks… ou
get the idea. I feel so trapped now, ecause what I have created with
mself and famil is this attitude of less gratitude. Thankful for the
little things, alwas tring to e someone or something I can’t and
shouldn’t e spending mone on. speciall those things that don’t
ring real lasting. lur to m life. I enjoed the documentar and have
shared it with m friends on F. I want to thank ou oth for helping
me see m roots and on this Christmas ve, I am calling m 91 ear
old Grandmother tomorrow and thNking her for ringing me up with a
real sense of understanding of what value is and commit to her that I
will once again find m wa.
Repl
Lle Michaud sas
Januar 6, 2017 at 8:03 AM
I’m just wired different, i enjo uing the latest technolog, getting a
new car ever couple of ears etc. i’m 74 ears old and i want to
experience as much as possile . In the time i have left.
Repl
John Doe sas
Januar 26, 2017 at 8:47 AM
what’s missing and quite possil one of the more important things to
note, is that minimalism itself will not automaticall give ou purpose.
what gives the author the feeling of purpose is not what will give ou the
feeling of purpose. ecause we are all different and are driven 
different things. the prolem toda is so man people are ‘distracted’
ever where the turn. whether it’s  the things the own or the things
the elieve the need as a result then desire. people need to take the
time to get to know themselves. reall get to know themselves. spend
time with ourself, learn how to make ou laugh with our own joke, learn
what gets ou excited  exploring our own mind and what it alread
knows and doesn’t know. what have ou learned aout ourself to this
point in life. learning what makes ou smile, laugh, learn and live is what
will ultimatel make simplifing easier ecause ou’ll have a etter idea
of what ou trul ‘need’. the mistake is in elieving there is a one size fits
all fix to everone’s life. minimalism alone will not automaticall give ou
a life of purpose and meaning. onl ou can do that. ut it takes time,
work and effort, getting to know ourself. there are people who have
lived minimall for generations efore, during and after us. a majorit of
them are called artists. real artists, who live and reath their work. have
ou ever went to one of their homes? it’s essentiall covered in the things
that not onl inspire them ut allow them the freedom to create freel.
again, minimilasim is not a new idea, it’s just finall eing marketed
properl to the man people who live ‘normal’ lives. ut it isn’t a universal
solution. ecause one does not exist. I will sa one thing, most people
who have found themselves on this page or thinking aout this life are at
least headed in the right direction. not ignoring the strong desire to live a
purpose filled life is the first step in achieving it. ut just rememer, there
is no one size fits all purpose. onl ou can discover our own purpose.
just don’t ever stop searching for it.
Repl
Jen sas
Feruar 2, 2017 at 10:22 PM
I found this article ecause of a video I saw on YouTue. It was aout
a girl ‘minimalist’ who found a wa to not u certain items that at one
time she felt were important. I’ve never heard the term efore ut I
watched ecause I’m all aout finding new was to improve m and
m famil’s life. I didn’t learn anthing ut I think it’s reall cool that
people take the time out of their da to share what’s working for
them. When I was reading the comments someone said she wasn’t a
minimalist ecause she owned a vacuum!? This irritated me (still) so I
had to find out the requirements of such a lifestle. Honestl, if that’s
the case, if owning items that one will have to replace makes one
unminimalistic then no one could own even the smallest
kitchen/household appliance let alone a phone or computer. I reall
appreciate what John Doe said, as well as the author of course. I am
ipolar and I worked a lot and m mental health came crashing down!
We made the decision for me to stop working and u a foreclosure.
M daughter also has an autoimmune disease and is sick frequentl.
o, we downsized from a large house with a 2 car garage in a
housing development to a doule wide with a shed, 30 miles from the
nearest mall. It was the est thing we could’ve done! M husand
shaved an hour off his commute. We have no house pament or car
pament. We’d e det free if not for our student loans. We dont have
a lot of excess fundage ut we eat nutritious food, I craft and make
eaut products for christmas gifting, we vacation ever ear for a
week. It’s nice. What reall helped us get out of det faster and
lessened our financial arguments was adding up all of our annual
costs. Like maintenance ills (water, power…) car maintenance (oil
changes, tires), vet ills, holida allowances (Christmas fund per kid,
irthda fund per person…). We included everthing we could think of
that is a constant worr. We took the sum of all the ills and divided it
 m husand’s padas in a ear. That amount is what we put in a
completel separate account (the ill account). It’s with our regular
ank ut we have separate checks and the deit card has a different
image on it. Whatever is left from his pacheck is what we use for
savings, groceries, gas, what nots and we each get an allowance. The
hardest part of this journe was m own acceptance of providing for
m famil without outside emploment. As we pair down m mind
ecomes clearer.
Repl
Tim Collins sas
Feruar 23, 2017 at 3:49 PM
Well said John!
Repl
Lisa sas
Feruar 8, 2017 at 8:47 PM
I watched our documentar. o I had to look ou up. I couldn’t agree
with ou more. I alwas sa part of the prolem is we need to slow down,
and go ack to the asics. The simple things. People don’t reall interact
that much anmore.
Repl
Amin  sas
Feruar 16, 2017 at 1:46 PM
It’s amazing to me how I was just saing to mself I want to de-clutter m
life and trul focus on the things that reall matter. I think this is what will
ultimatel work for me and what I want to achieve.
Repl
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ites That Link to this Post
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What is Minimalism? | The Minimalist March | March 14, 2014
Thinking Minimal | Tiffani and righam | April 16, 2014
Finding Happiness | itsonlarne | Novemer 6, 2014
o it appears I'm not reall a minimalist | Feruar 27, 2015
Cum se simte un minimalist | Minimalism în România | March 14, 2015
mracing Minimalism: Do Your Research, Part Two | NautilusMOD |
March 23, 2015
envoudig weekmenu: elke week hetzelfde? - xpeditie envoud | June
8, 2015
Minimalism, is it right for ou? | June 18, 2015
Mourning minimalism - present|path | Jul 28, 2015
Living as minimalist with children….. | impl Momm | Novemer 9, 2015
A Girl’s Journe towards Minimalism | Wonderings of a Wanderer |
Novemer 16, 2015
How To Tell If You’re A Minimalist or a Maximalist ‹ ull Pulpit | March 7,
2016
The Journe egins: Taking the First tep Towards Minimalism | On
orrowed Time | April 29, 2016
What is a “minimalist” – The impson Journe | Ma 24, 2016
Capsule Wardroe | Kacee miss dais | August 3, 2016
A Minimalist Approach to Happiness (Want Less & Love More) - Kari
Dahlgren | eptemer 7, 2016
mracing Minimalism Instead of Haitual Decluttering | nourishing
minimalism | eptemer 13, 2016
16/9 The Weekl est – timlukewood | eptemer 15, 2016
Michelle ondesio | Less is More | Octoer 9, 2016
Zero Waste in Wien: ea Johnson live – the green walnuts | Novemer
10, 2016
Lifetle Note 001-17: Minimize to Maximize – tle Delegate | Januar
22, 2017
Pathwa to Minimalism | MDT 485 Class log | Feruar 23, 2017
What is Minimalism? Plus 8 Things it's NOT - imple Lionheart Life | March
11, 2017
7 Tips to ase Into a tress-Free Minimalist Lifestle | Yogado - Yoga
News | March 23, 2017
7 Tips to ase Into a tress-Free Minimalist Lifestle – TH YOGA | March
23, 2017
How To Maximize The pace Of Your mall edroom – Dell Art and Craft
| April 3, 2017
o, where do I egin? – Minimalism – The mall Things | April 6, 2017
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4/15/2017 What is Minimalism?

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