Minimalism – Having More by Owning Less

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Minimalism – Having More by Owning Less
Stefan Ivanovic

Glopinion by

Stefan Ivanovic

May 24, 2018

Minimalism is a lifestyle that can have deep influence on your life, your money, even the planet - all at the same time.

During my endless hours of reading and exploring the Internet I’ve came across a term ‘minimalism’ and started reading and exploring it. Ever since, I often spend time reading Becoming Minimalist and try to live by suggestions given in the blog.

The first thing that drew me to minimalism is the fact that you don’t HAVE TO do anything. If you love hoarding shoes, it’s ok. If you want to drive expensive sports car, it’s ok. What’s NOT ok, is the lifestyle that you can’t support and that doesn’t make you happy.

We are being force-fed a charade of a lifestyle that not many members of society can reach. We see social media posts that present to us all of these exotic restaurants, 5 star hotels, diamond jewelry, designer clothes and customized cars… and it feeds the greed and jealousy in everyone.

We see people having perfect lives, spend time haunting their photos, videos and accomplishments and it results in us feeling a lesser opinion of ourselves.

Minimalism has a very unique approach of explaining and exposing the façade that plagues our lives, and most of it is based on unnecessary consumerism.

If you have a 3-room apartment, you need a TV in every room, because you don’t want to miss on some great offer or a great TV show. TV is just an example (I’m living without one for 10 months now), but it can be anything else. Kitchen appliances you don’t use, books you never bother to read, furniture you never get to sit on.

Just put all the things you bought, never used and later thrown away, on a list and you will see the room for self-improvement. That’s minimalism. A window into your bad habits, ego and all the clutter that drains you of your time, energy and hard earned money.

Basically, if you consider yourself a minimalist, you should always ask yourself a question “How much do I really need this?’’. And if after the question and careful consideration you still think this will bring value to your life – buy it. If not – walk away.

I did that when I moved into a new apartment. I made sure I only got what I really needed and not add furniture month after month. Ever since, my place is almost always clean. Mostly because I need around 20 minutes to clean up. Also, the only piece of furniture that is completely new is my sleeping bed. The rest I got from eBay or as a gift from acquaintances who just wanted to change their perfectly good furniture for something ‘new and better’. A coffee table is a coffee table to me.

Minimalism often sounds like a protest against modern consumerism and while it certainly is, it is much more than that. It’s a way of opening and liberating your mind and your living space from growing materialism and the never ending story of trying to impress people with stuff.

Minimalism challenges you to dig deeper inside your own heart and mind, and you begin to realize what really makes you tick and I’m sure that what you find there isn’t something you can buy on Amazon.

In case you are interested in my further writing about the topic, let me know! 

If you want to know more about minimalism also check: 

The Minimalists

BeMoreWithLess

 

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