Lessons From Living With Less

It’s always amazing when something changes in your life, and you start to reflect and compare your life 'then vs now.' That’s a big thing for anyone who has undergone a major shift in their life, especially when it has to do with minimalism.

I became more conscious of myself a few years back, and minimalism came as a response to exhaustion. I was always too crowded with lots of things taking up my space. At one point, I became tired of trying to keep up, tired of measuring my life by someone else’s standards and also tired of carrying burdens that added weight but no value.

I was always piling up things that weren’t necessary, and it wasn’t until I had gotten them that I realised how wasteful I was. It all started one day when I decided to go with less but with value; even when I didn’t know there was a name for it until I grew up, understanding what minimalism was all about.

“Oh, there's a name for it?” was the question that popped into my mind when I realised what I had embraced right from my young days actually had a name for it. I was glad! Minimalism became less about owning fewer things, and learning how to live at peace with myself, rather than trying to impress others who aren’t even looking my way.

One of the beautiful ways minimalism has changed my life is 'contentment.' Oh, I remember those days when I would even cry like a baby because I didn’t have what others had. I’d resorted to stealing and even lying to my parents when I was in school, all because I wanted to have what they had, so I wouldn’t be left behind.

That lifestyle dealt with me so much. I didn’t appreciate what I was given - I complained. The angrier I got, the bitterer it grew in my heart. But when minimalism entered my life, I no longer felt pressured to fit into someone else’s lifestyle or prove anything by what I possessed or chased after.

Before, it was easy to look around and feel like I was left behind in terms of achievements, status, and even progress. But this new lifestyle changed the narrative for me. I slowed down, and it helped me always ask this question every time: What truly matters to me? Trust me, the answer stripped off unnecessary comparisons from me.

Minimalism also taught me the difference between what is important and what’s not. I understood that not everything deserves my time, energy or attention. Just because something is available doesn't mean it’s valuable.

With this mindset, it shaped how I make decisions, which are based on choosing quality over quantity, depth over noise and purpose over pressure. Even in my relationships, commitments, and daily habits, one thing it taught me is that owning fewer but meaningful things is far better than having many empty ones.

Beyond the physical clutter minimalism brought to me, it has also affected my inner life. I have become more intentional and aware about letting my mind off unnecessary distractions - and this comes by letting go of grudges. When I hold onto bitterness, I feel justified about it, but honestly, it showed me how heavy unforgiveness really is.

Minimalism made me realise that when I choose to forgive, it doesn’t mean I excuse the wrongs, but I do not want it to take up space in my heart, depriving me of progressing. Letting go has brought a kind of peace to my life that I wouldn’t want to trade for anything.

And for this purpose, I would love to share something about minimalism with someone who wants to embrace that lifestyle and is still trying to adapt to the whole thing. Trust me, it might be hard at first, but know that whatever we do now is like sowing a seed.

Living a minimalist lifestyle is a seed; it takes time to grow, and it requires patience. So, you need not force yourself into a change overnight. Minimalism is not about depriving yourself but aligning yourself with something unique. It’s about removing the distractions from your way to become who you truly are.

So, start small. Pay attention to what drains you and what gives you life. Let go of what is heavy and keep only what makes you feel alive. Over time, you will realise that living a simpler life isn’t an empty one, and it’s not about being selfish, but to feel free, fuller and more intentional in living.

For me, though minimalism didn’t give me more things - I actually do not like many things around me, but it gave me clarity, peace and room to breathe (this is very important) and that has made all the difference in my life.

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