Minimalism. Marie Kondo. Decluttering. It's hard to turn without hearing the newfound benefits of owning less. Magazines, blogs, books all extoll the benefits of paring down belongings and consuming less. For many, there are rewards to adopting the philosophy. You can save money, reclaim living space, declutter the home and free up time and mental energy that would otherwise be spent taking care of stuff.
But there is such a thing as too much. For many, the minimalism trend can be oppressive in its distinct ability to inspire guilt and remorse for owning or buying things. So what to do? Do we stop shopping completely and give it all away? No way! Like everything in life, balance is key. Don't let the pressure of trends change behavior to the point of unhappiness.
It's 100% ok to have stuff. We need stuff to live. Stuff can bring joy. There's nothing wrong with that. From diets to lifestyle trends, take it all with a grain of salt. There's no need to go to extremes.
Better to let it inspire deeper thought and slight tweaks in the way you live. Ask yourself, "When it comes to stuff who owns who?" If you find you have what you need to live, you're on the right track. If you find you have more than you need, change it up. If there's a closet, storage unit, attic or garage brimming with boxes of things you've not touched in months or years, take a look and see if you can give those things new life. You can choose to use, gift or donate them. Things don't serve any benefit sitting in the dark collecting dust. Just remember, you don't have to remove everything in your home to feel freedom and enlightenment.
At the end of the day, you have to live with the life and home you create. The things you own don't represent you. Your home doesn't need to look like a life portrayed on television, Instagram or a magazine. The things you own should help you reach a way of living that gives you comfort and happiness. That's all there is to it.
Have you embraced minimalism?