Less is More
I used to hoard things. Buy a lot of — unnecessary things. Get intrigued about what my friends and others have and may not have, and finance that. Instagram’s ‘explore’ section was like the daily newspaper. There is always something new to spend on, have, and try. I used to go out for fine dining with friends on the regular. I used to buy lots of sneakers and even built a small collection of Yves Saint Laurent Wyatt boots — because celebrities have been ‘rocking them.’ Branded leather goods from — you name it, splurging on niche fragrances and sunglasses from the latest collection. I allowed myself to be influenced by social media, and my actions were based around what others think. We were young, foolish, and participating in this rat race game. It took me months and even years to realize that, and I hope you don’t make the same mistakes that I made in this post.
I accumulated a bunch of — garbage.
I believe that joy comes from fulfillment, and as much as I had fun in my past experiences, none of which brought me joy nor satisfaction in the long run.
The transition
I stumbled across an article about minimalism and how it gives you mental clarity, a sense of purpose, and joy. And for someone like me who isn’t a minimalist, I was interested to see how rewarding it is to be a minimalist, as I always felt that void in me that I could not fill in with such things.
I decided one day that I would clear out my closet and aside the things that I haven’nt used in a while. I was amazed at the number of things that were collecting dust, and most importantly, the money I spent on these to impress, which surely I won’t be getting back.
I went to donate the clothes and either sell or gift the least used items — sunglasses, shoes, wallets and watches. It was a bit painful to part ways with these items at first. However, I felt relieved when I went back to my closet and had only those few items that I appreciated and used the most. The cabinet had become more spacious, and my choices have become more precise now.
I had a ton of joy of going minimalistic and getting rid of so much ‘garbage.’ I realized that I was really caught up in this materialistic life. I finally understood the truth behind showing off these nice things on social media, that is to: grab your attention towards something or to seek validation from others.
Minimalism helps you focus on what you need that brings a ton of joy to you. It simplifies your choices and gives you the mental ability to focus on what matters to you.
My closet is now monochrome, making it 100 times easier to wash and put an outfit together. I have two pairs of sneakers that I rotate between. It takes me five minutes to get ready and hit the roads. I do not go out to eat regularly, and I started to enjoy cooking high-quality food at home. We try local food shops when I am out with my wife, and I reserve the fine dining for special occasions. I also stopped caring about what others have and do not have and instead worked towards my goals because that would bring the most joy to me.
Compare yourself to who you were before and use that as a benchmark to evaluate yourself. Always be grateful for what you have now while aspiring to improve yourself as you look up to others who have achieved success.
And understand that every expensive thing comes with a major time constraint. And you’ll soon realize that whatever you own ends up owning you.
I became appreciative of simpler things in life and focused my time, energy, and money into investing in myself to be successful rather than ‘look’ successful. Learning from other successful people has helped me apply minimalism to my lifestyle, finances and help others who want to break free from the notion pushed by everyday ads and influencers.
I’ve been since able to save, invest and donate, and my plans in life became more defined, and for that, I am grateful.
