Simple is the New Black
“Everything That Remains” by The Minimalists
Being a minimalist is a state of mind rather than a set of rules. It’s something you can get started on with no time at all. Read Everything That Remains by Joshua Fields Millburn if you’re craving more of what feeds your soul, while enjoying everything you have, and worrying less about what you don’t have.
The term minimalism emerged in the 1950s and 60s as an artistic movement characterised by sleek and simple geometric shapes¹. It reduced art to its simplest, non-contextual form. So much so, that the artists believed what remains is truth itself. What you see is what you get.
However, minimalism as a lifestyle is not a relatively new concept that followed out of the minimalism art and design movement. Many religious texts encourage simple living so that we may gain more spiritual focus to God and towards enlightenment.
Attention to a minimalist lifestyle skyrocketed as a counter-culture reaction to the rise of mass consumerism that dominates our modern society. Minimalists argue that if we cut away excess and slow down, our lives will be more richer and happier.
While it is satisfying to collect goods and treasures, we also have to store, clean, organize and maintain them. Having fewer belongings will free up room in our lives to become more mindful of ourselves and others, gain more time to invest in relationships and do more things we love, and minimize damage to the environment.
These are my top 3 takeaways from Everything That Remains.
1. Clean space, clean mind.
Our possessions possess us. All the things I owned kept the back of my mind activated.
Luckily, I enjoy organizing and cleaning. It’s difficult for me to relax in clutter especially with many years of tiny New York apartment living. I find it therapeutic to consistently keep my environment tidy. I like order.
For every new thing I buy, I assess if I can get rid of something old. The more belongings, the harder it is to find the things we need. By prioritizing the objects we keep as ones that add value to our lives, we create calmer and functional spaces.
2. Save time AND money.
The best way to give yourself a raise is to spend less money.
Money is the #1 cause of stress for Americans, ranking higher than health, family and work². For those working to live, imagine the energy we’d gain back if we free ourselves from worrying about finances, pressures and expectations.
If each object takes away a bit of our energy, Josh uses the analogy of freedom because we have to work more to increase our purchasing power, then we should practice asking ourselves with each purchase: will I get more value from what I’m about to buy or more value from my freedom?
3. Change comes from inside-out.
Real security, however, is found inside us, in consistent personal growth, not in a reliance on growing external factors.
The easiest steps to take are external. What can I sort through, wipe down or donate today? Can I get my email inbox down to zero? But minimalism applies just as strongly to our immaterial baggage.
Letting go thoughts and emotions that no longer serve us is change work that is hard work, heart work and hidden work. It is a relentless focus on what is important and a priority to us. It is less on what is out of our control and more of what is in the present.
