How does a minimalist define success?
I admit it, I’m quite obsessed with minimalism and can’t stop shouting from the rooftops of its benefits (for me).
Minimalism or a minimalist lifestyle works for me although I only came across this concept last month, I believe it has always been a part of me deep down and that is why I can relate to it so easily but now I can put a name to it, minimalism:
- I never liked clutter and liked to be organised;
- I always liked cutting down on things such as no credit cards, less friends;
- Didn’t like the excessive gossiping and incessant bad news on TV;
- Have only the required number of boxers or cups (for example); and
- I never enjoyed having to conform with society’s norms.
This is why I would like to define success from a minimalist’s perspective. Okay, let’s get it out the way, the dictionary definition (dictionary.com) of success is:
noun
1.
the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors;the accomplishment of one’s goals.
2.
the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
3.
a performance or achievement that is marked by success, as by theattainment of honors:
The play was an instant success.
4.
a person or thing that has had success, as measured by attainment ofgoals, wealth, etc.:
She was a great success on the talk show.
5.
Obsolete. outcome.
In simple minimalist terms, society pretty much defines success as the attainment of wealth which leads to an accumulation of possessions (mostly luxury goods) and then evaluated by comparison to others achievements. Oh it’s a vicious cycle.
Though in recent years, this definition has been reinterpreted or reimagined by a minority and they are slowly helping to redefine what it means to be truly successful. Some of those people or group of people as I have come to discover have set a simple yet meaningful example and these are the minimalists that roam amongst our society.
The Minimalists wrote in their book Everything That Remains:
“I discovered that material possessions are nothing more that a blindfold, keeping our eyes from seeing the truth in the world around us. But I didn’t always feel this way. Up until last year, I was living the ideal life — the so-called Dream. After college, I ran a design studio in Los Angeles, and I worked my butt off trying to grow my business, taking as much work as I could, often working a hundred or more hours a week. And I was wildly successful. I was making good money and had all the stuff to prove it. But all I was doing was working. I didn’t have time for anything else.”
Therefore in order to answer the question asked in the title of this article, how does a minimalist define success?
From my personal experience and what I have learnt from this past month of delving into minimalism is that success should be defined as:
- Align your goals with your values — don’t get bogged down by society’s idea of success, you don’t need to get that job, the mortgage, the car, the money and then simply retire, instead go out and seek what fulfills your inner most desires;
- Do not let your possessions define you — don’t own the next latest and greatest thing in order to keep up with the Joneses, that sense of gratification is only temporary instead don’t compare but experience instead of buy, such as books, travel, socialising;
- Minimise distractions to focus on the important things — find clarity by decluttering your physical possessions first and then eliminate negative thoughts and defeatist mindset in order to find time to enjoy what really matters (this can be family, your hobby or travel etc.); and
- Simplify in order to find your why (purpose) — we are unfortunately heavily consumed by the “rat race” always chasing for more, more money, more ‘likes’, more highs that we begin to lose sight of why we do what we do, is working 100 hours a week at the cost of missing out on your children growing up worthwhile? Is it economical to earn the six-figure salary only to spurn it on depreciating objects? Does what you do offer value to you and others?
So to put that into some sort of perspective for the naysayers, I quit my first ever job after graduating to try and run my own coffee shop and the business eventually failed after 2 years. I went back into civil engineering and then eventually quit again to be a stay-at-home dad to my two gorgeous children. I haven’t starved my family, we are not living on the streets and we can still afford the basic necessities required for modest conformity (books, education, TV, holidays etc.).
Before I even knew it, minimalism had been helping me to set out my journey in the most obscure manner, I do know what I want and why I want it, I invest in my family’s future very carefully because I have the time to research and try, I’ve given up comparing myself and have so far have managed to regain control of my life before it was wasted away following the social norm indoctrinated since birth!
I won’t say it is easy, but I hope that a little insight into minimalism and my story can help others to realise their own potential and I would love to keep hearing from others and their own personal stories, please get in touch!
