We live in a world where material possessions are deemed to be a sign of fulfillment and success in life, just like everyone I chased after these things until I came in contact with the minimalism concept, whose contact then inspired the declutter lifestyles I have come to adopt, and today I'll love to share how my encounter makes me doubt all I ever believed and the actual value of everything I owned, the way I lived my life, and much more.
When it comes to my life and what sparks the transition to living a minimalist lifestyle, I'll say it's a result of different factors, which I'll explain in this post. I would have easily equated it to my encounter with one of my minimalist family members, but after taking a deep delve into the past and how things turned out, I realized it's not just my encounter with this person, so without further ado, let's get into everything that sparks my minimalist lifestyle.
Pressure from many ambitions: so as I was following the trend of what the world around us deems as a ground for being successful, I fell into the web of constant anxiety over my inability to get some of the things I longed for or the things that'll give me the confidence to sit amongst friends who've such possessions. This got to the point where I usually worked myself out and became stressed out.
Despite all of this, the possessions I've been able to gather weren't enough to give me happiness that blows away the depression that follows the anxiety and stress I got through chasing material possessions, and that happening made me gradually have a rethink on my stand, and it also made me realize the value of all of these possessions. I mean, rather than bring me joy after possessing the latest trend, they seem to instead weigh me down.
Encounter with a minimalist: while this doubt in my heart still lingers, I met my aunt, who I've heard a lot about how wealthy she was and how she helps most family members out in difficult times. It was a casual encounter during a family meeting, and one thing led to another, which made her invite me over to her house. My visits to her house, along with the thoughts I was having lately, changed my lifestyle completely.
I mean, for someone of her caliber, whom I know how wealthy she was, firstly, I expected her to live in a big mansion with several luxurious items and decorations that would beautify the place, but the reverse was the case. It's not that the house isn't beautiful; it's just that, though the interior was cool, it looks simple and decluttered. Even my parents and other relatives who looked up to her for help have more elaborate, beautiful houses and lifestyles than she does, and this made me study her as much as I ask questions and learn from her way of life.
The sight of her home alone makes me understand the fact that fulfillment and wealth aren't all about material possessions but about peace of mind, simplicity, and focusing on what truly matters rather than keeping unnecessary possessions just to fulfill the world's definition of success.
These two factors propelled me to have a rethink and change my way of life; in other words, change my lifestyle. I gradually adopted the minimalist lifestyle, first understanding what it's all about from her, then decluttering all unnecessary physical possessions. This brought flexibility and freedom to my life, and from then forward, I clinched simplicity in all of my daily activities and how I live my life.
Decluttering all of these unnecessary possessions I acquired had a ripple effect on all other aspects of my life, and before I knew it, I had more time to spend deliberating on important things revolving around my career, with loved ones, and much more, to mention but a few.
The minimalist lifestyle has had an amazing impact on my life, such as being more intentional, focusing on purpose, and achieving more important things. Focusing on simplicity gives me a sense of contentment and freedom that I once lacked. Many think being a minimalist means depriving myself of pleasurable things, but they're wrong because, instead, being minimalist to me means surrounding myself with things that add value to my life and bring happiness, and this lifestyle is something I won't trade for anything else in this world.
That's about it for now. I hope you had a great time reading. Do have a wonderful day and stay blessed.
Image used in this article is mine and was captured with my Redmi Note 9 smartphone.
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