The whole world wants to sell you something.
Fast cars, fast phones, instant delivery.
It’s all a trap.
Look, first things first – they don’t care about you.
And that strong bond you feel with a product is just you under a spell.
A spell of word play.
You see, the people who create these ads and descriptions that make you crazy about a product are not regular people. They are a team of psychologists, copywriters, data analysts, and experts of human behavior.
And trust me, they know what you want more than yourself.
They know how to evoke the exact emotional state to make you buy. And keep coming back for more, and more, and more.
How can you protect yourself from this brainwashing?
By being aware.
And the art of being aware of your material needs is Minimalism.
You don’t need the latest iPhone.
You don’t need 17 pairs of shoes
You don’t need 8 types of coffee mugs
Don’t believe me?
Look into your wardrobe.
That expensive overcoat that you never wear.
That jacket for a special occasion that never comes.
That Japanese crockery for family dinner that never happens.
Those never worn designer sunglasses because you’re afraid to break them.
Need I say more? You know what I mean.
The Misconception: Being a minimalist means living like a poor monk who wears the same clothes everyday and sleeps on the floor of an empty room.
And if you think that’s who a minimalist is, you couldn’t be more wrong.
So is it about saving money? Well, you may argue, you’re a millionaire or billionaire.
But plenty of rich people are minimalists.
So, what is it?
My friend, being a minimalist is not about having less or living like a monk, it’s about having only the things you love and care about.
It has less to do with the physical aspect of your life and more to do with the mental.
Let me explain.
We all have that one favorite pair of shoes, t-shirt, dress, bags, coffee mugs, chair or whatever that makes us feel gooooooood!
It skyrockets our confidence.
It fits us well.
It’s cozy & comfortable
Stylist enough to turn heads.
And makes us feel like home.
What if you could feel like that everyday?
And that’s the whole philosophy behind minimalism.
Minimalists only keep things that make them happy. Whether it’s clothes that fit or the coffee mug that turns us into Shakespeare.
The key is: Everything they use is their absolute favorite.
Here are some key benefits I’ve experienced over the years living as a minimalist:
- You develop an iconic personality. A cult status.
Apple has the half bitten apple, Nike has sports legends, Google has the G, maybe you have your signature white crew neck t-shirt and Levi’s 512 black jeans.
You may look the same everyday in the mirror, but to others, you look like a brand of your own.
- You stop caring about what people think.
If you’re too self-conscious and constantly end up overthinking, a minimalist lifestyle can completely change your life. It may feel awkward in the beginning. You may find yourself thinking what will they think.
But in a week or so you will realize no one even noticed that you’ve been wearing your favorite t-shirt 5 days in a row.
- You will have more energy.
Even making small decisions drains energy. And thinking about these trivial things like what to wear or what to eat can give you decision fatigue.
But once you start living as a minimalist, these small things stop draining your energy, and you can focus on the important ones.
- Your confidence hits the roof.
Because everything you have from clothes, to shoes, to coffee mugs is your favorite. Wherever you go, whatever you’re doing, you always feel great. You feel like YOU.
- Zero stress.
What is there to stress about? You know what to wear, what to eat, which laptop to use, which coffee to drink. Life feels simple.
- Improved focus.
Visual clutter can drain you. Less things you have in your environment, the less your eyes are stimulated. Visual noise can make it harder to focus.
Working in a clean, clutter free, aesthetically pleasing environment will not only improve your focus but also helps in stimulating your creativity.
And above all… you’re happy. Less things to think about. No attachment to things that don’t matter. Your whole vibe communicates class, clarity and a sense of intelligence.
And to sum it all up: Less is more.