A dog owns nothing,
yet he is seldom dissatisfied.
-Irish proverb
Minimalism, otherwise called 'voluntary simplicity,' is a lifestyle that I have only become acquainted with within the past year. And while I do not claim to be an expert on the subject, or even a faithful practitioner, I do feel that what knowledge and experience I do possess can be of assistance to others. For minimalism, I have come to believe, is the first step -the key ingredient -in achieving the Platonic notion of transcendence.
Need vs. Want
The biggest part in the minimalist transformation, the initial step of it all, is to throw off the shackles of consumerist society. By doing this, one must become skilled in distinguishing between personal wants and needs.
When one lives in a society that has mastered the art of manipulation through lights, images, and sounds, it can be easy for the average brain to be tricked into buying or doing something that will -supposedly -bring happiness into one's life. But what happens when that new novelty item -that new iPhone or car -losses its sparkle and shine? Well, according to Society, it is time to buy something newer and 'better' to curb the boredom.
Soon, however, the process tends to repeat itself.
In 1943, psychologist Abraham Maslow established a hierarchy that organized the basic needs that all human beings seek to attain in order to achieve full contentment. This model has since become recognized as 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' -a map to happiness that is designed in the shape of a pyramid, with the bottom of the base representing the most basic needs and ending with the more complex needs at the top.
As shown in the chart above, Maslow divided his hierarchy into five categories: Physiological Needs, Safety Needs, Social Needs, Esteem Needs, and Self-actualizing Needs. In order for one to pass onto the next level of happiness, it is theorized that one must have a firm foundation in the previous level.
In order to find social acceptance, especially acceptance amongst one's peers, a person may go out and buy a new Prada bag or a new sports vehicle. But this form of materialistic competition can be not only costly but futile; especially as most things tend to become obsolete, in time. (And really, considering their track record of misery, who wants to keep with the Kardashians?)
From the 1950s to the present, it has been estimated that the average American household has more than doubled in size (in terms of square-footage). This expansion in architecture, however, has nothing to do with with a burst in population. No, no. Rather, houses are growing to accommodate the average family's possessions.
Growing up, my family and I moved numerous times. Every few years, we loaded everything from the welcome mat to the washing machine into two full-size, eighteen-wheel trucks.
As an adult, relocating from one city to another for graduate school, I carried enough baggage with me to fill a ten-foot truck.
Both then and now, I remember throwing up my hands and yelling, "Why do I have so much stuff?!"
Hence my attraction to minimalism, and my willingness to spread this non-consumerist ideology.
Challenge Yourself
For first-time minimalists, there is a 30 day challenge that one can experiment with: At the beginning of the month, find three (3) cardboard boxes. Label each one as either "Keep," "Donate," and "Trash." Each day, for the next month, place one (1) item into each box. At the end of the 30 (or 31) days, return the "Keep" items to their rightful place in your home; take the "Donate" items to a local Goodwill or family shelter; and discard the "Trash" items into then nearest waste or recycle bins.
And then, repeat. Repeat, repeat, and repeat the challenge until your home feels less suffocating.
Budget Paychecks
One of the reasons people choose the academic majors and professional positions is for money. Money, typically, that is used to buy a great many things that we are almost convinced will make up happy; or prestigious amongst our family and friends, if nothing else.
Money is never a good reason to put up with a job that you despise, or to attain pointless knick-knacks. For as the old cliche goes, "You can't take it with you."
Apply the 50/30/20 rule to your next paycheck: Separate half of it (50%) to spend toward your fixed expenses, such as monthly utilities and student loans; and then divide the second half the amount into 30% and 20%. The largest part (the 30%) can be used for recreational uses, while the remaining amount (the 20%) should be invested in a savings account for emergencies.
Move Downward
On Netflix one afternoon, I happened upon a documentary titled "Tiny." Apparently, linked to minimalism is another small revolution called the 'Tiny House Movement.' Especially along the west coast of the United States, there are individuals who are willingly choosing to live in a house that is barely larger than a 1960s Volkswagen van. While this idea may seem intimidating (and borderline claustrophobic-inducing), it challenges the belief of how much space a human being truly needs in order to survive, or to be happy.
Revolutionaries Unite!
As mentioned in a previous post of mine, Plato picked on the human race (particularly women) for lacking transcendence. In his mind, transcendence meant the ability to break away from such earthly ideologies as the over-possession (or obsession) with worldly goods. And while I certainly do not agree with Plato on a number of grounds, I do believe him to have been on to something: What good comes from possessing more than one needs?
In truth, living in overabundance and beyond means invokes stress and shortens lifespans. So, having too much can lead to stress that can lead me to live an even shorter life to enjoy the things that I am killing myself to have? In what universe does that make sense?
Although it presents a struggle, going against the consumerist beliefs that I raised to value, I choose to pursue minimalism.
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