Is Minimalism Just Pop Culture Hype?
Or can you really have too much stuff?
Glancing around the room, I wonder, have I got too much stuff? Questions like, am I too materialistic? And are my plentiful belongings signs I just can’t let go of baggage (of any kind)?
At the same time, I note some humble-brag about their minimalist lifestyle, as though it signifies spiritual maturity. Of course, if they were more enlightened than hoarders, they would be too advanced to suggest it’s so.
The idea we (as in, most of us) own too many things began some time ago. It became popular to reduce and recycle, and TV shows promoting minimalism and discarding excess household items shot up like weeds.
Suddenly, people wondered if they were hoarders and joined in with the de-cluttering trend. But does having lots of belongings matter? And if so, how much stuff is too much? I’ve studied the idea it’s possible to become engulfed by your belongings (mentally and physically) and find what I always suspected but begrudgingly must concede to is true.
Mental and physical clutter could be related
Psychotherapist Linda Esposito, LCSW, suggests we “love people, not things” and says, “physical clutter begets mental clutter.” While it’s apparent (to me) the affection I have for some of my belongings isn’t the same as the love I hold for people, I agree with the concept that mental and physical clutter relate. It’s hard to think straight when your mind or house is full.
Esposito says, “let’s end our obsession with mindless distractions and embrace simplicity instead. Incorporating a minimalist mindset means the difference between I’m busy and I’m free.”
But I’m not sure owning plentiful stuff means people are so tied up in seeing to their belongings they don’t have time for what matters. Maybe, however, I’ve not grasped the point yet.
Simplicity rules
Ancient rock gardens are still regarded as places where calmness dwells. The most famous of such gardens garner multitudes of grateful visitors each year, happy they’ve found somewhere to let go of troubles and discover peace of mind. And the reason they are so inviting and instill a tranquil glow? Simplicity.
I must admit when surrounded by less, I, too, am extra calm. My breath slows, and ease seeps into my bones. Author Joshua Becker says, “minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value, and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.”
His statement expands on Esposito’s suggestion hoarding leaves less time for people. Clutter can distract us from relationships and other aspects of life we cherish. Then again, it might not.
Some of the world’s most creative people live among mounds of belongings and what you might call a mess. A messy environment, chock-a-block with sundries, isn’t a creative stumbling block.
Likewise, I can’t help thinking (still) you can go out, shut the door behind you, and engage with life rather than sit amid piles of books and furniture, or whatever you collect, and socialize.
So does minimalism genuinely improve life?
Minimalist Becker, back in the days before he saw the light, had an epiphany while clearing out his garage one Memorial Day weekend. He complained to a neighbor about how long his task took and met the reply, “that’s why my daughter is a minimalist.”
Becker noted his son waiting on a swing, wanting quality father and son time, and recognized he would have more time available and could give his son more attention if he didn’t have so much stuff to manage. (Yet another reference to how hoarding can influence a relationship).
He noticed owning stuff wasn’t making him happy: What’s more, it was separating him from what matters most to him. So he changed his lifestyle.
Less stuff equals less comparison-making
Do you compare what you own to other people’s possessions? If so, you’re not alone. Becker says, “comparison makes us feel we are missing out on something — even though there is joy right in front of us.”
Indeed, if you don’t have much, you’ve not got a yardstick anymore. You might see people own a great deal, but you won’t judge yourself for having inferior possessions and feeling less than adequate.
An overload of belongings doesn’t necessarily mean you are materialistic. They might hold memories you’d rather not part with or bring you joy for another reason. Many might be practical too.
It’s also true you can separate relationships from belongings if you want rather than let them get in the way. But tending surplus goods could distract you from projects that hold more value at some point. And having less might lead to an expansive, less stressed mind.
Will I downsize my possession load now? A little, yes. I enjoy a William Morris quote from The Beauty of Life: “If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
Bridget Webber writes articles for magazines and websites; she often ghostwrites for professionals who can’t spare the time to pen compositions. She’s written poetry eBooks and is featured in several leading publications.
