TypeCarl

Why the Minimalist Lifestyle is my New Obsession

I have to admit that this is the third time I’ve rewritten this post. I keep jumping into generalizations about how messed up the American culture is… that’s for another day.

What is this minimalistic lifestyle? It is about getting rid of all material possessions until you are left with just the bare essentials.

I believe that most of our purchases are the equivalent of doing crack. It gives you a short high that eventually goes away. We then return to our normal mental state. We only truly use and need very few items in our lives.

Why should you embrace the minimalistic way of thinking?

1. It’s one less thing to worry about

When you buy something expensive, you have to worry about it. For example, I heard of a guy who was into buying homes around the world. He was asked of how he feels owning such beautiful properties around the world. He replied with something of the lines, “it’s a huge headache to keep track of them and maintain each one”. Another example is buying a Ferrari and being paranoid of driving it in public.

 
2. It makes it easier to pursue your true passion

Most people are unhappy because they spend most of their waking hours in a job they dislike or even hate. The reason they don’t quit is that they feel like they have a lot to lose. They convinced themselves that they can’t live without something even though it’s purely psychological. Get over it (not as easy as it sounds for most). Once you do get over it, you can actually manage to go through the times of being at rock bottom. This is exactly what I am doing now.

 
3. You are now free to fly (complements of Southwest airlines)

This has a lot of value for me. You can just get up and leave at any moment. You can be a nomad again! (this will be explained in another post) It’s hard to just get up and move somewhere when you are attached to large possessions.

 
4. Less clutter for your mind

This ties in #1, but clutter is distracting. For example, minimalistic interior design is much more pleasing to the mind.

 
5. You will become more mentally flexible

We obsess with material possessions on a psychological level. We tend to want to fit in with what society says, or we get a surge of happiness from our possessions. If you become aware of this and break free, you have flexed your brain muscles and made a significant change in the way you view reality. The ability to change is becoming more and more valuable in a world that seems to be barreling into who knows where.

 
6. You will save the planet from waste

Unless your obsession is collecting cucumbers, you are probably harming the environment. It’s hard to see this at an individual level, but a lot of possessions take a lot of energy to produce while leaving many nasty and toxic byproducts. Come on, bring that tree hugger out of ya!

 
It’s my new obsession because it will enable me to live anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice. I no longer have to worry about producing an immense amount of income just to sustain an expensive lifestyle. I can focus on what I care about the most.

Now… how?

1. Find your passion (cliche eh?)

Once you find your true calling in life, you can actually see if this way of living will work for you. Otherwise, you’re just spinning your wheels. If your passion is buying things, then this obviously won’t work for you too well.

 
2. Understand Your Mind

This is essentially breaking free from your existing view of the world. You can do this by studying how our minds operate. Learning simple ideas such as the law of association allows us to understand why we do the things we do. We then can begin to free ourselves from unnecessary habits and thinking.

 
I hope this helps to understand what I am talking about. I will venture in this further later, but I think it’s an amazing way to live. Keep in mind that this is nothing new. This is a central piece in eastern philosophy where some go to the extremes of having absolutely no possessions.

I finally feel free from my mind. I no longer have this ego driven obsession with material wealth. It’s nice.

Minimalistically,

Carl

P.S. There is no right or wrong way to live. Do what works for you. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is just plain insanity.

P.S.S. I know I left a lot of details out. It will only hit home to people who are already on the path. I will definitely revisit this topic.