Simplicity Relished

minimalism for the adventurous heart

What Minimalism Isn’t: 5 Misconceptions

I’ve been talking a lot about minimalism lately, and I realize it can be a pretty intimidating term.

While a minimalist might pride herself on how she’s un-fancy and un-busy, the commitment can feel like a judgment on how others live. Somehow, that concept of “living with less” can really make others feel inadequate. Instead of I have too little, they might feel the opposite: I have too much.

The truth is, minimalism is quite broad and should be a space where almost everyone can feel at home. It’s one of those “truths” with a lower-case “t”: to be used and altered and reconstructed in order to fit the individual’s needs. Think pragmatism.

5 Misconceptions About Minimalism

As I myself explore minimalism, I realize that it is more like a tool for reaching something great rather than an end in itself. The purpose of minimalism– whether in our closet, our schedule, our home or our heart– is to help us reach for those things that truly matter to us. The capital-T Truths.

So, if you’re wondering whether minimalism means you have to move into a 200-square-foot home, or sell your electronics, or pare down to one pair of shoes, then this is for you.

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it. (via)

And then there’s what it’s not.

What Minimalism Isn’t: 5 Common Misconceptions

It’s not legalism. Minimalism doesn’t really have rules. It doesn’t say “do this, then do that”– and it doesn’t limit itself to issues of finance, ownership and possession. It can be as far-reaching or as narrow as necessary. There’s not a certain look to minimalism– a lack of decor, adornment, or aesthetic taste. It’s not a philosophy against all things pleasurable.

It’s not a number. It’s easy for us to think about things in numbers. For example, I pared down my closet to 40 items over the course of 90 days. However, the numbers themselves don’t really matter; the point is that I pared down. Numbers can help us think about minimalism in a concrete way, but they’re not the ultimate goal.

It’s not a virtue. I think it can be easy for minimalists to think they’re better people. Trust me, we’re not. Instead, we’re people who know how easy it is to get side-tracked. We know how distractible we are. So minimalism helps us draw boundaries with our stuff so that we can increase our commitment to the things that matter to us most.

It’s not an end goal. As I wrote above, minimalism is a tool– not Nirvana. It ought to be used to make our lives better, not harder. That’s why I don’t think of things such as capsule wardrobes or capsule kitchens as challenges to compete in. We need to make minimalism work for us, and only WE can define what that means.

It’s not voluntary “poverty”. Minimalism is not asceticism. It is not about fasting away desires in order to achieve a higher spiritual sensitivity. True minimalism is not under the delusion that it’s an experiment in suffering. It’s not refusing to ever make a purchase, to never give gifts or to never enjoy life.

 

 

So if you’re looking for more simplicity in your life, don’t be intimidated by minimalism or minimalists. It’s just a tool, and they’re just people. Live for what you love. There’s no other way.

Hey! I’d love to grab coffee with you. But for now…

Get my weekly letters and free ebook on courage.

* indicates required

  • Thanks again for this awesome post, Daisy! Just letting you know I featured it here: http://thenestednomad.com/2015/03/31/gratitude-love-march/

  • Thank you for sharing this! Honestly it’s something that intimidates me, even though I’m probably a minimalist. I’ve never really had qualms about giving away things I no longer need or want. I don’t have a large wardrobe. I’ve never had a schedule filled with events to run to and from day after day. I think the reason for the uneasiness though is because I know that those things are at a practical minimum, and I don’t want to feel as if I have to give away something else that I use/need/like just for the sake of minimalism. Even if this isn’t realistic. Thank you for sharing this, I think it helped me!

    • So glad to hear that Rachel! I think minimalism can come off as super legalistic, which is not at all the point! There are even quizzes online now that tell you whether you need to get rid of things. I think we all need to make our own choices and decide what’s best for us! No one else can tell you that!

  • Lora @ tinyhouseteacher

    Great post Daisy! I love your idea of minimalism. I downsized to a Tiny House, not so I could “follow the rules,” but instead to align my time and money with my values and goals. Funny thing is, I don’t really consider myself a minimalist :). Thanks for sharing!

    • Thank you Lora! Yes! I’m excited to read more about your tiny house adventures. I think we all make decisions and choose our priorities in different ways, and that’s awesome. Thank you for reading 🙂

  • This is such a great post! I especially like how you say it’s not just about numbers. Most of my earliest introductions to minimalism were through wardrobe challenges. I would worry and think so hard about “how many,” and then I got annoyed because I kept thinking, But ultimately, this is still keeping the focus on the STUFF and I thought that wasn’t the point.

    And I also love how you said it’s not a virtue, and what it is instead. I remember there was a blog that fascinated me at first, but the writer turned it into a weird, and not just a little obnoxious way of bragging. It was really off-putting.

    I think there are lots of good reasons to adopt a more minimalist lifestyle. But few people are going to get on board unless we have a realistic view of what it is and isn’t. Thanks for this great post, I will be referring to it often. 🙂

    • Thank you Joy! And exactly– numbers can cause us to stumble and forget what’s truly important, and that’s what minimalism is really about. I’m so glad this post is helpful to you; and I also have lots of friends who are not really into minimalism, and I want them to feel comfortable 🙂

  • I truly love this post! I wouldn’t consider myself a minimalist if compared to someone like Joshua Becker or Courtney Carver (really enjoy both of their blogs too though), but I am definitely a minimalist in my own way. Minimalism looks so different for everyone, and you don’t have to live an ultimate minimalistic life to live more simply. It’s all about making minimalism work for you and your life 🙂

    • Thank you Christina! And yes, I definitely define minimalism my own way– it really has to be a flexible concept so more people can use it effectively.

  • Chrissylilly

    I really love this post. It’s so true – Minimalism means different things to different people! I’ve gotten rid of so much stuff over the past few months and, while I do still own a lot more than the stereotypical idea of what a “minimalist” is, it’s comfortable for me!

    Chrissy x
    http://www.chrissylilly.com

  • This is so great! I’m just getting my feet wet with minimalism and want to fully dive in, so this is a really helpful piece for me. 🙂 Thanks for the great work!

  • Great post! I think minimalism is such a broad and relative term that doesn’t really mean anything. As you said, it’s not a number. While 40 pieces of clothing might sound super down-sized for a fashion addict, it’s the epitome of abundance for a person living in poverty. By the same logic, it’s not a virtue, it’s a lifestyle choice that everybody has to make for themselves (and also for different areas of their lives).

    Jasmin xx
    http://www.whatdefinesus.com

    • Thanks Jasmin! And I don’t know that minimalism means *nothing*– after all, it’s a major theme on my blog and tons of people write about it. 🙂

      • Sorry if I offended you. That wasn’t my intention at all. I merely meant that minimalism is, as you pointed out correctly, not a quantifiable, absolute term. It’s a relative concept that has a different meaning to different people with different priorities. I hope that makes more sense…

  • Angelou Raphaela

    Excellent post!

  • “it’s not a number” SO KEY! I really love your posts and I think you really explored a side of minimalism that other bloggers have to failed to do (even though it has been a SUPER popular topic lately)

    • Thank you Cassie! I really appreciate that. It’s a concept that can be easily misunderstood and taken to the extreme.

  • I love the way you put this! So many of my favorite bloggers have been talking about minimalism lately, and it’s really made me reevaluate my lifestyle. It’s been helpful for me to pare down–as a creative, too much clutter really clouds my focus. Having a more minimal mindset and a focus on simplicity has helped me flourish creatively and it’s been stress relieving. 🙂

  • Stephanie Eva

    Great post about minimalism! I absolutely think it’s more of a mind-set than a “diet” to achieve, as you write, Nirvana. You also make a great point about how this isn’t voluntary poverty nor is it intentional suffering to achieve greater spirituality.
    I love the idea behind a minimalistic wardrobe and that is why I’m so apt to create one. I’m taking it slow and adding changes one step at a time because I truly want to make this a part of my life, rather than a fasting, immediate change. I want these ideals to stick with me so I can save money, time, and energy with my clothing and focus on loving my life and the world around me!!

    Much Love,
    -Stephanie Eva
    http://www.stephanieheva.blogspot.com

    • Thank you so much Stephanie– that’s exactly what it’s all about! I hope you enjoy paring down on your wardrobe; it takes time to get used to but it can be so liberating!

  • This is so fabulous! My husband and I started embracing minimalism last year before we moved to Atlanta. Since we’ve started living that way we’ve actually faced a lot of judgment from people. Someone I know will see me buy a pair of shoes and say, “But I thought you were minimalist!” and I’m like, “Yes but I can still buy SHOES!” I mean, hell, I need to cover my feet just like the next guy. I’ve started telling people that OUR minimalism means answering three questions before making a purchase.

    1. Is it functional? (We do not buy anything for purely aesthetic purposes)
    2. Does something I already own do the same job? (If yes then we don’t buy the new thing)
    3. Will I use it multiple times? (If it’s a short-term solution we don’t buy it)

    It’s minimalism to us and it has helped us keep control of our home and our lives.

    • Thank you so much Ashley!! Your 3 questions are SO on point. And I totally am into #2– I have a “replace when broken” rule in my mind. Our stuff should definitely work for us and there’s no point in keeping something that’s broken, but there’s also no need to replace something that still works as it should!

  • I think picking small areas of your life, such as your closet, or morning routine before work, to make similar are the best areas to start. For instance as I weed out my closet and purchase new things that can be worn in multiple seasons, multiple ways, I find that I still need a lot of clothes, but the simplistic aspect is my ability to end the “I have nothing to wear,” feeling.

    In the morning, instead of rushing around for two hours, I wake, sit, relax, drink a cup of coffee and then go do my hair and makeup. Not only am I actually out the door on time, but the early start and sense of calmness I start out with, makes me feel whole again all day long. (:
    http://www.accordingtokiki123.blogspot.com

    • Yes exactly! I think you’ve really gotten it to work for you. And that morning routine sounds perfect. I’m hoping to share about the importance of morning routines– as soon as I actually nail down mine!

  • Such great points, Daisy. I love how you say that minimalism is a tool for drawing boundaries. I got into minimalism because I was struggling so hard with envy and impulse purchases. This mindset helps me focus on what really matters instead of competing to keep up with whatever another person has. I’m still trying to navigate how to talk about minimalism well with my friends and family (and readers) who either don’t agree or don’t understand. It really is a means to an end to stay sane and prioritize what matters most in life, and I see it as a way of curating life and cultivating beauty.

    • Thanks Brittany! Yeah… I tend to frame it as a way in which I deal with my weaknesses! Then it’s not as judgmental on others. Like, saying that I have a tendency to buy tons of stuff I don’t need, or that I’ve felt so busy all my life and have been overwhelmed, it makes it more approachable. 🙂

  • Thanks for sharing these truths today, Daisy! I love how I’ve been able to learn more about minimalism through your posts. I absolutely adore that definition of it that you shared. I think it is so important to recognize what minimalism is and what it’s not. Sometimes I would focus too much on minimalism as a goal, but now I understand much more about how it is a process to greater things that matter even more to us! Thanks for sharing, my friend!

    • Thanks Gina! 🙂 And yes, the point is definitely to help us focus on things we love– that help us to live wild, free and creative lives!

  • How true. It can’t be the end goal. I think my own minimalism is to some extent, a symptom of ‘laziness’, though perhaps not a bad kind of ‘laziness.’ I don’t want to invest the time, money, and energy into cleaning and maintain a huge home with lots of things in it. Some people enjoy that a lot more–and I enjoy being friends with people who have awesome houses and game rooms and collections and cool stuff like that, but it’s not where I would feel most comfortable living.

    • I think that “laziness” is totally respectable Rachel! There are tons of obligations that come with owning more stuff, and there’s nothing that says we need or should have that stuff. And I totally agree– having grown up in a large high-maintenance home, I’m not looking to move into one myself.

Grab A Button

Simplicity Relished
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.simplicityrelished.com" title="Simplicity Relished"><img src="http://simplicityrelished.com/wp-content/easy-cache/mobile/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/200x200_Button.jpg" alt="Simplicity Relished" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Archives

THANK YOU FOR VISITING SIMPLICITY RELISHED.

Disclaimer: Simplicity Relished is a for profit blog. Any company that I collaborate with is chosen by me and chosen because they fit the theme and readership of my blog. Copyright: If you see something you like here, please be encouraged to share it along with a link back to my site. All of the images and content here, unless otherwise noted or linked, is my own original work.