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.

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….Continue Reading