The Benefits Of Mindful Minimalism

“Any half-awake materialist well knows – that which you hold holds you.” –Tom Robbins, 1936.

There are so many people on social media that are using a sound which is a recording of an older man stating how much he hates minimalism. I don’t think spreading hate, regardless of what kind, is a good thing. And it certainly isn’t good for our vibration and energy.

Minimalism is misunderstood

I get that some people have a very negative view of minimalism, and think the only way to be a minimalist is to be an extreme one. But extreme minimalism and hoarding are not our only choices. They are simply two extremes, and neither is encouraged.

I don’t think it is good to take things as far as they can go. We will never find satisfaction or joy in them if we do, because however far we get, it will never be enough. We will either never have enough or always feel we have too much. And both states will only go on to cause mental distress. We don’t want that.

Minimalism is life

Simply put, minimalism to me is about letting go of the things we no longer need or that no longer serve us on our path, and about making room for the things that aid us, and bring us joy. It isn’t about deprivation or of giving up the things you love the most. It isn’t about selling everything you own just so you can sit in an empty room and revel in the emptiness.

Mindful minimalism helps with both mental health and physical health. Knowing when to let go, and when to make room for something else is all part of life. Life is about letting go, moving with the changes, facing the obstacles head on, getting past the dark times and enjoying the good times. Pursuing your interests, finding yourself, and finding the courage to be yourself and love yourself. Seeing cause and effect and doing what you can to spread goodness and make the world better for the people now and future generations.

When we surround ourselves with mindless clutter, we create stress for ourselves, and anxiety. Both of which can lead to depression and burnout. It is common for people to hang onto a lot of material clutter and mental clutter tied to their fantasy self. The person they wish they were or think others would prefer them to be. But those things and ideas are no more than clutter that lies as a wall between you and the life you are truly meant for. They are the cast iron shackles attached to your ankles. They keep you bound and prevent you from soaring.

Clutter is always tied to our emotions

To be against letting go of clutter is to be against moving forward in life. To be against learning about your inner state and healing emotionally. Shopping addictions are almost always caused by emotions. Often to bury them or to fill a hole somewhere deep inside. But it doesn’t help to shop until you no longer feel, nor will the clutter help you feel better emotionally.

Where is your attachment stemming from? What are you so afraid of?

Some hang on to their things because they use them as a barrier between themselves and the rest of the world. A wall to keep the world away and to keep them safe. But in the end, they’re only creating a cage for themselves.

Others hang onto things because they things are their version of a security blanket. Having to rely on the presence of material things to be able to feel safe is not a good thing. Material things can easily break or disappear from our lives. They are not permanent, nor are they made to be. To place our mental health in the hands of things that are fleeting is not wise.

Some cling to their possessions out of fear. Fear of forgetting people or moments that have come to pass, fear of remembering who they once were, or fear of being without. Many who grew up not having enough will come to cling to what they do have as adults. And those who grew up in cluttered homes may come to crave minimalism instead.

If you are living in a place where you do not feel safe, surrounding yourself with your own things, and making your home feel truly yours, can be a subconscious way of keeping yourself safe. And it can certainly go overboard and lead to hoarding instead, all because you don’t feel safe.

We need to ease our anxiety

I used to get great anxiety at the thought of open areas, both in nature and in homes. When you are at sea or sitting in a field and the vastness seems to stretch on to infinity. You know it doesn’t, but it leaves you feeling small and exposed. Or when you are in a bright room that is so open and empty that it reminds you of being alone in the hospital. I would also get anxious being in homes and rooms that look like showrooms, that are meant to be looked at and not lived in…

The thing is that a home should be a warm and safe place that shelter you, where you can be yourself and feel at ease and rest. It shouldn’t be made to look like a magazine because we want likes or other people’s approval. It also shouldn’t be cluttered up from floor to ceiling because you keep trying to buy things and surround yourself with things just so you won’t feel.

Your home should feel like an extension of yourself. Warm, soft and sweet. Calming and energising at the same time. It should have a place for your favourite things, and the things that bring you joy. Each item in your home should be mindfully selected. Your bedroom should be a place that calms you, a place where you can let go and rest. Your wardrobe should have room for your garments.

The kitchen or cooking area should contain things that you use, and food that you eat. Don’t keep everything in your own just so you can suit anyone who may visit someday. Your home is for you, not for potential or hypothetical future visits.

The decor should be one that you enjoy and feel matches who you are and what you want to be surrounded by. Others needn’t approve of it; it’s your home, not theirs.

Mindfulness

Mindful minimalism is simply about choosing to live your best life and being mindful of how you live, what you surround yourself with, and making sure it all aligns.

Mindfulness is never a bad thing.