Becoming A Minimalist

Recently, I encountered an interesting concept of "Minimalism". I watched few Youtube videos on people's journey of becoming a minimalist, read few blogs and did some research. I found one common ideal of minimalism -- Less is more. This common ideal allow me to reflect on my lifestyle, mindset and surroundings. 

We often get sidetrack in life by material things, which often lead to regrets, waste of money and space. For example, people love massive amount of food, regardless they will finish it or not. People love sales, regardless they need the item or not. People love owning things that they may not use very often, but because they think they need it. It is human nature to want to see more, to experience more, to taste more, to own more things they love in general. However, it is important to know what we really need in life. 

I am living with my cat, he doesn't really need much yet he is happy. I supply him with clean water, breakfast and dinner, clean cat litter, occasionally play hide and seek with him, pat him and show him my care and love.  I think that is what we need as well. We can be happy by eating healthy food, have a shelter that protect and give us comfort, have friends and family that you love and love you, have hobbies that makes you happy. Isn't that is life is all about? Happiness, love and health. 

Looking at my wardrobe, bookshelf, shoe storage, makeup etc, I realised I owned many things that I don't really need or use.  Why is that? The reason is because I thought I needed it, but i actually don't. That is the key issue that many of us is facing. Social media, Internet, retail shop, TV commercial etc promotes beautiful, eye catching things that we will be attract to, have a mindset of " I need to have it", but think about it, do we really need it? Maybe we do, maybe we don't. And that is what I believe the first step for me to become a minimalist. I need to understand the difference between needs and wants, even wants that will be valuable or a waste.

Not only material things are important in life, therefore improving ourselves in general is also important. Read more, explore more, spend more time with people we love, exercise and eat healthy, be consistent with our goals and hobbies. 

I believe minimalist is all about having less in life that may make our lives chaos, but having more in our inner self, mind and trace on this planet. That is why I think the ideal behind minimalist is -Less Is More.

We can all have more but have less at the same time. 

Becoming a minimalist is my new goal, not only for the upcoming 2015 but as long as I believe it will help me to improve myself, my lifestyle and my surroundings.