The Minimalist Mindset

Over the past week or so, I really adopted the minimalist mindset. Yesterday, was a major decluttering day at my house. There is still a long way to go but progress is being made. Now, I am adopting the outlook of what can I get rid of. Once I came to the conclusion of what really is going in with consumerism, I quickly realized how I need to alter my life. The mind is the first place this starts.

What does the minimalist mindset do for me and what does it have to do with freedom? In my opinion, they match up so well for the simple fact that possessions can become jailers. So many people are owned by their 'stuff'. This extends to every area of their life. People are shaken when their things are lost or destroyed. The importance of things is elevated to an unhealthy level.

You would think I know this lesson well. In 1998, I had a house (I was renting) destroyed by a hurricane; 80% of my possessions were lost. The ironic thing is that within a couple of years I all that stuff back and then some. In truth, the items that were destroyed were really inconsequential. The bigger picture is what needs to be looked at.

Freedom means being able to live life as I see fit. It also means having the ability to go wherever I want whenever I want. Other might hold a different definition but this is what works for me. That being said, I assert that being bogged down with all kinds of physical items precludes me from doing this. I cannot attain the level of freedom I desire when I am dragged down. Also, when I think of the financial ramifications of my decisions upon my freedom, I understand that a change is in order.

Consumerism is a habit of the mind. We, as a society, continually think we need more. This is untrue. I am rapidly learning that minimalism is also a conditioning of the mind. I am training myself to think of ways I can get by on less. Implementing this habit will immune me from the power of Madison Avenue and the media. Instead of them dictating what I need, that power reverts back to me. The minimalist mindset is breaking me free from the hold of large corporations.

'Stuff' is just a symbol of all that is going on. It isn't the stuff that I need to get rid of but, rather, all that is tied to it. To start, I have the emotional connection to inanimate objects. I feel this is unhealthy. Ridding myself of the item negates the emotional attachment. Also, I am freed from the burden of housing, cleaning, and taking care of it. The maintenance of our stuff is time consuming and expensive. It is another burden that I am unloading.

I am convinced that the minimalist mindset is the piece that was missing from my life. For years, I was so close to putting it together but I just seemed to fall a bit short. I never could figure it out. Now I can see clearly how it all ties in together. Over the next few months I am going to detail how interconnected it all is and how this can help everyone. When I say that my goal is a major movement towards freedom, I mean it. People inherently want to be free. This is a desire that society suppresses for its own benefit. The minimalist mindset is one area where you will start to gain some of that freedom back.

Success is just around the corner.