melodylunamagic:

In 2016, after twenty-three years of practically being a hoarder, I started my minimalism journey.

 

 

 

This whole journey started by me seeing a copy of the book, ‘Clear Your Clutter With Fung Shui’ by Karen Kingston on the shelf at the library.  Despite it going against how I had live my life up to that point, I felt exceptionally drawn to it’s title, so without hesitation, I borrowed it.

From there, I began purging and purging and purging and purging and did I mention purging?  I had been recovering from a bad eating disorder, and oh my god, did it ever feel amazing to say goodbye to all those clothes that didn’t fit me. 

This purge did not end at my closet, however.  Once I had a taste for how it would feel to be clutter free, I could not stop myself from extending this philosophy to the rest of me life.  The process of letting go of the possessions that were weighing me down felt truly and utterly AMAZING, and I fell in love with the notion of having less.

Up until this point, I had always been opposed to minimalism.  It seemed silly to me (not to mention preachy!)  Why would you not want more?  More money, more clothes, more make up, more books, more movies, more friends, more Instagram followers, more everything!  To me, it had always appeared as though “maximalism” provided you were more options.  And all through my youth, I had learned that you were best to keep your options open!

Finally I was starting to understand how intentionally having less actually led to having more options, more choices, more freedom!  If you aren’t already bathing in the minimalist pool, this probably sounds like a load of BS to you, but trust me, honey, it isn’t!

 

When you have all kinds of clutter hanging around - or even just things that you “like alright, but aren’t too crazy about”, your opportunities for something better close up.  The more clutter, the worse it gets!  For example, if you have a closet full of clothes that don’t fit you or make your heart sing, how can you expect yourself to build a wardrobe that does both of those things?  You can’t.

This rule applies to non-material things as well.  For example, if you constantly fill your workout schedule with going to the gym even when you don’t really like it, how can you expect yourself to find a physical activity you do like?  If your schedule is filled with clutter, you won’t have any free time to try anything new!

However, when you only have what you need and what you really want; what genuinely ignites your spirit, your whole life is all-the-more open to abundance and happiness.  

I don’t identify purely as a minimalist, but I see the benefit in challenging myself by taking various minimalist philosophies and apply them to my life. 

The biggest question a non-minimalist asks before embarking on a minimalist journey is: “Where do I even begin?”  There are so many different opinions out there on what minimalism is or what it looks like, but today I will share with you the resources that worked their wonders on the non-minimalist me.

 

So, how can you dip your toes in the pool of minimalism?

Jenny Mustard was the first minimalist YouTuber I subscribed too.  She has a whole series on minimalism, as it the practice plays a huge role in her lifestyle.

My Green Closet was another YouTuber I subscribed to early on.  She focuses on ethical and sustainable fashion, and the problems with the fast fashion industry.  If you are a shopaholic or a clothing hoarder (two of the things I was most guilty of), you will find her videos very eye-opening.  She even has a video on what minimalism is!

Alongside this, I watched The True Cost, a documentary about the damage of the fast fashion industry.  For those addicted to buy all the latest trends from Forever 21 and H&M, this movie will make you aware of the damage you are doing.

Another minimalist YouTuber I discovered was Madeleine Olivia, and she too has a whole series on the practice!

Leo, the creator of Actualized.org, did an interesting video on Minimalism, which I recommend you watch.  I find his viewpoints a bit extreme, but when I feel myself slipping into my old “maximalist” lifestyle, re-watching this done the trick!

There are many wonderful minimalist content creators, but these are the ones that helped me get into the practice.  I am always looking for new minimalist YouTubers to subscribe to, so if you’re already a minimalist, tweet at me letting me know you helped inspire you in the beginning of your journey!

 

Lastly, here are some additional tips:

I. Consume less.  Ask yourself if you really need something before you buy it.  It’s perfectly alright to purchase things for your pure pleasure, but start being more selective about what you do purchase merely out of desire.  Only spend your hard-earned cash on things that will make your spirit sing!

II. Clean out the “problem” areas of your home.  Perhaps it’s your over-packed and cluttered closet.  Or maybe it’s your bathroom cabinet, loaded with old beauty products you never use.  How about your book shelf?  How often do you read those books?  Have you ever read them?  If not, will you?  De-cluttering is a really hard thing for most people, so start in areas you have little sentimental attachment too, like perhaps your underwear drawer or your desk.

III. Do less.  Most people are going too fast as a result of doing too much.  Take a look at your schedule and make note of the things that are weighing you down.  If you can, get rid of them or at the very least, engage in them less.  You don’t need to go out for coffee with that old classmate if you really don’t want to.  You’re not obligated to help so-and-so paint her house next weekend.  Are you in a fitness class that you absolutely hate?  Quit and try something of interest.  Your time is your most valuable asset.  Spend it wisely.

IV. Don’t compare yourself to other minimalists.  There are always going to be people who manage to live with less than you do.  That doesn’t mean you are not living a minimalist lifestyle or well on your way to one.  Only compare yourself with your past self.

V. Minimalism isn’t just about white walls and green plants.  One of the reasons I was so opposed to minimalism was because I thought I would have to give up my love for colour, pattern, texture and shine!  Okay, I sound like Stacy & Clinton from What Not To Wear, but you get what I mean: being an artist, I like me some interesting visuals!  I’m not all that into white walls with no posters or artwork on them, nor am I willing to give up my love for my homey, pagan decor.  And that’s perfectly fine.  Learn the difference between aesthetic minimalism and lifestyle minimalism.  Lifestyle minimalism is about simplifying your life so it works in your favour.  You can still have a closet full of neon tutus, if that’s your thing, so long as you actually wear them!

 

I hope you found this post helpful.  I intend to dive further into the topic of minimalism as I continue both my journey with the philosophy and my blog.  Please let me know if you have any questions!

I hope you have a magical week!

Sincerely,