How People Get Minimalism WRONG
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- What is minimalism, exactly? For many people, minimalism conjures images of living in an almost empty white home. They think it’s about depriving themselves, giving up things they care about or find useful, to get a to a small number of possessions.
I struggled with this as well when I became a minimalist. How much did I have to declutter to call myself a minimalist?
But what I’ve learned since then is that minimalism is not dogmatic. It’s not about some arbitrarily low number of possessions you need to size down to, to qualify as a minimalist. It’s more of a mindset, which goes way beyond the stuff you own.
In this video, I want to share the different definitions of minimalism that I’ve found, from well-known minimalists like Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus (aka The Minimalists), Leo Babauta, Joshua Becker, and others, and see where they overlap, and where they differ. Enjoy!
Resources mentioned in video:
• Defining Minimalism - Tara White Talk: • DEFINING MINIMALISM
• Why Minimalism is a Better Way of Life: nosidebar.com/why-minimalism/
• Mnmlist FAQs: mnmlist.com/minimalist-faqs/
• The Fall Of Materialism: Why More Millennials Aspire To Have Nothing: www.elitedaily.com/life/cultu...
• About Joshua & Ryan (The Minimalists): www.theminimalists.com/about/
• What Is Minimalism? www.theminimalists.com/minima...
• This Is the BEST Definition of Minimalism (with @JoshuaBecker): • This Is the BEST Defin...
• What Is a Minimalist Lifestyle? Experts Share the Potential Benefits: www.oprahdaily.com/life/a3053...
• Minimalism Explained: exilelifestyle.com/minimalism...
• What Is Minimalism? • What Is Minimalism?
• Goodbye Things - Fumio Sasaki: a.co/d/3zh04Se
• The Elements of Style: www.bartleby.com/lit-hub/the-...
• Nicholas Burroughs quote: tferriss/status/5...
• What is minimalism web.archive.org/web/2018110804...
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:37 There is no minimalism rulebook
02:35 How well-known minimalists define minimalism
05:00 Minimalism is about more than owning less. To create space for what matters
05:57 Silent To-Do List (Fumio Sasaki)
06:32 Elements of Style analogy
07:20 Minimalism is not a lack of something. It’s simply the perfect amount of something.
07:40 Minimalism is not a doctrine, but a tool to bring more joy to your life.
- WHAT TO WATCH NEXT -
3 Lessons from 1 Year of Minimalism: • 3 Lessons from 1 Year ...
- LINKS -
☕️ Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/petercook
♪ TikTok: / slowlivingminimalist
🖼 Posters: iampetercook.gumroad.com/l/po...
💻 Try Skillshare for free for 1 month: www.skillshare.com/en/r/user/...
📚 Interesting books to read:
• Stoicism For Beginners: a.co/d/hPU8GTX
• Minimalism 101: a.co/d/bJkA6Lt
• Declutter Your Life: a.co/d/carqttB
DISCLAIMER: Some of the links are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. - Jak na to + styl
I've always believed in minimalist writing - get to the point, omit unnecessary words. It never occurred to me to apply the same mindset to living. Thanks, this is helpful info
Even though I can write long sentences full of grammatical errors I love the fact that this organization exists to champion simpler was of communicating in writing! www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/howto.pdf
Glad you found it helpful! I love finding ideas or concepts that work in one field and then see if they can also be applied in another field. It can help look at familiar territory with a fresh perspective. ✨
This puts such a fine point on the true meaning! When I first learned of minimalism, I became very frustrated that I couldn’t remove more of the possessions in my life, but it felt empty to simply get rid of things for some vague purpose. Your explanation is wonderful.
Greg McKeown’s approach to essentialism is how I was able to more clearly understand these concepts and deeper benefits. Highly recommend it. I am on my journey to remove what is not important, being present in the space left behind and intentional in how I refill it.
I enjoyed Greg McKeown’s book Essentialism a lot as well! Imo, the term "essentialism" describes the mindset and lifestyle better than "minimalism." Thanks for watching! 😀
My attitude towards shopping, possessions etc. has changed since investigating minimalism.Thank you again Peter.😊
As a copy editor, and huge nerd, I was so happy to see The Elements of Style in this video! I swear by that book and love how that quote perfectly ties into minimalism!
It does work great for minimalism as well 😀
so nice to see you post weekly videos again, love
More to come! ✨
Well said, by you and all of the folks you quote from. Thanks for taking the time to share! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed, thanks for watching, Penny! ✨
I’m an experienced junkie. I also want to do what I want to do with my life. I recently quit my corporate job to pursue art. By the definitions in your video, I’m a minimalist and I love it.
Happy to hear it. And good luck with pursuing your art passion! 🙌🏻
I've lived a minimalist life for about 12 years and had goals and "suggestions" (not rules) for myself... based on my needs. I found that during the pandemic and the lockdowns, the things that brought me joy weren't available (shows and coffee meetups and riding public transit to the theater, etc.) and I filled that void with buying stuff. Not as empty purchases, but things as distractions and things to do when I was stuck in my apartment. Now I have a lot of things that I'm not using and no longer need... I'm feeling the weight of having to maintain things that aren't bringing anything into my life. I'm looking forward to the cooler weather so I can start getting rid of the things that are from a time that I needed them... my period of surviving, as opposed to thriving. Thanks for all that you do, Peter!
Thanks for sharing, Erica! That's great insight in the reasons behind accumulating stuff during the pandemic and lockdowns. Good luck with decluttering later this year when the temperature drops! 🙌🏻
It`s just like that! To love life, and live it 😀 Thank you again Peter.
My pleasure, thanks for watching! 😀
This is how I would see and definite minimalism if it was redefined. Minimalism is a mindset not the idea of having less stuff or material things in your life. To practice minimalism or become one is have the mindset of a minimalist by being conscious about material things you own, money, social media.
I think your video clears up misconceptions I feel new people make about minimalism. To me minimalism is a mindset where you’re conscious and being mindful of material things you own, and reducing consumption on social media, material things, and distractions in your life. I think that’s what minimalism should be.
How I would want to include minimalism in my life is being mindful and conscious of my spending, how I’m using my money, reduce consumption on social media and screen time, and material things you own. It’s about creating a healthy mindset and habits to be more mindful like mindfulness which promotes less stress, anxiety, and mental health struggles.
Also, if there are any obstacles or challenges getting in the way finding the root cause and the solutions for it might help learn how to develop minimalism as healthy mindset, and tackle onto any problems or situations where it needs solutions.
When making the choice to live a minimalist lifestyle over a consumerist lifestyle you’re not living a life where everything is evolved around consuming material things, social media and screen time, and distraction. Also, I don’t recommend anyone to force themselves to go minimalistic or follow a consumerist lifestyle you are free of being pressured and not forced from living a live that can help you live with less stress and mental health struggles. Minimalism is still amazing and I wish everyone will use minimalism in their everyday lives because one day when we die we should realize all things are temporary not permanent and they won’t stay with you forever except for your soul, life, memories, everything that’s related to you stays with you forever than material things and possessions. So, value your life, memories, and anything that you value as long it isn’t toxic and unhealthy.
To me minimalism is not WHAT you have, but KNOWING you have it. I don't have TOO much, or too little. I have just enough. I know everything I have and where it is. I put things away after I use them. Then I know they are safe and waiting for me when I need them again. If I have something I know I will use, I keep it..
I Don't brush my teeth with shampoo, in fact I have 2 different flavors of toothpaste, because I like switching off!.
Two different flavors of toothpaste, I have to give that a try! 😀. I think that's a great mindset to have, knowing what you have and that you will use it, instead of decluttering to an arbitrarily low number of possessions. ✨
This is such a thought-provoking video. Thankyou. I first learned about minimalism when I became interesting in keeping a simple sketchbook and I read the tiny book, The Moonlight Chronicles by Dan Price, and later his book, Radical Simplicity. I liked learning about his personal journey. I tried for many years to avoid the ritual of giving and receiving Christmas presents, not through being stingy with money but because I actually experienced quite a lot of stress when people gave me presents I didnt want and didnt need. Such as a full set of those incredibly expensive copper cooking pans which tarnish really quickly and which take masses of time and energy to maintain even the most basic tarnish-free look! You are so right to help dispel the myth that minimalism involves living without any possessions in an all white home. Trying to explain to some members of my family how I wanted to live, without offending them, was one of my hardest journeys. Sharing a coffee, a meal or just a glass of wine with someone is far more enriching to me than an expensive piece of clothing or jewellery I’m never going to wear. Someone once gave me an incredibly expensive camera, brand new. I wasn’t into taking photographs but then felt obliged to use it. I had to take out extra insurance when I went on holiday when I was expected to take it with me, and could never leave it anywhere for fear of it getting stolen. I found that too very stressful. But I didn’t want to appear ungrateful. 20 years later and I no longer receive these kinds of gifts and I’m much more comfortable stating my preferences. But it took a long time. The people who run ‘Veganuary’ have made some useful videos about how to cope with being vegan when with friends and family. It might be helpful to have a video by you for anyone struggling to reject the gift of ‘stuff’ (presents?) from people? I haven’t said that very well but you know what I mean.
Thanks for such a thoughtful comment, Jane! I also much prefer shared experiences over (gifted) stuff. Especially if they take up time and energy, as you described with the copper cooking pans and expensive camera.
It reminded me of this video I made "One Easy Hack To Stay A Minimalist" (czcams.com/video/sWOo6CDxrMc/video.html): in it, I talked how I ended up with 6 plastic candles after a family trip. And how I should have asked the question:"Does this add value to my life?" before accepting them.
Take care! ✨
Very balanced and explained well. What adds value to our life are to be given importance. As usual, good message. Thanks. Viji
Indeed. Thanks for watching, Viji!
Fumio Sasaki my fave.
He's great 🙌🏻
Brilliant video Peter. I enjoy blogs/vlogs by those you mentioned and ah.....the "silent to do list" 😉. But I always come back to your channel❤. I recently watched "Success chasers" on CZcams and their video of The Art of letting go, it was regarding stoicism along with minimalistic living, you may find it interesting, I certainly did. Love your channel and enjoy listening to your views, etc. Thank you xx
Excellent!
Thank you, Peter.
You are welcome, thanks for watching!😀
Great video and analysis, Peter. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching! ✨
❤ If I were a minimalist I would still make room for at least 20 potted plants because these are one of the things I truly love, living in an apartment without access to land for a garden. So, I agree that this has to be a personal process with a lot of nuance.
Do you name your plants as well? I recently learned that's a thing among plant lovers! So funny 😀
@@IAmPeterCookI'm slowly putting my hand up 😂....I name mine😂xx
Thank you for sharing Done watching
Thanks for watching, Editha! 🌟
thanks for sharing your thoughts
I have ten throw pillows and love them:)!
That sounds comfy! 😉
I find it funny that the extreme and casual minimalists disagree on what minimalism means, but don’t realize that they agree on the same thing: the trivial many hinders the impactful few.
You are my minimalism fave
Thanks, Linda! 😀
Very helpful video! Thanks for your content!
Happy to hear it, thanks for watching! 🙏🏻
Great Video 😎
Thanks 😁
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Did you really wash your teeth with shampoo 😊❤
I did, just this once. I don't recommend it 😂