Fear, relationships, beliefs and growth in minimalism

Minimalism isn’t merely about getting rid of the stuff you don’t need. It is also a state of mind that affects all aspects of your life.

Fear

We are all afraid of something, however rational or irrational. The fear of failure, letting someone down, making a fool of yourself - we’ve all been there. Every year, we come out with lists of resolutions, hoping that the new year will be different and better. What we should know is that every crazy goal has its crazy expectations and outcomes but we often only set goals and ambitions that are within our comfort zone. Our comfort zone is always safe, but there’s nothing more freeing than diving headfirst into a thing you’ve long contemplated and going “what am I afraid of?” You’ll realise that the answer is plain lame. Our fear prevents us from changing for the better. We should not let our fears gentrify our minds rent-free .

No, you won’t lose out on your childhood memories by giving that old, torn T-shirt away; no, people don’t really care about anyone but themselves in the gym; no, that really bad article isn’t going to write itself.

Minimalism is letting go - not hoarding up physical space with clutter, but also not congesting your mind with false fears that stop you from living life. It gives you clarity to see things as they really are and should be. So breathe, assess your fears from a distance and ask: what am I afraid of?

Relationships

Nurturing your relationships with people brings about joy in life. It is an important aspect of succeeding in any venture because it provides the support and encouragement to brace any fallback or hurdle. Minimalism is a life choice that, while not necessary, will benefit from having a good group of people around you accepting your change. They don’t all have to be minimalists too, but knowing people also helps with the transition because you find outlets for all the things you no longer need - to that uncle your very nice jacket, to your sister the skirts she has been eyeing, to that organisation your other donations. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Beliefs

Whether we like it or not, our world is becoming increasingly materialistic. We compare ourselves to our peers by our paychecks, titles, mode of transport or fashion, using them as a benchmark on how successful we are in life. It can even be as trivial as how many followers or likes a friend has on social media, leading to extreme amounts of self-doubt, jealousy and feelings of being inadequate. But as you go about your day finding joy in how you’ve completed all your tasks for the day, smelled the flowers of your houseplant and laughed with your friends, do the material goods and numbers really matter?

Being minimalistic is about seeing through that fog of shiny objects and ego. Bottom line is that you don’t have to be like everyone else; there is power in your individuality and your own beliefs. Even minimalists aren’t all the same.

So what is important to you?

Growth

At the edge of your comfort zone is growth. People would say there’s nothing to be unhappy about, you have everything! But there is nothing less fulfilling and stressful than doing the same things day after day, expecting a different outcome.

Minimalism helps us grow. It helps us to filter out the unnecessary things that keep us in a fixed old version of ourselves where change is dreaded and our lives are lacklustre. Oftentimes, just like the things we hoard, we put our dreams at the back of our minds to collect dust. Minimalism is being more intentional in our choices and focusing on things that help us grow. Growth takes deliberate effort and practice, but it all starts with a decision. You have the power to make that choice. What have you wanted to do for the longest time but never had time or resources to?