Some people may have certain vices or coping mechanisms that may help them feel better momentarily, but the feeling doesn’t last in the long run. These vices might include smoking, drinking, substance abuse or even sex. The thing with these kinds of behaviors is that they can be addicting, and even if one has thought of stopping but has trouble committing himself to that, changing that behavior will take time. It’s not easy, and in worst case scenarios, they may need to be put in therapy and/or rehabilitation.
So you might be thinking, what does this have to do with minimalism? Sometimes in order to get better or heal, we have to acknowledge our own vices or negative behavioral patterns. If you’re someone who buys things out of impulse, or has held onto more than what you need, there’s probably a psychological reason for that. There’s this thing called the scarcity complex, which means that if you see a certain item that you feel is essential but isn’t, your mind reacts in a way that’s based on fear. It’s like we’re back in survival mode and we can’t get by without it, so we hold onto everything just because we can. Those who grew up in the Great Depression era most likely experienced this, and as a result, they may have stockpiled up on a lot of things that may not seem necessary in today’s culture.
The thing with impulse shopping or hoarding is that while society tends to overlook its effects, they can and will create more damage in the long run. I’ve talked more about this addictive shopping habit in a couple past blog posts, but just to keep things simple here, all I’m going to say is this: Our self worth matters. Our mental and emotional well-being matters. If we cared more about the consequences of our actions, or just cared more for our well-being in general, perhaps we’d realize that the only thing we need to define ourselves is not only us, flaws and all, but also the people who care and love us the most. Now I'm not saying this to sound pushy or be too persuasive, but let me ask you this: when you think about your ideal or "dream life", does that life come with a lot of baggage or clutter? Does that life include a sense of peace, calmness or contentment? Think about it, or write down your thoughts in a journal if you want.
Our identity is NOT based on material items, and while there's nothing wrong with buying things that are related to a specific interest or hobby, there is a difference between having those hobbies or interests and buying things just for the sake of having them. A lot of people in today’s society seem to have this belief that what we acquire or own is an extension of who we are. If that was true, then is it really worth your time and energy to maintain a closet full of designer clothes, shoes and accessories you only wear and use a couple times each year? Is it worth your time and energy to collect and maintain different pairs of Nike sneakers that a famous sports player has talked about in advertisements? Is it worth your time and energy to maintain an entire bookshelf dedicated to your favorite author’s books, or that massive DVD or CD collection you own, but barely go through and watch/listen to? Think about whether or not all that time and money spent on these things is really worth it. If your answer is no, then perhaps it’s time to pair down and only keep what is necessary to you. If your answer is yes however, then by all means, keep doing what you’re doing.
I personally believe that our identities can be built in whatever way we see fit. With that being said however, I would like to advise you to exercise caution and be mindful. Before getting into minimalism, I remember when I had over 30 t-shirts, a storage bench full of DVDs and CDs, and more sweaters than what I could go through in one season. At the time, I thought that the key to maintaining all of this was to find the “perfect organizational system", but in reality, I realized that all that clutter was only adding to more stress and overwhelm to my life. Minimalism has taught me that my identity does not need to be defined by my stuff, as that less really is more. I hope that reading this inspires you to feel the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment