LESS IS THE NEW MORE

Ever bought something off the internet or from the market thinking, "I might need it someday?” If your answer was an instant yes followed by a feeling of guilt, this might be an article written just for you.

"It is not the man who has too little but the man who craves more, that is poor."

-Seneca stated, 1BCE

Talks of minimalistic lifestyles have origins dating back serial ages. There have been numerous mentions of such lifestyles. And many say Mahatma Gandhi was the modern proponent of minimalism in India, analyzing his life history and lifestyle.

“Live simply, so that others may simply live.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

Being the person who led by example, Mahatma Gandhi always advocated that we do not need a lot to feel content. His life and the literature put together by numerous philosophers highlight not only how the minimalistic lifestyle can benefit the individual but also benefits the environment and people around us. ?Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life's excesses and to focus on what's important. Tough times show us the true value of things. The covid-19 pandemic taught us that we can live with minimum. While some retail consumption slowed down and others stopped completely, many were struck with the realization that we genuinely do not need so much material wealth to lead a fruitful life.

?No, It Is Not A New Concept

The word minimalism feels like a new word but the ideas, principles, and origins of this word can be traced back in history. Religions have long advocated doing away with the gluttony of our materialistic world. In Christianity, living minimally without any greed is about living out our purpose, not anyone else’s. Islam talks about 'Zuhd', which means Asceticism. It promotes moderation and shuns extravagance or extremism in any avenue of life. It encourages people to fulfill their basic needs moderately, without wasting any resources. In Hinduism, Sanyasa talks about a simple life, one with minimal or no material possessions. Indian religions include a spectrum of diverse practices, ranging from mild self-discipline, self-imposed poverty, and simple living, to more stern and self-mortification practices of monks. Contingent upon Buddhism, a traditional Buddhist, such as a monk, lives an extremely minimalist lifestyle because their belief in these principles governs their everyday life. They also believe that attachment to objects is what causes suffering because the truth of life is that "nothing will last forever".

Who Is A Minimalistic Seeker?

The idea is very straightforward: less is more, which applied, for example, to our daily lives means reducing the use and consumption of material goods as much as possible, which aids in initiatives like sustainable living, zero waste movement, etc. It proposes a simpler way of being and acting, above all, one that is kinder to the environment and our society as a whole.

Researchers have time and again suggested that we have become so consumerist that no matter how much we have, it never feels like we have enough. The rich consume and demand more and more space, while some are being crushed under debt for pursuing more.

As an advocate of minimalism, American designer, writer, and lecturer Graham Hill suggests eliminating all the accessories from our lives — all those things we never use — and thinking before we buy. In order to achieve this lifestyle that is good for us and good for the environment in the midst of the fight against climate change, he proposes a three-step formula that he calls "life edited":

1. Eliminate ruthlessly,

2. Think small, small is sexy, and

3. Whatever you have, make it functional.

The Benefits Of Minimalism

Forbes magazine lists the following benefits we would encounter if we start leading a minimalistic life:

• It improves personal finances: owning less stuff means spending less and saving more.
• It increases the quality of life: it brings more freedom, more order, and more time for oneself.
• It reduces stress and anxiety: having fewer possessions reduces the number of worries.
• It allows us to know ourselves better: the fewer the distractions, the easier it is to discover what we are passionate about.
• Increased sense of well-being
• Improves our relationships with ourselves and others.

Some unwritten obligations that positively impact the environment:

1. It helps to reduce industrial activities, such as textile manufacturing, and the over-exploitation of natural resources.
2. It means less waste generation and the ability to manage waste in a more sustainable way.
3. It reduces the use and presence of plastics, which are particularly harmful to seas and oceans, by replacing them with biodegradable materials.
4. It reduces environmental pollution by using fewer individual means of transport, as well as reducing our ecological footprint.

How to be Minimalistic

• Declutter your space to declutter your mind. Find the time to get rid of all your clutter.
• Live with less, so you have fewer chores and more time to do other things.
• “Essentials over luxury”, is a good practice to have.
• Find stillness. Indulge in practices that do not require much physical effort like meditation, yoga, etc.
• Minimalistic practices create a simple, clear view of the world. Simpler life often reflects relaxation.
• Focus on the positives and use your energy inward. Find peace within yourself so that you can be kind to others.
• Find a balance in all walks of life, balance is an essential precursor to happiness.
• Focus more on quality and relationships cause satisfaction is derived from love over materialistic possessions.
• Having fewer means doing less, and doing fewer means having more time for your relationships.
• Take out time to enhance your relationships and develop your hobbies. This is far better than loving replaceable things.

Minimalism teaches us that removing things that no longer serve us is the only way to evolve truly and change for the better. As easy as it sounds, letting go of our comforts might be a big challenge. Some things might be more difficult than others. It will not be an overnight process, there may be times when we might fail to refrain from using some things, and that is ok. Failure is the way we learn difficult lessons. But getting back up and trying again is crucial.

Are you ready to embark on this new path? If you are unsure, feel free to connect with us by contacting us on our toll-free number 18008338747 or emailing us at [email protected].?You can also visit our website www.transformhappily.com for more.

Let's Transform Happily and Minimalistically!