Every movement has its own philosophy. Rather, from one or another philosophy, some kind of movement is always born.
Minimalism is gaining momentum on the planet. Once the prerogative of Japan or Sweden, it is now one of the famous movements in the United States, slowly climbing into Europe. Everyone is in a hurry to refuse, utilize and reduce (they will probably come to the idea of filling later). Especially zealous adherents of minimalism gleefully write that society is tired of consuming and is now gaining more awareness.
It seems that this is not the point, but that we are getting tired.
The modern world is full of information, visual and acoustic noise. Sometimes all this merges into a cacophony of requirements for a modern person. At 25, you should already clearly know your path, have a couple of higher educations, the most badass on the planet, and a couple of kids, one of whom will find a cure for AIDS, and the second will be a lifelong Olympic gold medalist. And even if you have it all, there is no guarantee that you will be good enough.
Social media to help us keep in touch with those far away does not make things better. Most people do not forget to boast of success and well-being, sometimes fictitious or feigned, hiding their bad days, and any living person who has setbacks or a bad mood, surrounded by these happy, prosperous facades, can earn neurosis by comparing himself with others. There are countless articles devoted to this phenomenon by psychologists.
It is not surprising that in the chaos of exaggerated requirements, advertising, and the availability of everything that the soul desires, a person wants control. We lose ourselves in junk, we overwhelm our friends, acquaintances, and the planet, and in the end, we sometimes just want silence and reboot. In silence and reboot, we want it to be always this way: so that we live in purity and clarity. In the feeling of fresh cool air, a wide space in which our attention is not scattered into a thousand details, but focuses with the point of a needle on the things we need.
We want more awareness.
This is the first step towards minimalism.
Being a minimalist doesn’t mean cutting back or giving up. It means:
Choose:
• Not things, but impressions
(Not a new iPhone, but a trip to a new country or charity)
• Not massive, but suitable for me
(Not 10 pairs of shoes from H&M, but two for the same money, but comfortable and a lifespan in several years)
• Not synthetic, but natural
At least until synthetics are equal in quality to natural
Use:
• Your home not as a warehouse/storeroom, but as a sacred place of rest and recovery; and treat it appropriately
• Food not as a reward, but as fuel for the needs of my body
• Only those things that are really needed
Protect:
• Impressions and communication with loved ones, not things and popularity with strangers
• The environment and those who happen to be around
• Your body and your home
They say all this takes time, awareness, discipline, and willpower.
In fact, all it takes is just getting tired. And want to enjoy simple things.
And feel free.
