Marie Scott - Minimalism For Families Who Want to Live A More Meaningful Life by Decluttering Their Home

For Families Who Want to Live A More Meaningful Life by Decluttering Their Home

By: Marie Scott

Introduction

T rue to its name, minimalism is about getting rid of all the unnecessary or unrequired stuff from ones life and making room for all that offers you joy and peace of mind. A minimalistic life involves removing all clutter and consequently leaving you peaceful, free, and light. According to Lao Tzu, one needs to be content with what he or she has. Always be happy with the way things are because when you will realize that you lack nothing, then you will own the whole world.

A minimalist lifestyle is against the idea that more acquisition and consumption is better. It embraces the importance of being content with what we have and what truly makes us happy. Acquiring a lot of things that we really dont need doesnt bring happiness. Trying to have more is quite meaningless.

You need to stop busy all the time to the point that you cant enjoy the pleasures that life offers. A minimalist life values quality as compared to quantity. I practice minimalism, and this is a lifestyle that I really find satisfying. I wake up in a bedroom that has no clutter, have my breakfast, do some reading, and take walks in nature. I also work and spend time with my precious family.

Those are the simple things that offer me happiness. I am not into buying lots of items, traveling a lot, and attending parties. I am also not for spending cash on exorbitant entertainment and watching a lot of TV. The key is to figure out what makes you happy and get rid of the extras so that you can create room for the valuable and important things. Minimalism is not a boring life but rather a rich one in having less.

You dont need to have a minimalist life similar to mine or somebody else. You need to find out what really makes you happy. Always plan your day and get rid of the non-important things while making room for stuff and people you love.

This book will guide you through the path of finding peace and happiness through minimalism. This type of lifestyle is not an end but a route to having more freedom, creating more time, creating room for the important things, worrying less, experiencing more pleasure, being more frugal, and living healthier.

Chapter 1: Steps to Minimalism

E ven though a majority of people admire the minimalist lifestyle, it is not easy for them to live it. You may want to live this life, but you have no idea what to do or where to start. There are a number of things that you need to think about and do, and that can be quite tedious and overwhelming. Here are a few steps to follow as a beginner:

• Realize and acknowledge that you have enough. This is a key point in minimalism because being satisfied with whatever you have is important. Even if you declutter every single day yet you are not content with what you have, you will keep on wanting more.
• Start decluttering. You can do this gradually.
• Simplify your schedule. Reduce commitments and eliminate things that are not important from your schedule. This will allow you to focus on whats important.
• Edit all that you do.

Realize That You Have Enough

T his the beginning place, and decluttering is not just enough because you are likely to pile things up again if you continue buying. Therefore, the more you go on acquiring things, the more it means you are not content with how things are at that moment. Buying things you dont need is a clear indication that you lack some kind of satisfaction. You crave for more, and you desire more excitement and ways by which you can spice up your life.

Whatever the reason may be for buying, it is evident that you are not happy with your possessions. This is a problem that can be very addictive; however, dont lose hope. It is recommended that you do the following:

• Make it stick in your mind that you already have whatever you need. The things that you really need are food, clothing, water, shelter, and your loved ones. Everything else is just a bonus. You really dont need to have the latest gadgets, a fancy car, or a big house.
• Kick the habit of buying non-important stuff. Be conscious about it and make a one-month list. Make it a rule that each time you want to buy a non-necessity, you have to jot it down on the list together with the date it was added and that you cant purchase it for at least one month. In case you will need it after one month, then you can still buy it. This technique works because the urge to buy always fizzles out.
• Derive happiness by doing, not owning. Rest assured that you can always be happy by just having the necessities after you realize that owning and having things will never make you happy. On the contrary, doing things can give you happiness. You can talk to a friend, take a walk with a loved one, cook, sing, or do something else thats exciting. Once you realize that getting involved in activities will make you happy, you will have no desire for excessive stuff.
• Adopt the principle of enough. Have the idea that you dont always need anything extra and that there is a point you always have enough. The problem is that we never know when to stop needing more; it is a vicious cycle. You will be addicted to buying and owning. Learn to have enough and to be happy with what you have. This will take time.

Prioritize Your Necessities

G etting rid of necessities is one of the basics of minimalism. The essence is to create room for what is essential. You dont have to buy new clothes or gadgets if you already have them. You should always learn to be satisfied with the necessary things and carrying out the activities that you enjoy doing. However, its quite surprising that the things that we most often consider as essentials are never actually necessities.