Minimalism: Living More with Less and Finding Freedom

The concept of ‘minimalism’ is relatively new, and there seems to be a growing consciousness around the idea that having less can mean more. However, when I truly thought about it, I realized that minimalism as a way of life has always existed.

It reminded me of my grandparents, who had very little yet were truly happy. Somehow, over time, we seem to have lost those values. As far back as I can remember, success was always directly proportional to having more – more wealth, more clothes, fancy cars, a nice house, and so on.

Society was structured in such a way that we were automatically conditioned to chase more and were never taught how to be content with less. It was only about a decade ago that an entire generation began feeling mentally, physically, and emotionally saturated, leading them to crave a simpler life.

I know that letting go of things and embracing a minimalist lifestyle isn’t easy. While I am still learning the small nuances of minimalistic living, I am certain of one thing—most of the things we think we want in life are not actually the things we need.

What is minimalism?

Before we dig deeper to understand how minimalism helps us live more and find freedom, let us first define what minimalism truly is.

According to Henry Ward Beecher, “It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.” I believe this is the simplest definition of minimalism.

Minimalism is a way of life in which we consciously choose to emphasize simplicity and functionality, to live mindfully by removing excess from our lives. Deeply rooted in the philosophy of ‘less is more,’ minimalism is about finding joy in the little things rather than constantly chasing material possessions.

Minimalism can be applied to different aspects of life. In terms of living spaces – particularly in design and architecture—minimalism is about having open spaces, neutral colors, ample natural light instead of artificial lighting, and a focus on aesthetics rather than clutter.

Regarding lifestyle, minimalism means prioritizing what is essential and eliminating what is not. For instance, one can live with a single pair of jeans, a few shirts and t-shirts, and a couple of outfits for special occasions rather than owning an excessive wardrobe.

As a traveler, I embrace minimalism by traveling light. I can spend a month living out of a small backpack, washing and reusing my clothes rather than packing an entire suitcase of fancy outfits. To me, traveling is about embracing what the world has to offer, and for that, we don’t need to carry heavy luggage around the globe.

While minimalism may take on different meanings for those who embrace it, it is important to understand that living a minimalist life does not mean living a deprived life. Minimalism is a conscious choice – one that focuses on mindfulness, sustainability, and intentional consumption, fostering clarity, purpose, and freedom.

Minimalism: Living More with Less and Finding Freedom

Embracing a minimalistic lifestyle needs practice. It isn’t something that can be achieved overnight, and there are several meaningful ways to practice minimalism in life. To put it simply, minimalism follows a simple equation where fewer possessions is equal to more happiness.

More Time and Energy

When we have fewer possessions, we tend to spend less time and energy managing them. Hence, we automatically have more time and energy to do things that matter to us.

More Clarity and Focus

As Marie Kondo (Japanese professional organizer and consultant) usually says, “A cluttered home is also a symptom of a cluttered mind”, it is actually true that our mind gets overwhelmed with visual clutter. When we have fewer things in front, and there’s more empty space with things organized properly, our mind can focus more.

More Calm

When we have more things, we always worry about losing them. Adding more stuff to our lives makes us stressed as we have to constantly think of managing them, organizing them, cleaning them and taking care of them. On the contrary, owning less means worrying less about unnecessary things, thus eliminating stress and anxiety. Needless to say, minimalism is a way to add calmness in life.

More Clarity

When we let go of things we don’t need in life and embrace minimalism, we also learn to prioritize things in life, having clarity of what essentially matters to us and what doesn’t. We slowly start connecting to things that truly matters to us, gaining clarity about little things.

More Freedom

As we let go of material possessions, we also lighten our burdens, freeing ourselves from everything that once weighed us down. Our mind starts decluttering, and there’s a sense of spirituality that slowly creeps into our lives.

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” -Socrates.

More Flexibility

With more freedom comes more flexibility. When we have fewer things to take care of, we have more flexibility with whatever little we own. Imagine having only a few pair of clothes – you won’t have to constantly worry about sorting them, and taking care of them.

More Gratitude

Once we start living life with less, we become more conscious of whatever we have and tend to appreciate them more. We value little joys of life, and tend to be grateful for them.

More Self-Worth

While the society always makes us feel that having more is empowering, once we embrace minimalism we understand that owning less enhances our self-worth. Once we let go of things, we realize that our possessions don’t determine our value. Our character and behaviour define how we are as a person, not our material possessions.

More Quality Relationships

Embracing minimalism helps in improving our relationships as well. When we have fewer things, we have more time to spend with our friends and family. Our mind is more open towards new experiences, instead of worrying too much about our possessions. In today’s date, when everything is moving at the speed of light, minimalism helps us to slow down and nurture our relationships in the most meaningful way.

More Happiness

Minimalism helps us to truly focus on what makes us happy. As we focus on a change in our lifestyle, we start asking important questions to ourselves. For example, while buying something, we think about whether it is necessary or not, or how much we will actually use it. Slowly, we start understanding that happiness is not in owning more, but sometimes, happiness is all about letting go.

To put it in the words of Lao Tzu, “Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

So, to say the least, minimalism can be that tool that will help you find freedom. Freedom from worries of managing, freedom from feeling overwhelmed, freedom from the guilt of accumulating the unnecessary, freedom from stress & anxiety. As you find your way out of the consumerism web, you’ll truly get to live a minimalistic life filled with happiness.

When are you taking a step towards minimalism?

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