I was very young when I read this somewhere “perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”. Like so many people of my age, I lost the meaning of the quote in the maze of a seemingly more important activity- growing up.
A few weeks ago, my eyes fell on the same quote and I quickly fathomed what great meaning I lost as a child. The quote clearly spoke about minimalism; to give away everything so that only the most necessary remain with you.
Process of simplification
You know there are great many things which we think we must do to live but trust me; we really do not need to do a high percentage of those things. The degree to which you can understand the difference will chart the success or failure of your simplification process.
What is de-cluttering?
What is de-cluttering, after all? It is nothing but a simple urge to clear all the mess around you. When that urge becomes your need and then develops involuntarily into something like the air you breathe, you can say you have started on the road to minimalism.
Difference between simple living and minimalism
You may ask me what the essential difference between simple living and minimalism is. Simple living helps you walk on the road to minimalism. I will tell you how. Our lives are very complex per se. First, we need to make them simple.
This can be attained by simple living. Once, we have done it successfully, we have got to tear away from our existence anything that we really do not need. In course of time, we will be left with only the very necessary things. This is called minimalism. So you can jolly well make out how simple living leads you on the road to minimalism.
De-cluttering should begin at home
Just as charity begins at home, de-cluttering should also begin at home. You have got to assess (not in the light of materialism or else you are bound to deviate) what is really useful to you. Make three separate categories- “keep”, “give away” and “discard”. It is easy to follow that you have got to work first on the third category.
Once you are done, think hard about those objects which clearly fall in the “give away” category and about those few too which lie on the borderline between “keep” and “give away”. A woollen sweater you brought on a holiday destination 10 years ago should fall in the “discard” category.
The same sweater, if gifted 10 years ago (and no more in use) by a colleague should fall in the “give away” category while the very same sweater will fall in the “keep” category if it was gifted to you 6 months ago by a friend and is in really fine shape to tackle the winter ahead.
De-clutter your kitchen space, your shelves, cabinets, get rid of possessions you can do without and soon you will find a sense of calm percolating in the ambience near you. In this regard, you can choose a minimalist design for your home’s architecture too.
Mark my words when I say you will feel the aura of minimalism expressing itself on you.
How have you gone ahead with the de-cluttering plan at your home?
Related Posts
