Sometimes I feel like I can’t use the term ‘minimalist’ to define my lifestyle choices. That people judge my lifestyle under a tight number of rules and opinions about what they perceive to be the lifestyle. People will always judge how ‘minimalist’ someone is based on their own personal definitions and perceptions. They will say you aren’t a proper minimalist because you own something people might not consider essential.
However, there are many different definitions of minimalism… honestly, everyone who calls themselves Minimalist will have a different opinions of what minimalism is and how to be successful in that way of living.
Some say it is about owning and buying less.
Some will suggest restricting yourself to only 100 essential items.
Others will say it’s a mindset, about spending less, not having more than you need and focusing less one stuff and more on life experiences.
There are many other ideas about minimalism too.
Of the suggestions I mentioned; personally, I would say I fit into the last one. I have so many things I want to do and my hope is by stopping unnecessary spending and by owing less, I am in a better place to do all of those things. There are things I want to achieve in life that mean I need money to do them, but I also want the financial security to go on holiday, or take time off to spend time with family. Owning less, means I waste less time and money, which means that I can focus on making the most of my time and being the best person I can be.
No one will every be happy with your opinion of a successful minimalist life. I have learnt to value my success as a ‘minimalist’ by my view of how content and financially stable I am.
So I’ve learnt to mention that I am not a good minimalist. In fact, right now, I would say I’ve been a pretty rubbish minimalist because I lost sight of what I wanted. I survived lockdown and stress by shopping online, because it felt less like actual shopping, until things started piling up. A lot of it came from boredom. It was something I could do at home; so I curbed it by starting a new hobby and getting busy again; blogging and getting a new job.
I suppose what I am trying to say is that I am not a perfect minimalist. I write about my ideas of minimalism and how it improves my life in the hopes of letting other people see the changes I have made. My minimalism isn’t perfect, I doubt that anyone truly lives a perfect minimalist life. So be kind, and allow everyone to explore minimalism their own way.
Want to know more about my journey to minimalism?
abigailgrows 
Perfection is hard to achieve. I think as long as you’re being true to yourself, whether that’s buying something or not, unhauling or stocking up, that’s what matters ✨
I love your honesty here. I consider myself quite a minimalist in many ways, even writing about slow living over on my blog.
I guess by my definition, being a minimalist means that I don’t desire much and don’t view success from a monetary standpoint. Minimalism to me means living a peaceful life where I can thrive and surround myself with others to embody the same values as me x.
Kate | kindlyk.co.uk
Thank you for being so candid about this. I write specifically on “Simple Living” and always feel I am a fraud for I am not a minimalist in the least. But I am intentional in what I spend my money on and what I bring into my space. I think Minimalism is a blanket term so i do not claim it though in some ways I practice it.
I always feel like minimalism is thought of as totally hard core, really limiting yourself, but as you say it doesn’t have to be. I’m trying to do with less and it’s beneficial in so many ways but I’m not making it strict so that I can never buy anything new. Lifestyle is as about mindset as it is practice.
i totally know how you feel. for me, i see minimalism as living with intention. it doesn’t necessarily mean i own x amount of items & have a very aesthetically pleasing home. it’s more of not letting the items define who i am and to appreciate experiences and the relationships in my life more than material things. minimalism is different for everyone. it shouldn’t feel like a deprivation.
– B | http://www.mindbeautysimplicity.wordpress.com