"To be honest, I'll stick my neck out & risk a bit of flack here, by saying that my religious convictions are supported by minimalist living: ("Let all things be done decently and in order." 1 cor 14.40)."
Well we have a lot more in common than I thought. ;)
I hesitated to post a reply, because for me it is more a frame of mind, a way of being, than any set convictions or reasons. So it is something that is difficult for me to completely explain, even to myself 
It's more who I AM, rather than what I DO and why I do it. BUT, if I had to give tangible reasons:
- I love having less. I love having only what I can use, see, have out, wear out. This past year I have had one pair of shoes. One. I chose a nice pair that suited all scenarios and that matched every outfit I would possibly wear (easy when you know exactly what outfits you own and wear them all 
). Because I walk A LOT, they literally had holes in the soles after about 6 months :) Signs of a life well lived. So they were ready for the bin and well and truly worn. I replaced them with one pair again. I used to have so many shoes, and really only wore one or two pairs. Even when I started moving towards minimalism, I still had quite a few different types. Made the change when we went traveling and I don't think I could ever go back now. I'm not saying everyone should have one pair of shoes. Just that for me, I really love using something so much that it actually *needs* to be replaced. Rather than having so much excess that all they really do is collect dust in a cupboard. Reminding me of wasted money and a thoughtless purchase.
- It saves money. If you are not trying to keep up with the jones', live in excess, have everything you could ever 'want'. You only buy what you truly need and will use. Not that you never get something just for the joy of it that is more want than need. Just that when you do, it is something you will love and treasure the rest of your life. Not just something you must have because your eyes are big on adrenalin from a shopping spree. Or it's the 'cool' thing to get. Or you have become so wrapped up in want want want, buy buy buy, that you have lost who you really are. I try to only buy things we genuinely need. I love learning to do without the things we don't.
- Freedom! This is a huge one for me. I hate feeling weighed down. I love the notion of packing up everything you own into one bag and hitting the road (if you want to). Or on a smaller scale, being able to move to a new house, or city, or country with only a few boxes of truly important stuff. With so much ease, and no stress. I like knowing if there were an emergency and if I had to grab everything most precious to me (apart from my family ) that I know where everything special is, what to grab exactly, and that nothing else matters. May seem obvious, but I don't think it really is to most people. I used to have a huge sentimental attachment to stuff, just random stuff, everything I owned basically. Because I thought that was important. And I think the natural progression of realizing it isn't, is to become more minimalist. Since you see how meaningless it truly is in your life and that it is just getting in the way of more important things.
- I like a lot of space in my home. My kids are my life and are homeschooled, so the living areas of our home are dedicated to life and play. I want them to have room to run around and just enjoy themselves. I like wall space. There was a time when I was a packrat. It was all well organized and neat/packed away. But because I had so much, I had a fair bit of furniture to store things in. At one point, literally every part of wall space was taken up by things. As in, one wall had a bookcase, and a set of drawers, and a hamper. And no free space along the wall. I hate that, I like open space and room to move. I hate things feeling crowded or jammed in.
- Simplicity makes me warm and fuzzy :). I enjoy having only what we wear and everything staying fresh and clean because you are washing it regularly. I like when everything fits in the cupboard with ample room to spare. I like washing the sheets on the bed, and bringing them back all clean at the end of the day to put on the bed. Not having umpteen million sets and then needing a linen closet to store them all, attracting moths and pests. I like being able to see everything in a cupboard when I am searching for it. I like not needing extra pieces of furniture in order to store extra items I really don't need. I love looking at things on a shelf and seeing things that are so loved and useful, because we really do use them all the time. I like how simple it is to clean up when there is not much to be messed in the first place.
- It's better for the environment. How many bags of donations do people end up taking to the thrift store each year. Things that are sometimes never worn, or hardly. Things they had to have that don't really fit into their life. Or the constant upgrades of gadgets, and phones just tossed in the bin. When really that old phone, or tv, or computer, worked perfectly fine. Or all the toiletries or food that has to be thrown out, because it's been sitting in the cupboard so long because really it's not something you use, or you had too many. There is just so much wastage. When it's really not necessary.
- It's easier to keep clean. I am loving our house where we are now. The only thing in the kids room at the moment is their beds. I can vacuum the whole room so easily. There is really nothing to have to move, or go in and out or around. There is nothing to dust or maintain. No surfaces to wipe over. Nothing to pick up before being able to vacuum. Think how much more likely you are to wipe over that bathroom counter, if there is nothing (or almost nothing) sitting on it making the job more of a pain.
- It's good for the soul 
. There is just something nicer about a space filled with only what you LOVE. With carefully chosen beautiful or useful items. With flowing plentiful space. With people who can just relax and not have to focus on anything material. Only playing together and enjoying each others company. Including guests who walk into a space like that. Where people are relaxed, because there is nothing that is deemed more precious than human relationships. There are not white couches that can't be sat on for fear of spoiling. Or breakable nic-nacs all over the place to be careful of. Not that you can't have white couches or breakable things and be a minimalist Just that things are much easier to take care of when they aren't overwhelming an entire room. And I dare say valuing a precious couch more than your grubby toddler would not fit in with a minimalist mindset. At least for me, it does not fit into my idea of what minimalism is to me. For me, I would rather lose all attachment to meaningless belongings which can be replaced. Move out anything non essential from my life to make space for the things I truly value. And focus on those beautiful moments spent with my family, the only thing truly irreplaceable to me. If I made my home minimalist, but had to yell at my kids to protect the belongings I had kept in my life, then I may have an empty house, but I wouldn't have replaced it with a fuller life. In short, I would have missed the point.
I am not sure I have remembered every important reason that led me here. As I said it is really hard for me to come up with a list of tangible reasons. Most of that may not even be tangible 
. For me, minimalism is not something that I woke up one day and chose to do and then took a list of instructions and did it. It was more a slow change of being and who I am. My views and values changed slowly over time and minimalism was just the result of that. Consumerism and excessive materialism just became something I was no longer interested in pursuing. And a life of simplicity became what most appealed to me. There are obviously benefits to living this way, but they are more the result than the motivation. I live this way because it is what makes me happy. It's something that brings me more joy in life and makes things more fun and exciting for me. And it's something that you don't 'get' until you do, if that makes sense. You can understand some of the reasons or ideals behind it, but it's not until it truly clicks or resonates with you personally that it will become part of who you are and your life.
But hope that explains it a little anyway 
To be honest, I'll stick my neck out & risk a bit of flack here, by saying that my religious convictions are supported by minimalist living: ("Let all things be done decently and in order." 1 cor 14.40)
Mum4vr- there are quotes upon quotes from the bible that support a minimalist non-consumerist way of life. I once searched bible verses that deal with a similar issue - what the bible says about the value of money/wealth. And I found millions of awesome ones that you would probably love that were minimalist-focused. The general message is that things have no importance, helping and loving others is all that really matters. Giving is so much more important than acquiring! One of my favorites:
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21
I hesitated to post a reply, because for me it is more a frame of mind, a way of being, than any set convictions or reasons. So it is something that is difficult for me to completely explain, even to myself It's more who I AM, rather than what I DO and why I do it. BUT, if I had to give tangible reasons:
- I love having less. I love having only what I can use, see, have out, wear out. This past year I have had one pair of shoes. One. I chose a nice pair that suited all scenarios and that matched every outfit I would possibly wear (easy when you know exactly what outfits you own and wear them all ). Because I walk A LOT, they literally had holes in the soles after about 6 months :) Signs of a life well lived. So they were ready for the bin and well and truly worn. I replaced them with one pair again. I used to have so many shoes, and really only wore one or two pairs. Even when I started moving towards minimalism, I still had quite a few different types. Made the change when we went traveling and I don't think I could ever go back now. I'm not saying everyone should have one pair of shoes. Just that for me, I really love using something so much that it actually *needs* to be replaced. Rather than having so much excess that all they really do is collect dust in a cupboard. Reminding me of wasted money and a thoughtless purchase.
This sounds heavenly!!! I do have less also but I work full time, so I needa few pairs of shoes so mine can air out and not wear out so quick. :)
- It saves money. If you are not trying to keep up with the jones', live in excess, have everything you could ever 'want'. You only buy what you truly need and will use. Not that you never get something just for the joy of it that is more want than need. Just that when you do, it is something you will love and treasure the rest of your life. Not just something you must have because your eyes are big on adrenalin from a shopping spree. Or it's the 'cool' thing to get. Or you have become so wrapped up in want want want, buy buy buy, that you have lost who you really are. I try to only buy things we genuinely need. I love learning to do without the things we don't.
I completlely agree!!!
- Freedom! This is a huge one for me. I hate feeling weighed down. I love the notion of packing up everything you own into one bag and hitting the road (if you want to). Or on a smaller scale, being able to move to a new house, or city, or country with only a few boxes of truly important stuff. With so much ease, and no stress. I like knowing if there were an emergency and if I had to grab everything most precious to me (apart from my family ) that I know where everything special is, what to grab exactly, and that nothing else matters. May seem obvious, but I don't think it really is to most people. I used to have a huge sentimental attachment to stuff, just random stuff, everything I owned basically. Because I thought that was important. And I think the natural progression of realizing it isn't, is to become more minimalist. Since you see how meaningless it truly is in your life and that it is just getting in the way of more important things.
I used to be sentimental too, until all my stuff was ruined. I could only salvage a tote bag of items. Since then, I take pics and hold the memories in my heart.
- I like a lot of space in my home. My kids are my life and are homeschooled, so the living areas of our home are dedicated to life and play. I want them to have room to run around and just enjoy themselves. I like wall space. There was a time when I was a packrat. It was all well organized and neat/packed away. But because I had so much, I had a fair bit of furniture to store things in. At one point, literally every part of wall space was taken up by things. As in, one wall had a bookcase, and a set of drawers, and a hamper. And no free space along the wall. I hate that, I like open space and room to move. I hate things feeling crowded or jammed in.
AMEN!!! So do I. My son can jump, tumble and spread out his Legos with no issue. I am also really able to showcase the pictures/artwork I truly love.
- Simplicity makes me warm and fuzzy :). I enjoy having only what we wear and everything staying fresh and clean because you are washing it regularly. I like when everything fits in the cupboard with ample room to spare. I like washing the sheets on the bed, and bringing them back all clean at the end of the day to put on the bed. Not having umpteen million sets and then needing a linen closet to store them all, attracting moths and pests. I like being able to see everything in a cupboard when I am searching for it. I like not needing extra pieces of furniture in order to store extra items I really don't need. I love looking at things on a shelf and seeing things that are so loved and useful, because we really do use them all the time. I like how simple it is to clean up when there is not much to be messed in the first place.
I love CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN too. No more pulling something out and finding it wrinkled, stained, warped, moth eaten or otherwise.
- It's better for the environment. How many bags of donations do people end up taking to the thrift store each year. Things that are sometimes never worn, or hardly. Things they had to have that don't really fit into their life. Or the constant upgrades of gadgets, and phones just tossed in the bin. When really that old phone, or tv, or computer, worked perfectly fine. Or all the toiletries or food that has to be thrown out, because it's been sitting in the cupboard so long because really it's not something you use, or you had too many. There is just so much wastage. When it's really not necessary.
Agree. :)
- It's easier to keep clean. I am loving our house where we are now. The only thing in the kids room at the moment is their beds. I can vacuum the whole room so easily. There is really nothing to have to move, or go in and out or around. There is nothing to dust or maintain. No surfaces to wipe over. Nothing to pick up before being able to vacuum. Think how much more likely you are to wipe over that bathroom counter, if there is nothing (or almost nothing) sitting on it making the job more of a pain.
Used to take me 2-3 days a week to clean. Now, 2 full hours on the weekend and we could deep clean the place. I take literally minutes a day to keep the place neat and clean. AND I like being able to hit places like the kitchen/bathroom up more, where the messes tend to happen.
- It's good for the soul . There is just something nicer about a space filled with only what you LOVE. With carefully chosen beautiful or useful items. With flowing plentiful space. With people who can just relax and not have to focus on anything material. Only playing together and enjoying each others company. Including guests who walk into a space like that. Where people are relaxed, because there is nothing that is deemed more precious than human relationships. There are not white couches that can't be sat on for fear of spoiling. Or breakable nic-nacs all over the place to be careful of. Not that you can't have white couches or breakable things and be a minimalist Just that things are much easier to take care of when they aren't overwhelming an entire room. And I dare say valuing a precious couch more than your grubby toddler would not fit in with a minimalist mindset. At least for me, it does not fit into my idea of what minimalism is to me. For me, I would rather lose all attachment to meaningless belongings which can be replaced. Move out anything non essential from my life to make space for the things I truly value. And focus on those beautiful moments spent with my family, the only thing truly irreplaceable to me. If I made my home minimalist, but had to yell at my kids to protect the belongings I had kept in my life, then I may have an empty house, but I wouldn't have replaced it with a fuller life. In short, I would have missed the point.
I no longer worry about my stuff being ruined or having to maintain it for a showcase "home". I don't believe in deliberately ruining something but a quick fluff and puff and occasionaly wipe down keeps things spiffy and I do value my child over any "thing" anyday.
What are the reasons and convictions behind being minimalist?
I don't identify as a "minimalist" - rather as a practical, frugal, person who tries to live in a way that is comfortable and (if possible) ethical.
I came up with the term 'Essentialism' for what I do- having in my life only what I feel is essential. I was excited it was a real word, but unfortunately didn't mean what I wanted it to mean
Logan, I've read your 'reasons for minimalism' post four times now because I simply love it that much! I could have written those exact words myself :)
Did you find easy as you were slowly shifting towards minimalism? I always like to read other's experiences on their journey. Personally, I found it a little difficult, mostly due to the aversion from family and friends. While I'd be happy freeing up space, they'd question us with 'Having less? Isn't that like going backwards?'
The only time we could validly (in their eyes) defend our stance on the issue was once we purchased our tiny home. Can't have a lot of stuff hanging around if there is no where to put it.
Logan, I've read your 'reasons for minimalism' post four times now because I simply love it that much! I could have written those exact words myself :)
Did you find easy as you were slowly shifting towards minimalism? I always like to read other's experiences on their journey. Personally, I found it a little difficult, mostly due to the aversion from family and friends. While I'd be happy freeing up space, they'd question us with 'Having less? Isn't that like going backwards?'
The only time we could validly (in their eyes) defend our stance on the issue was once we purchased our tiny home. Can't have a lot of stuff hanging around if there is no where to put it.
My extended family could care less (I think bc they are a bit accustomed to me being the family kook). My friends & church members fall somewhere between my family & bit supportive, even if they may roll their eyes; they know it's just me being me.
DH's family otoh, *flips* regularly re many of our decisions. (I see their perspective-- they both grew up poor & worked very hard to rise financially-- dfil is a self-made millionaire now.) They like to give us **gifts** if they think we'd like something nicer but can't afford it. They FLIPPED for months when we decided to buy our cabin (bc it's small & simple), tried to talk us out of it, sent pix of houses for sale in our area (um, yeah, we already owned the land!), offered to finance nice big pretty houses for us... and finally appealed "on behalf of" our dc (who love the cabin, btw).
What bothers me is that we often don't tell them what's going on in our lives bc we don't want all of our or our dc's challenges in life wisked away by an unrequested "gift". It short-circuits problem solving and delayed gratification & makes us less likely to tt them regularly. That's sad.
My next big challenge re family will be when dmil & fil arrive to visit new baby & see that we neither have nor intend to have (nor have/ want SPACE for) a crib. I foresee tears...
LOB, I am glad to hear your smaller digs nipped the issue in the bud-- hopefully pointing out the "no place to put it" fact will help more than I think! (I'm dreading/ envisioning DH & I trying to tactfully decline an offer to fund an addition to the cabin for "baby's room" or even a "children's wing," LOL!)
Makes me wonder how they could have raised DH! I guess he's a rebel, LOL & so I hope our DC don't rebel & swing the pendulum back toward materialism...
I hesitated to post a reply, because for me it is more a frame of mind, a way of being, than any set convictions or reasons. So it is something that is difficult for me to completely explain, even to myself It's more who I AM, rather than what I DO and why I do it. BUT, if I had to give tangible reasons:
- I love having less. I love having only what I can use, see, have out, wear out. This past year I have had one pair of shoes. One. I chose a nice pair that suited all scenarios and that matched every outfit I would possibly wear (easy when you know exactly what outfits you own and wear them all ). Because I walk A LOT, they literally had holes in the soles after about 6 months :) Signs of a life well lived. So they were ready for the bin and well and truly worn. I replaced them with one pair again. I used to have so many shoes, and really only wore one or two pairs. Even when I started moving towards minimalism, I still had quite a few different types. Made the change when we went traveling and I don't think I could ever go back now. I'm not saying everyone should have one pair of shoes. Just that for me, I really love using something so much that it actually *needs* to be replaced. Rather than having so much excess that all they really do is collect dust in a cupboard. Reminding me of wasted money and a thoughtless purchase.
- It saves money. If you are not trying to keep up with the jones', live in excess, have everything you could ever 'want'. You only buy what you truly need and will use. Not that you never get something just for the joy of it that is more want than need. Just that when you do, it is something you will love and treasure the rest of your life. Not just something you must have because your eyes are big on adrenalin from a shopping spree. Or it's the 'cool' thing to get. Or you have become so wrapped up in want want want, buy buy buy, that you have lost who you really are. I try to only buy things we genuinely need. I love learning to do without the things we don't.
- Freedom! This is a huge one for me. I hate feeling weighed down. I love the notion of packing up everything you own into one bag and hitting the road (if you want to). Or on a smaller scale, being able to move to a new house, or city, or country with only a few boxes of truly important stuff. With so much ease, and no stress. I like knowing if there were an emergency and if I had to grab everything most precious to me (apart from my family ) that I know where everything special is, what to grab exactly, and that nothing else matters. May seem obvious, but I don't think it really is to most people. I used to have a huge sentimental attachment to stuff, just random stuff, everything I owned basically. Because I thought that was important. And I think the natural progression of realizing it isn't, is to become more minimalist. Since you see how meaningless it truly is in your life and that it is just getting in the way of more important things.
- I like a lot of space in my home. My kids are my life and are homeschooled, so the living areas of our home are dedicated to life and play. I want them to have room to run around and just enjoy themselves. I like wall space. There was a time when I was a packrat. It was all well organized and neat/packed away. But because I had so much, I had a fair bit of furniture to store things in. At one point, literally every part of wall space was taken up by things. As in, one wall had a bookcase, and a set of drawers, and a hamper. And no free space along the wall. I hate that, I like open space and room to move. I hate things feeling crowded or jammed in.
- Simplicity makes me warm and fuzzy :). I enjoy having only what we wear and everything staying fresh and clean because you are washing it regularly. I like when everything fits in the cupboard with ample room to spare. I like washing the sheets on the bed, and bringing them back all clean at the end of the day to put on the bed. Not having umpteen million sets and then needing a linen closet to store them all, attracting moths and pests. I like being able to see everything in a cupboard when I am searching for it. I like not needing extra pieces of furniture in order to store extra items I really don't need. I love looking at things on a shelf and seeing things that are so loved and useful, because we really do use them all the time. I like how simple it is to clean up when there is not much to be messed in the first place.
- It's better for the environment. How many bags of donations do people end up taking to the thrift store each year. Things that are sometimes never worn, or hardly. Things they had to have that don't really fit into their life. Or the constant upgrades of gadgets, and phones just tossed in the bin. When really that old phone, or tv, or computer, worked perfectly fine. Or all the toiletries or food that has to be thrown out, because it's been sitting in the cupboard so long because really it's not something you use, or you had too many. There is just so much wastage. When it's really not necessary.
- It's easier to keep clean. I am loving our house where we are now. The only thing in the kids room at the moment is their beds. I can vacuum the whole room so easily. There is really nothing to have to move, or go in and out or around. There is nothing to dust or maintain. No surfaces to wipe over. Nothing to pick up before being able to vacuum. Think how much more likely you are to wipe over that bathroom counter, if there is nothing (or almost nothing) sitting on it making the job more of a pain.
- It's good for the soul . There is just something nicer about a space filled with only what you LOVE. With carefully chosen beautiful or useful items. With flowing plentiful space. With people who can just relax and not have to focus on anything material. Only playing together and enjoying each others company. Including guests who walk into a space like that. Where people are relaxed, because there is nothing that is deemed more precious than human relationships. There are not white couches that can't be sat on for fear of spoiling. Or breakable nic-nacs all over the place to be careful of. Not that you can't have white couches or breakable things and be a minimalist Just that things are much easier to take care of when they aren't overwhelming an entire room. And I dare say valuing a precious couch more than your grubby toddler would not fit in with a minimalist mindset. At least for me, it does not fit into my idea of what minimalism is to me. For me, I would rather lose all attachment to meaningless belongings which can be replaced. Move out anything non essential from my life to make space for the things I truly value. And focus on those beautiful moments spent with my family, the only thing truly irreplaceable to me. If I made my home minimalist, but had to yell at my kids to protect the belongings I had kept in my life, then I may have an empty house, but I wouldn't have replaced it with a fuller life. In short, I would have missed the point.
I am not sure I have remembered every important reason that led me here. As I said it is really hard for me to come up with a list of tangible reasons. Most of that may not even be tangible . For me, minimalism is not something that I woke up one day and chose to do and then took a list of instructions and did it. It was more a slow change of being and who I am. My views and values changed slowly over time and minimalism was just the result of that. Consumerism and excessive materialism just became something I was no longer interested in pursuing. And a life of simplicity became what most appealed to me. There are obviously benefits to living this way, but they are more the result than the motivation. I live this way because it is what makes me happy. It's something that brings me more joy in life and makes things more fun and exciting for me. And it's something that you don't 'get' until you do, if that makes sense. You can understand some of the reasons or ideals behind it, but it's not until it truly clicks or resonates with you personally that it will become part of who you are and your life.
But hope that explains it a little anyway
Mum4vr- there are quotes upon quotes from the bible that support a minimalist non-consumerist way of life. I once searched bible verses that deal with a similar issue - what the bible says about the value of money/wealth. And I found millions of awesome ones that you would probably love that were minimalist-focused. The general message is that things have no importance, helping and loving others is all that really matters. Giving is so much more important than acquiring! One of my favorites:
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19
Best post evah.
Describes me perfectly. Thanks!
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