I recently went to watch Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things at a local theatre. Since I heard about The Minimalist producing a documentary earlier this year, I was looking forward to watching it when it was released in the theatres in Australia in July. Watching the documentary has inspired me to write this personal post on my thoughts on the trending concept of minimalism. For me personally the documentary didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know about minimalism. It is however a brilliant and engaging introduction for those who have never heard of or have a misunderstood perception of what minimalism is. It’s not about living with as few items as possible or getting rid of everything. It is so much more than that.
I was first introduced to Ryan and Joshua (the guys behind The Minimalists) by my brother a few years ago. While I don’t live like them per se, I believe in the concept of living a meaningful and intentional life with less stuff. I have never been one to purchase extravagantly and I generally prioritise function over want when introducing new item into my everyday life.
It’s about always asking the question “does this add value to my life?”. It’s about clearing out the clutter, whether it be mental or physical clutter, so that we make room for the most important stuff in life. “Stuff” that you gain the most value from, which will be different from person to person. There is no right or wrong item to buy or bring into your life. Your values should guide what you bring into your life.
Minimalism allows me to focus on what’s important in life. There are five areas of life that I value and believe are important in living a meaningful life, this one life. They are: health, relationships, passions, growth and contribution. I find it hard to incorporate all five values into my daily life consistently, but that’s what I strive towards.
Without good health it would be difficult to live the life you want. Without people to share you life with, whether it be friends or family, it would be a lonely life. Without pursuing and cultivating your passion, life would not hold much meaning. Without personal growth, life would be boring and stagnant. Finally we are all on this earth for fleeting moments in time, compared to how old the universe is. Without contributing to society and helping other people grow, you will find you yourself will stop growing. The value of contribution is the most important but also probably often overlooked. Helping others and feeling like you have contributed in a positive way is a basic human instinct. Being in the healthcare field myself, I personally feel this is the case.
The trailer above will give you a peak into what to expect from the documentary. It’s a beautifully created documentary containing Joshua and Ryan’s story, as well as the stories of others who live vastly different lives yet follow the principles of minimalism. There’s the guy who has 6 kids. The stock broker who quit his ridiculously high paying job on wall street. The architect who builds tiny homes. The guy who lives out of a bag of no more than 60 items, travelling the world. The famous Good Morning America news anchor who had a panic attack on live TV. The thing they all have in common is they believe in living a life of meaning and purpose.
If you this intrigues you, I recommend checking out the documentary and their website. If you’re a podcast listener, they also do an excellent podcast.
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