Minimalism

A random conversation with a friend recently, triggered a random memory. She was moving out of her home remotely, while stuck elsewhere because of the pandemic. And I remembered how I was in a similar situation, about a decade back. I had moved to a city with two suitcases full of stuff. In the one year that I lived there, I had collected a lot more as can be imagined, as I created a home in a new city, in a new country. At the end of the year though, I travelled back home, but decided not to go back ever. That left me here and all my stuff on the other side of the world. A lot of remote co-ordinating had ensued, and after hopping through at least three cities, I got about half my stuff back. And I remember mourning for the other half, that I would never see or have again. Until, I realised I didn't even remember what these things were. Not only could I remember what most of it were, I didn't seem to need them anymore. I figured it was a rather funny situation. I shared this story with my friend as a way of consoling her.

This conversation, might not have consoled my friend, but got me thinking about this documentary that I had watched on Netflix a while ago - Minimalism - following the story of The Minimalists, Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn, along with an array of authors, neuroscientists, sociologists etc. breaking down the human tendency to hoard and the need for 'deliberate, mindful consumption'. A lot of us are skeptical about the idea of minimalism. It reminds us of cold, bare hotel rooms and the likes of it. However it couldn't hurt to analyse why we give into buying, having and using more.

So what drives us to this yearning for MORE?

1. Ryan Nicodemus, in the beginning of this documentary, talks about he correlated things with happiness. This is something most of us can relate to. We mistake the immediate joy for long-term fulfillment, only to be disappointed more often than not.

2. This disappointment isn't surprising. According to entrepreneur Jesse Jacobs, human beings are wired to become dissatisfied. This one is not hard to prove. Haven't we all spent hours pouring over reviews of a phone and finally settling on one, only to be lusting after a new one, when the latest version is released. The model we own, that was at some point, a matter of pride instantaneously transforms into a source of frustration. Neuropsychologist Rick Hunson points out how we voluntarily get into this trap of delusional living, in pursuit of a certain standard of living that can be attained only with more stuff.

3. Who sets this yardstick for how we should live? "We are constantly encouraged to stay addicted to consumerism." As sociologist and economist, Juliet Schor points out, advertisements have infiltrated all aspects of life. In subtle and overt ways, they are all around us, promoting an illusion of perfect lives. Things are portrayed as indispensible, and we are made to feel lesser for not having it. This superficial social yardstick exploits our need for novelty. And we are left reeling in the "dissatisfaction of never catching up." <Sam Harris>

How can we learn to live with LESS?

Dealing with excess stuff can be tricky. But we needn't not buy things or renounce them completely. Joshua Fields Millburn, the other Minimalist, says his attitude took a turn when he realised how he had brought so many things into his life without questioning. The key to living with less, according to him, is to justify everything you have or want to buy. Else, it is something that should be let go. He also reitirates Marie Kondo's 'whether it sparks joy' check. We need to be more deliberate, more mindful in the choices we make about what we inhabit our lives with, be it tangible or otherwise. Be more responsible in consumption.

A very interesting point that writer/blogger/green ambassador/no impact man Colin Beavan makes is that 'the problem with our society is that we are too materialistic and not material enough.' The latter part of it might be hard to grasp. Juliet Schor explains that we would do better to care about the materiality of goods rather than its symbolic value. We should learn to care for the tactility of objects and the value it adds to our emotional well-being rather than to our status. After all, as Rick Hunson rightly points out, we acquire things for how it makes us feel.

So it is important to analyse and understand our needs before we go off on a buying spree. To put an end to, or minimize mindless consumption, we must take a second, to consider if we really need the things that we think we need. We are currently living the consequences of our highly unsustainable habits and practices. Hence, it is also imperative that we consider the ecological impact of our choices as well. Now, all this might sound hard, markedly so in this age of instant gratification, and use and throw mindset. We needn't make the drastic switch overnight. But it needs to be done and its never too late to start. All it needs is an adjustment of our outlook. It is not an impossible task; and a simpler, happier, more meaningful life and a healthy planet are guaranteed outcomes. So let's learn the art of letting go!