Minimalism sounds extreme to some because excess has become the average. LA times notes the average American household has 300,000 items. The article continues to illustrate how this begins in childhood; children in the US make up 3.7% of the global child population but own 47% of all children’s toys.
Those stats sound more extreme than minimalism.
But what about jettisoning every possession and having stark white walls, isn’t that extreme? While some might live by those criteria, it’s not a prerequisite. In fact, there are no prerequisites to minimalism. Minimalism helps us let go of the physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental junk in our lives so we have room for what matters most.
In fact, minimalism plays a bigger role in our lives than we think.
As we move from childhood to adulthood, the brain goes through synaptic pruning and removes connections that are no longer useful. This keeps our brain efficient so we can continue to learn and take in more information.
In nature, the leaves fall off the trees in autumn to help protect the tree during the winter months.
When our skin gets too much sun, the body peels away the damaged skin so we can heal.
Not only is minimalism seen in nature, but we’ve also seen ways it’s used for efficiency, survival, and healing. While keeping an extra accoutrement won’t be a life-or-death scenario, it could help you become more efficient and heal from a life of complexity.
If you still consider minimalism too extreme, so be it. I’d rather live an extreme life that’s simple, efficient, and healing anyways. Life is complicated enough without all the excess.
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