Minimalism Doesn’t Stifle Your Dreams

As we approach the New Year, we start thinking about what we want the upcoming days to hold. Many people make resolutions for self-improvement, and even if you choose not to codify your desires in that way, you probably still have some. Maybe you want to lose weight, gain physical fitness, or save for a trip. Whatever you’re planning, the idea of a fresh start is exciting and hopeful.

I’ve seen criticisms of minimalism that insist that it dampens your sense of progress and any desire you might have to grow and achieve beyond what you currently have. One post I read by blogger Jack Waters included this reproach:

“Wanting things is the fabric that holds our society together. If I don’t want the promotion, or the better house, or the Porsche, then what am I working towards?”

His complaint is that if minimalism makes you satisfied with less, you stagnate. By controlling desires and being comfortable with a simpler life, he argues, humans would cease creating. Progress would stop and innovation would die if we decided we already had enough.

This is an idea that should be considered. Does minimalism make us complacent? Does it keep us from achieving our goals? Does it make us stop having dreams?

Minimalism is a beginning, not an end.

If you’re looking for a reason to stop trying, to stop pursuing new ideas or to give up a goal when the going gets tough, you don’t need minimalism to stop you. In fact, I’d argue that a house stuffed with clutter can do more to shut you down and keep you stuck than minimalism will. When you’re overwhelmed and surrounded by clutter, that’s when you’re more likely to give up and give in to stagnation. You can’t get started on anything because you already feel defeated.

When our homes and schedules are full of clutter, we have no room for change. I think we really do stunt our emotional and spiritual growth, and inhibit our creativity and openness to new possibilities. Clutter represents indecision and procrastination. It keeps us stuck in the past or exposes our fears about the future.

The process of decluttering gives us a lot of opportunity to make choices, deciding what to keep and what to toss, what adds value to life and what gets in the way. All of that decisiveness adds clarity and focus, improving your planning and organizational skills. The confidence you gain helps you tackle and stick with any goals you choose.

Once you get rid of the junk and the extras that weigh you down, you have room and time for something new. That “clean slate” feeling makes it easier to see opportunities when they arise, and leaves energy to pursue the new goal.

You see, minimalism isn’t a final destination. It’s a lifestyle, sure, but it’s also a tool that lets you clear away the excess so you’re left with what’s really important to you. Without extraneous belongings and activities, you’re free to pursue your dearest desires, whatever they are. You have the space, time, money, energy, and mental bandwidth to move ahead in your career, write that book, start that business, prepare for that marathon, or anything else you can imagine.

And being satisfied with what you own is no drawback to achievement. Don’t you have more exciting goals than new living room furniture or another designer handbag? Instead of spending $50 on pizza, you can save toward something you’ll appreciate for much longer, like a trip to Italy.

What do you really hope for?

Many of us were raised with the idea that working for good grades or attaining distinction in sports or music or something else was important for our futures. This competition, goal-setting, and achievement was meant to open doors of opportunity leading to a successful career, good pay, positive recognition, and all the attendant goodies.

Does deciding that we already have enough take away all of our drive and determination? Are we left with no goals?

I think our goals change, and that’s not so bad. Instead of working for a bigger paycheck or a bigger house, maybe we’ll work for other reasons – personal growth, greater expertise, or to offer more service to others. “Getting better stuff” doesn’t have to be our only motivation. If you remember Maslow’s hierarchy of needs from your college intro to psychology class, we become our best selves when we’re motivated by higher and deeper desires.

Minimalism gives you a foundation to stand on, like a blank page ready for your art, poetry, or compelling story.

What will you pursue in the New Year? Don’t let a bunch of dusty possessions hold you back. Let minimalism help you uncover your dreams.

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About the Author: Karen Trefzger is a writer, singer, teacher, wife, mother, and grandmother who has been choosing a simpler life for over 20 years. She is the author of several books about minimalism, and blogs at Maximum Gratitude Minimal Stuff.