Finding Joy in Minimalism

The other day I was going through some old photos and came upon one of me as a three-year-old child. I have that sweet smile and twinkle in the eyes that an innocent child often has. Looking at that photo, I wondered where that sweet, innocent joy of young childhood had gone. It’s not that I’m unhappy now, but life does sometimes put a damper on that joyful innocence. We often have to work harder to enjoy life more. Sounds oxymoronic, doesn’t it?!

Does becoming minimalist guarantee we’ll be happy? No, of course not. Nothing guarantees happiness, but I believe that the ideas behind minimalism (simple living / essentialism) can help lead us to more happiness than before. The trick is not to get caught up in the misconception that minimalism is all about decluttering or getting rid of everything in your life.

Decluttering and downscaling go against many people’s idea of joy and turns them off from exploring what minimalism may bring to their lives. How often do we hear about “retail therapy” or “when in doubt, go shopping” or “buy X and you’ll be happier/more attractive/more athletic”? This emphasis on consumption pushes us to work more, to earn more, and to spend more. Repeat as often as needed. Sure, I enjoy buying things now and then, but putting so much value in tangible items is only a short-term happiness fix.

Decluttering is not the end, but rather the means towards a simpler, more meaningful life. When we begin to re-evaluate the role of our possessions in our lives, we also begin to reflect on what is most important to us and what we can let go. This can’t be done in a weekend or in five easy steps; it takes time. When I started on this journey (again), I packed my car with donations almost monthly, and while I’ve slowed down the pace now, I continue to find more unnecessary excess to eliminate from my life.

I love the idea of a curated home and lifestyle – keeping only what is most valuable to me at this moment in my life. It pushes me to reflect on the past, the present, and the future me. How do I want to fill up the empty spaces – both literally and figuratively?

It may sound odd, but it’s taken some time and effort to figure out how to have more joy in my life, especially as an empty nester. For years I focused on raising kids and working hard to provide them with joyful experiences. I fell into the trap of neglecting myself all too often.

Now I seek out books, blogs, and podcasts about happiness and minimalism. Find your inner child! What did you like doing at age 10? Hmmm, I was a rather serious and bookish child, shy, living in my own imagination. I enjoyed playing with friends but also craved time alone. I mostly liked reading, watching shows, and oh yes, I loved to dance. I was also fascinated by foreign languages and cultures, which I learned about mostly from books as my small, Midwestern town was not very diverse. I’m sure that’s what led me to travel as I got older.

Looking over the list of my favorite childhood activities, I realize that I still enjoy them. I never stopped spending time with friends, reading, enjoying shows, loving dance, or learning languages, but they were often on the back burner. Now that I have begun to create more space in my life, I’m finding that time again. I’ve added some new activities, like walking and listening to podcasts or meeting new people to try out new experiences.

I continually work on minimizing my “needs” to find the time (and sometimes money) to increase the “wants.” Life is a work in progress for us all, but in our eagerness to subtract the excess, let’s not forget to add the joy!