Minimalism has some really weird connotations and misconceptions. I think it stems from the word itself - minimalism. It conjures up this image of someone who lives with so little when in reality the opposite is true. The way in which I view minimalism is living a life where one only surrounds themselves with the things that truly matter.
Maximalism, is a much better way of describing minimalism. Meaning - getting the maximum value from the things that bring you the most happiness, or simply choosing to only surround yourself with those people, places or things. The path one takes to get to that level of understanding in their lives is one that is probably all over the map. For me, I think the roots of these ideals that now guide my life came about after almost losing my little brother to a severe traumatic brain injury and a few years later, a best friend to stage IV cancer. Life can be terribly fleeting and it was always so easy for me to forget that while pursuing a ‘successful’ life or career.
Remaining aware of that is something I still struggle with all the time. Whether it be pursuing financial independence or wanting to hit a milestone for our YouTube series or having a better week trading our investment account. But do these made-up metrics and clicks of an arrow on someone else’s screen actually matter? How much long-term happiness does that bring me?
Remembering that scarcity is simply something that has been sold to me has been paramount. I was over the moon to see us reach 10,000 subscribers but now I could easily focus on wanting us to have 90,000, then 100,000 - you get the idea. One milestone leads to another which leads to another which ultimately leads to this pursuit of the unattainable. It’s like focusing on the end goal instead of the process one takes to achieve that goal. There will never be enough with that mindset.
Its a constant, ongoing battle of reminding myself of the things that actually matter. A daily reminder of things to be grateful for helps me escape the clutches of scarcity and the unattainable. Being happy with what you have and not wanting what you don’t need is an age old recipe for happiness. And that’s ultimately all we should be pursuing - happiness.