How MINIMALISM changed my life | Lessons I've learned + minimalist living encouragement

Hi everyone, welcome back. I'm so glad that you're here joining me. Today I want to talk about the ways minimalism changed my life while sharing footage of minimalist living here at the cottage. At the end of May, I passed the seven-year mark of the day that shifted my life perspective. Not everyone has such a clear memory of when minimalism entered their thoughts, but that day is etched in my mind. We were in the final stages of the adoption process for our first daughter and holding a garage sale to raise funds. Standing in front of our garage and our neighbor's garage filled to the brim with the excess that ourselves, our friends, and our family didn't need or want anymore. And knowing that these things were going to cover the cost to bring an orphan child into a family. It was an overwhelming experience. From that day forward, my husband and I have clearly seen how insignificant and unvaluable that physical things are in comparison to life. We started to eliminate more and more and found that each time we simplified we were met with an abundance of peace, joy, and fulfillment. As we have continued this lifestyle, I've come to realize some important lessons that have been learned along the way. Today I want to talk about the ways minimalism changed my life and lessons I've learned along the way while sharing footage of minimalist living here at the cottage. Minimalism is a highly personal journey. As the story of how I became a minimalist demonstrates, everyone has their own reason to want to simplify their lives. We all go into this journey with our own history and baggage. And in the same way that you can't force someone to eat healthier foods or exercise more regularly or get their finances in order, you can't force someone to want to eliminate their clutter, become more minimal. I think that I may have made the mistake early on being a little in your face about how great this lifestyle is. Sharing with people who didn't really want to hear about it or who weren't ready to hear about it. That's one of the reasons that I appreciated having this YouTube channel. I know that if someone lands on my channel page, it's likely because they're searching for a more simple way of living. They have the desire already and my videos can help to guide them in a positive direction that they already want to go. My advice or encouragement for someone who is frustrated with the clutter of someone they live with or someone that they love and care for is to simply lead by example. Wait for them to ask questions or comment on your way of life. That will be much more beneficial than telling them that they have too much or insisting that they declutter. That approach will only lead to resentment. Just remember that your journey is yours alone. The decluttering process takes a long time and it's never fully done. The beginning of most minimalism journeys start with a pretty intense decluttering process. Lots of decisions and a lot of time and effort. It would be great if it could be done once and then never again. But unless you completely stop all consuming and your life never changes, there will always be things to declutter. The truth is our lives are constantly changing and the tools that we use depend on our season of life. As our kids have gotten older, we've found that we no longer have a need for a high chair or a crib in our home. Those things got replaced with sporting gear and backpacks. Likewise, the things that we value can change as well. There have been items that at the beginning of my minimalism journey, I swore I would never part with. That I eventually decided to let go of. When I was ready to eliminate them, the decision was easy. Don't be afraid to say goodbye to the items that aren't serving you anymore and replace them with the things that will. I think it's important to always have a donation box ready to fill as things are found to no longer be necessary. In addition to that, I also recommend a good seasonal decluttering where items can be evaluated more thoroughly and thoughtfully. Those decluttering sessions are when I pull out all the drawers and dig in the backs of the cabinets and closets. Just to make sure that everything is still serving a purpose in my home. And before I move from this point, I want to be sure to say that there is no set number about how much to keep or what to keep. You shouldn't feel bad about keeping something that you love or use. I get comments all the time from people who say that they are working on simplifying their lives and could be a minimalist except they have a comic book collection or they love to have a lot of crafting supplies available. Make no apologies. Let me assure you that as long as you are being intentional, you can make up your own rules about what is right for you to keep. My brain functions better in a highly simplified environment. I'm the type of person who can be overwhelmed easily. Too much chaos and too many choices leads me to feel scattered and out of control. I remember back to the days when I was in high school and even college to some degree. Back when I didn't have a lot of responsibilities, I could do many of the things that I wanted to do. I felt like I was in control of my own time. I'd spend hours lost in artwork in my little studio space. Somewhere on the path to adulthood, that feeling of being free was lost. My time was overrun with everything that needed to get done and trying to organize life just to stay afloat. There was no more art. It was like I just didn't have the mental capacity to do anything other than just the basics of life. It was a pleasant surprise to me as our home environment became more simplified that my thoughts became more clear. Tasks didn't seem as daunting and could be done with greater ease and in less time. The creativity began to return. The quiet and peace that I feel in my home is unmatched. If I've had a stressful day at work or feel drained from social interactions, I know that my home is my sanctuary. When I enter in, I sometimes can literally feel the fuzziness of my brain slow down and a sense of calm take over my body. A peaceful and well-run home is one of the benefits of minimalism. The mundane chores will always be there. The dishes, folding the laundry, making the bed. But these tasks don't feel like a burden to me anymore. They are part of a process that allows our home to run well in a peaceful way. I'll be honest. I've always liked homemaking. But I enjoy it even more now that I recognize the flow to my days. Nothing I do feels in vain or like drudgery. I'm not doing the chores for the sake of just getting them done. I'm doing them as a service to my family. This makes each task feel more meaningful and purposeful to me. I've done an entire video about the joy of homemaking and why I think it is important work. I'll have it linked down in the description box for you to check out if you'd like. The idea of minimalism is so much more than a clean and tidy space. The first thing that most people think about when they hear the word minimalism is the aesthetics of it. A picked up room perhaps with white or neutral colored walls. But the idea of minimalist living is about so much more than how it looks. The focus isn't so much on getting rid of what you don't need, though that is a part of it, especially in the beginning. It's about elevating the things that you value. Some objects, perhaps yes, but relationships. Work that you feel called to do. Commitments that you are passionate about. These are the things that are worth elevating. Removing the clutter and putting into practice certain habits to help maintain the balance, I've found myself with a level of connection to life that I had not experienced before. I'm much more present as a wife and a mother. And even the little aspects of life are appreciated more. And I think that's because I have the space and capacity now to even recognize them. The way the rain smells, the way a bumblebee flies, the way the dirt feels between my fingers when I work in the garden. Life really is beautiful. Minimalism doesn't define a person. I'm at the point now on my simplifying journey where I do call myself a minimalist. But that isn't a label that says everything about me. In the same way that I feel it is easier for me to appreciate the belongings that I do have, now that I have eliminated the excess, I'm hoping that other people can more easily see me as the individual I am, now that I'm not burdened down. I can't force anyone to see me in any particular way. But because of this minimalistic lifestyle, I know that I am offering the world my authentic self. My hope is that people can clearly understand and are able to see what I prioritize in my life, what values that I hold, what principles I live by. And even if I am misunderstood by someone, I have the confidence in knowing myself fully and am not easily discouraged by rude comments against me or strange looks in my direction. I am simply me. And if you are someone who is on this journey of simple living, I want you to remember that you are you. There is a danger sometimes when sharing similar experiences with other people to play the comparison game and try to match up in every way. Remember that you don't need to follow any particular pattern or path when it comes to minimalism. Simply follow your heart and you will end up right where you are supposed to be. I hope by sharing my story of ways that minimalism has impacted my life, it can give you encouragement in your journey. Thank you so much for watching today's video and I hope that you'll stop by the cottage again really soon.