Minimalism isn't a Magic Wand--Shuckydarn!

The clutter is gone. 

Yet, your eye keeps twitching because you should be doing something. 

Sorting. Purging. Recycling. Selling.

However, it's all done.

You feel as if you're free-falling your way to crazy town.

Life, despite being a minimalist, isn't as sparkly as you'd imagined.

It's time to relax and to realistically look at your world.

First, your house will not magically stay clean. You'll still need to disinfect, pick up stray items, and wash laundry.

Take time to grieve. (I took a good three months. You might need more or less--be gentle with yourself!)

Accept your situation. My husband simply wants more items in our house than I do. This is okay. I want us both to be comfortable in our home. However, it took me a good six months to reconcile my fantasy of minimalism to the reality of my version of minimalism. 

Second, your decor might not presently match your ideal. I kept looking at my home and comparing it to a bachelor's white bedroom. Or, I'd gaze at a world traveler's sole backpack and imagine the utter freedom.

Yet, I know in my heart, I will never be able to carry all I own in a single pack.

Inhale, hold, and slowly exhale. It may take you a bit longer to truly make your home the haven of dreams. And in the meantime, enjoy the empty space!

***WARNING: Please do not fall into the trap of minimalist marketing. Advertisers and companies are aware of our movement and are offering items that are sleek, sexy, and simplistic in design. In short, they are trying to sell minimalism. Don't play their games. Use what you have now, especially if you're on a budget. Painting a room will create the most impact, so if you wish to go from a neon green to a beige, spend your money on that first (so your eye will stop twitching) and worry about updating furniture later.***

Third, what specifically is missing from your minimalist fantasy?

Is your current position at work really meeting YOUR needs? Many people only consider the financial aspect of employment. Are you filled spiritually, emotionally, and know you're contributing positively to society?

What about your relationships? Is there a person in your life who drains your energy? Can you gracefully see them less? Is a flame still burning for your significant other? Do you owe a family member an apology from years ago?

Sometimes, we let tiny resentments build up into huge monsters. And we allow that monster to eat away at our mental energy when instead we can toss the monster to the curb and focus on today. 

How can we clear out our mental clutter?

Perhaps we need to dust off the cob webs of forgiveness, let go of past regrets , and use logic to eradicate our worries. Take a hot bath or go for a run while spending time in self-reflection. 

Where do you direct your thoughts throughout the day? Do you spend time picturing a wonderful future, or do trivial worries rob you of the joy of the present moment, which is always flitting away into the future?

You might realize the objects in your life were used to fill a void caused my some past pain, and you may need to seek the help of a pastor or counselor. These professionals are trained in teaching you tools which will help you look at a past situation differently or reclaim your own personal power. Seeking help is a responsible decision to propel you forward to your destiny of owning your own business or winning a Grammy.

Free time. You'll be surprised at what you'll uncover buried in the depths of your heart. Below the jealousy of a colleague, you'll discover a fear of failure. Digging even more, you find a talent you had 15 years ago, and when you practice/tinker at it (be it playing a guitar to building your own robot), you'll realize you're better than you thought. (Or perhaps some intense re-learning will bring you up to speed). 

Play. Tinker. Enjoy the new freedom that minimalism provides.

I'm using mental minimalism to reconnect with the real me.

And I'm having a blast!

Please share discoveries you've learned about yourself in the comments below. Let's all build up one another, so we can all flourish.

Dusting Off Passions

Now that I no longer shop for fun or sell off clutter, I have a good extra two hours of my day back. Quadruple that time during the weekends.

Ever since I was a girl, putting pen to paper has been my hobby. Whether it's drawing, writing, or doodling, that connection is something mystical I can't explain.

It's just there.

However, instead of journaling or drawing, I fell into a trap of collecting and buying planners. To use, of course. Get my life together. Gorgeous rare leather beauties which would hold my most revered desires. 

The problem? I spent too much time oogling others' word shrines and not making my own!

A slight financial hiccup fairly recently made me face facts--I needed the money much more than the planners. I sold all of them (except one, which I will tackle during Spring Break). But the truth is I wasn't USING them.

Seeing them get packaged up and sent off brought such a sense of relief to me. I didn't have to worry about getting an ink stain on them or having them damaged in my bag. I relish in the free space they once occupied. I'll admit, I found two new binders at the thrift store which aren't nearly as fancy, but they work. And if I need to replace them, for less than $5 and a few trips to various thrift stores, I'd find something suitable. 

But during that initial selling phase, I was sad. I needed to emote. Enter pen and paper. Once my hand was able to crank out all my jumbly, tumbly thoughts, my life has a sense of calm, peace, and a new clarity has arisen which stalking other's Instagram accounts never gifted me.

Now that all of your clutter is gone, what former passion are you ready light and stoke the flames?

Welcome

I'm Jane and I'm a minimalist.

About 2 years ago, I found the sacred point of owning 'enough.'

And it felt like I'd fallen off a cliff! I didn't know what to do with my free time. I wasn't decluttering, organizing, or selling. I slipped back into a few bad habits, but now I'm back to having what I need.

I'm a minimalist!

So...now what? Great question! Join me here as I ponder what's next in my minimalist journey. If you're on this road, let's help one another!