After the minimalism hype on social media (decluttering, tiny houses, minimal interior etc. ), a new trend came up. Blog titles sounded like: ‘Why I gave up being a minimalist’. Was it just a fad this minimalism?

I would never voluntary give up living with less stuff, living a more simple lifestyle, being calmer. I feel so much better.
But I get what they mean. Live starts to get boring if you are not allowing yourself all the fun things.

A lot of stuff that you can live without are the things that you do for pleasure. Buying or getting things gifted to us make us happy. Eating something sweet or fat make us happy. Having an endless amount of clothes to chose from make us happy. Having the latest gadgets make us happy. We think.
And all this and much more fun we are missing out on when we are minimalist in each area.

What happened when I had minimalised many areas?I started feeling bored instead of overwhelmed. I started judging others of having and wanting so much. Not out loud, I am glad to say. Because I knew I was a bit jealous of their fun and colourful life at the same time.

Being bored and judging others. Not at all what I want to be. I did not have this vision in my mind at all when I started this journey. Should I give up on minimalism I wondered? Of course I do not want to go back to my old lifestyle and be overwhelmed half of the time.

Brian Thompson wrote on his website: ‘The path of moderation is the only peaceful way to pass through life.
Be caring but not attached.
Be interested but not obsessed.
Be diligent but desire no reward.
Have mild preferences but empty of any fanatical preferences.

He also writes in the same blog entry: ‘You can’t escape your emotional suffering – It can only be accepted, forgiven and absolved. You must face your fears directly’.

Instead of numbing yourself somehow, like fleeing into buying things, eating, drinking, whatching Netflix for hours, become aware of what you feel, accept the fact you feel this. If possible share it with somebody, or write it down if you cannot share it. Apparently as soon as you have noticed and accepted the feeling (shame, anger, resentment or anxiety) and then idealy share it with somebody you trust, you will be able to let go of this negative feeling.
When this negative feeling has gone you will not feel the need to numb you feelings any longer.

My recent numbing method is being overly busy, so there is no time to think or feel.

I hope to get better at feeling and sharing my shame, anger, resentment and anxiety with somebody I can trust, to be able to let go of these feelings quicker.
At the same time I will add pleasures in moderation to approach a greater balance between minimalism and overindulging.

More feeling

More fun