We have a common goal as minimalists, and it's about improving our lives by surrounding or engaging ourselves only with things that really matter. It's not a theory to me anymore that there is a way of life that improves human clarity, purpose, and adds value to us because practicing minimalism has affected my life positively.
I didn't know there was anything like physical or emotional clutter, but I knew that there were some things I was hoarding that weren't doing me any good. Less didn't mean more back then, and yet gathering more was overwhelming. I didn't know how to let go of these things because I was overly attached to them, but learning about this simplified lifestyle found me when I actually needed it more.
Nobody spoke to me about it, and the thought just crossed my mind. I told myself it's possible to discard some emotional clutter because they were my real concerns, and I courageously went through the path that taught me that you can experience liberation by letting go. I felt free; nothing was burning me up internally anymore, and many things unfolded differently. I didn't have to deal with mood swings, and my mind was shut off from negative emotions. I cultivated the habit of preventing them so I don't have to get overwhelmed anymore.
My success with decluttering my emotions prompted me to extend the minimalist lifestyle to every part of my life. I already knew that less actually meant more and didn't hold back with decluttering everything that could be decluttered. The number of friends I kept depreciated quickly, and my few possessions became fewer, and I didn't feel the absence of what I let go of because they weren't important initially, but I didn't know until they were gone.
My stress level reduced, I got more time to care for myself, and everything felt completely different. These changes gave me clarity, and it has helped my journey in life till these moments. Some days ago, I completed my NYSC program, and minimalism unbelievably played a significant role in the journey. I remembered a time when I counted my friends in school, and I lost count. I didn't know how I got attached to everyone of them, and there was nothing to show for it because the time I spent trying to be present in their lives was affecting mine. My grades were slightly affected, and when I checked, I didn't study with these people. We just talked, gossiped, and played around. I don't hate them for that, but they should never have been my priorities. I took a step backward and with every step, I dropped a few people behind until I was left with few that had same vision like mine.
Minimalism helped me to define my relationship with people back then and now. It's more about me and not just those people. I am not trying to be selfish, but I easily cross the boundaries of giving too much of myself, so it's best to prioritize my well-being most. I have become more intentional about life, and there is no turning back.
