18 hours Ago By Mike Donghia
Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful, clutter-free homes and read about the wide-open schedules of successful minimalists. Such ideals inspire change in our lives and are a helpful north star in guiding us toward simpler ways of living. But the practice of minimalism has been, for me and my family, a bit more chaotic and a good deal harder to achieve than the ideals suggest.
Don’t get me wrong, minimalism has benefited my life since I first became interested in the subject in college. It’s helped me to push back against the strong forces of consumerism, distraction, and discontentment that I see as pervading modern life. Simple living has helped me to clear away much mental and physical clutter to make room for the things I value most—like family, faith, and creative pursuits.
It’s just that the practice of minimalism, in the context of having a large family, is quite challenging. While minimalism makes life easy in many ways, it makes it harder in others. Minimalism isn’t just a respite from a busy world, it’s a gauntlet thrown down against a much easier path.
Of course, I’ve come to see these challenges as necessary for a flourishing life. For anyone interested in minimalism, it’s worth walking into the lifestyle with clear-eyed realism about what it takes and how it might be difficult. 1.
Fear of Missing Out on Interesting Ideas or Experiences 2. A Desire to Feel Like I’m Making Progress 3. Pressure to Provide My Kids With the Same Opportunities as Others 4.
Wanting the Same Comforts and Luxuries as Those Around Me 5. Wanting the Status That Comes With Wealth Sometimes, those loves can lead to more wealth and status, but often, they mean investing our time and energy differently than others. It is true that, at times, I want both—to be a minimalist and a high-status person.
The reality is that those two things are often in conflict, and I find great happiness in my life just the way it is. Reminding myself of these truths is just part of living intentionally, and it’s a challenge I gladly take on..
