Everything we embrace in our life has effects both positively and negatively, it's on us which way to lean more and take the benefit. Since the day I started to embrace minimalism, I would say that I have had positive effects reflecting on me more and more. I know sometimes it gets harder to resist the temptation that doesn't align with my minimalistic ideals, and regret the things that I didn't do, but with proper realization, I don't feel any regrets, instead, I see the brighter side more and more.
The Minimalists: Less Is Now (2021) is a documentary that sparkles the idea of how things are tired with us unnecessarily that we can detach ourselves from with some steps. We won't even realize that they aren't with us anymore in our day-to-day life except in some special cases. That was the documentary that geared up my minimalistic thoughts and then I dug more and more.
One of the most valuable lessons that I learned is Less is More like we never have less if we can meet our daily needs. Having something that might come in handy in the distant future was never a wise idea for me, not now for sure. I prefer less, I feel like the things I have now are more than enough for me. If I am getting stuck for something from where I can get out then I would bring that for sure but not something to sit idly unnecessarily.
This keyboard, this mouse, and this table clock have been used for almost three years now. I never felt like I should change, never felt like I should bring another one. I have friends who have three/four mouses, and they are like,” Let's taste something else, variations!” I am not a variation freak, whenever I am getting something, I make sure that I am getting the best thing for my needs according to my affordability and expectations. Thats what solves the temptation for variation as I already got what I wanted and thats how I never pile myself up with more.
The reason behind using this image is to showcase that I have the same setup for years, nothing in the table, just my setup and a notebook for notes. Oh yeah, the coffee mug that I just took a sip on. Please, ignore the time.
Even the phone I am using, is from the COVID-19 time, starting in 2020! It's been more than four years. Almost everyone around me changed their handset, and my thoughts were like, “It still serves me great, fulfilling my needs perfectly, never faced bottleneck with my needs.” then why should I change when my needs won't be seeing any difference? It doesn't bother me for a new one at all. It's up and running smoothly and I am sticking to this without objections. That's the realization I got from embracing minimalism.
So yeah, the answer for the most valuable lesson that I learned from minimalism that still applies today would be contentment with less which is more than enough for me.
Wow!! You truly are a minimalist and I love how you buttressed your points. So many valuable lessons in one post. Well done.