My Problem With Minimalism
First and foremost, I consider myself to be a minimalist, regardless, I think that the movement in itself has some issues that are either misunderstood or simply not addressed enough.
I’ve already talked about the problems regarding the visual aspect of minimalism and the quality upgrade trap, but this one issue I’m addressing right now is more about privilege
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Being mindful about your surroundings is imperative to experience Minimalism. It starts by taking the notion of how much clutter distracts us of what is — or should be — important for us like health, relationships, personal growth, and passions.
But let's face it, Minimalism is somewhat of a trendy money concept that targets only those who have the freedom to own too much.
People who struggle with their financial lives, and that dream to have more than the bare minimum can provide, might see Minimalism as a white privilege — and I get that!
Billions are forced to live a minimalistic life without having the freedom to enjoy what Minimalism preaches.
Many don’t have the luxury to look around at their place pick a random item and ask themselves: does this bring me joy? Despite not having those prized possessions, their mundane problems are big enough to deprive them of a single moment of introspection.
I might be going way too far on the spectrum, but the reality is that people who are able to experience Minimalism should start seeing it as a blessing and not a practice that is suitable for everyone.
Inspired by a fellow creator, I decided to challenge myself to publish 100 short-form articles within January. This is article number 2.
