My (short) minimalism story.

When I started decluttering and adopting a minimalist lifestyle, I had no idea that's what I was doing. I didn’t even know there was a name for it.

All I knew was I didn’t feel great about my life. The first thing that came to my mind was to get rid of stuff I didn’t need or want.

I started decluttering. I was subletting an apartment at the time. I decided not to look for a new one. I moved back to my mom’s place.

Three months later, I quit my job as an academic advisor. I found a part-time job within a month. I then planned a trip to Mexico to clear my head.

The most important thing that came out of my simplifications is I decided to embrace my goal of coaching and helping others create the lives they want.

It’s been a great journey, but it might not have been possible if I didn’t start decluttering and changing the way I looked at my world.

What is possible when you make the shift to a simpler way of living?

It all starts with you and what you want or don't want, in my particular case.

You realize your current way of being isn't enough to take you to the next level of your life. Wanting more starts with less.

You can achieve anything you want by getting rid of the things that are not helping you achieve your goals. Minimalism can help you meet and exceed your dreams and goals.

Semantics

That other thing I want to discuss with you is words. I have used the terms and phrases you may be familiar with: minimalism, decluttering, minimalist lifestyle, and living simply, but what do they mean and how do they relate to one another.

Minimalism: Whether you’re talking about art, music or design, it all boils down to one thing: simplicity. Getting to the essence or heart of something, the necessity of it.

A minimalist lifestyle is crafting a simple life by focusing in on and paring down each area of your life and making a commitment to minimalism.

Declutter: The act of getting rid of stuff, physical or otherwise. You can declutter without being a minimalist. Decluttering and minimalism are not synonymous.

Anyone can declutter their things, but being a minimalist signifies a commitment to simplifying and changing all aspects of your life for the long-term.

Simple living: There is no difference between this and minimalism. You can call it whatever you want. The key is you are living with less, doing and being more.

I don't want you to get caught up on the words. When starting on your journey, you don't have to call it anything. Just start.

What questions do you have about minimalism?