Why I became a minimalist

Here is the truth of why I went (and chose to stay) minimalist.

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FTC Disclosure: This was not a sponsored post. Everything shared is from my own thoughts. The links above are affiliate links, which help my channel grow!

[wendygricken]

I thought about decluttering and minimizing for a long time. I finally decluttered slowly. I lost weight years ago and have trouble finding my size, so I kept clothes that I might fit into. I finally donated 6 garbage bags of clothes. That was a relief. I went through other things and found I only wanted to keep what I really needed. It feels better. All the stuff and so many pics on walls gave me anxiety. I like everything quite. I suffer from major depressive disorder so for me to have things in their place helps.

[carlienvandernet]

I already decluttered so much but there is still so much stuff in my house. I would love to be a minimalist and quite often think…I wish someone would break into my house and steal everything…but I do lack energy to finish my decluttering. I still get rid of things almost every day but I also bring new things in especially for my hobbies like making cards and reading. I’m chronically depressed, have Crohn’s disease and have a slipped disc pinching a nerve in my back so I lost a lot of strength in my leg. All these things don’t help to keep me cleaning my home and decluttering but I always keep up hope that I will be able to finish everything one day 😅.

[olivemaycards]

That lost potential idea is me too. I feel bad and sad seeing something going to waste that could be loved and used by someone right now. Especially when I find something that had been good that has been ruined by being too long in storage. What a waste! I often ask myself if my things would be happier living with someone who loves them.

[kimguenther]

This was such a great video! Thank you for giving us more insight on why you became a minimalist. So motivating!

[Danicalip]

When I tell you…this is my list too. Mentally, emotionally… Even the curation of my belongings and just keeping the things that make me happy just gives me life. I hate visual clutter, I love being able to not be influenced as much as others about buying things, and I just enjoy the freedom it gives me. Love this video!

[saraperkins]

Thank you for all your videos. They are so inspiring. Anxiety, overwhelm and sound sensitivity were the reasons I decluttered.

I started my journey last year doing my huge declutter between February and October with small declutters in Nov, Dec, Jan and Feb. I finally feel good. Though the last couple weeks have felt a little overwhelming because of a busy season and and the subsequent inability to push anxiety away long enough to clean even a minimalist house.

I am realizing that decluttering and living as a minimalist has become the springboard for success. Even my sentimental items have new life. everything that can be displayed and enjoyed is displayed and I keep my small trinkets in my grandfather's old samsonite suitcase.

The hardest challenge is, keeping the unneeded out and rejecting consumerism. I wait for over a month to make sure it is something I still want/need before inviting any new item into my house to rent out space.

[Conval-wieh]

Such a great video topic to talk about!
In my experience usually people start their decluttering journey when there is a major change in their life, oftentimes tied to personal growth. I find that people start decluttering when they are forced to make decisions just for them and really become the adult in their life, the driver in their seat.
For me it was a break up after a long time relationship in my early twenties when I had to make choices what I truly want that led to a massive purge.

[francinegoodson]

Mia, you are so authentic it only enhances your credibility. I find your channel immensely worthy of my attention. Thank you so much for being so down to earth, real and articulate. How many times need i say authentic!!! But truly, that's what makes you so valuable to me. You tell it like it is!

[katec]

Good video. I'm not really a minimalist but I've been finding decluttering helps me to feel clearer headed and calmer. What I find a challenge sometimes is the balance between how much I need and what is clutter ie recently we had a power cut so I bought some things to make future power cuts less stressful, but this also made me worry about creating more clutter. By the way you have a great speaking voice, perfect for podcasts and audiobooks if you don't do them already!

[cherdonovan]

Mia, I look forward to your weekly mentoring. Thanks for sharing your personal reasons for Minimalism. My de-cluttering journey eccellerated when I took your class and dumped many bags of inherited items and "other people's stuff". The decluttering of our home spilled into the wish to be at a healthy weight which I am still maintaining.
I also enjoy curating. I'm having fun styling shelves, corners and rooms. I store items in the garage and change assessories frequently, enjoying my curated art collection and inherited treasures . Recently I've been watching Homeworthy episodes on Youtube and getting ideas.getting ideas.
Rotating decor items from the garage keeps the decor minimal enough to avoid distraction from the creative process.
Editing is an ongoing process. If I get lazy or stuck. I start with one drawer or box and that usually gets me curating again. This week, I curated a huge collection of cards. I established a spacial contraint of three photo boxes. I even gave away some of our wedding cards and most of Mom's 100th birthday cards. You taught me that if "everything is sentimental, nothing is sentimental". One or two cards as a reminder of a beloved event is enough. It is the memory NOT the stuff that matters.

[carolyn]

I did find to start simplifying my space gave me better motivation. Also my anxiety was more focused on what issues i needed to resolve. The whole minimalism mindset helped me my frugal by choice and now over half way to pay off my debt ❤

[jonr]

Late comment, missed the vid. But had to write anyway...

I said before I put Mia in the category of potential A-lister, from the presentation, voice, editing, environment, esthetic... Every video is top quality.

THIS video is borderline upsetting as it so clearly & calmly presents the manifesto for 'a good life' (in the context of stuff).

Good that it is a reminder of what the goal is, what the benefits are, how central to a healthy & happy existence - irrespective of background or role or status. We all need these things to a degree.

Bad that it is like a dark mirror shining a light on how little progress I have made...

[joannafoster]

Shedding the past to make room for the future... that's huge!

[karensimpson]

I love the paint color in your house! Can you please tell me the name of it? That’s exactly what I’m looking for in my minimalist house as well :-) thanks for your videos!