8 Important Minimalist Truths You Don’t Want to Hear

As we approach the end of 2022, I wanted to help inspire you to take action on your decluttering goals with a little tough love. In today’s video, I’ll be covering 8 different minimalist truths to help you push through the mental blocks you may currently be dealing with. While some of these truths might be uncomfortable, I believe in you and your journey!

Other Videos I Mentioned:

Don't want the whole bundle? Here are the links to each of the resources included in the bundle at the regular price:

Let’s stay in touch!

Disclaimers: All opinions are my own, but any links included in this description may be affiliate links, which help me support my channel, at no cost to you!

[MJ-czgx]

I've been a minimalist for a number of years now, but since losing 3 loved ones in 2021, I'm finding it easier to own less and less cos I realise at the end of the day it'll be someone else's problem to sort when I die which I don't want and also I want to spend money been with those I love and making memories instead of buying useless items

[jillstigs]

The money was gone when you buy the thing not when you declutter it.

[statuscheck]

I think we all have to be realistic about what we need to be minimum and maximum in our current stage of life. Ten years ago I was a thru-hiker and for months everything I owned was in my backpack. During 2020’s stay at home orders were in place my household was glad to have a variety of books, movies, puzzles and board games to keep us entertained as libraries, schools, playgrounds and museums were closed for months. Those items are neatly displayed in a beautiful cherry bookcase my aunt gave me. Currently my town has is 3 inches of snow on top of a layer of ice, so it’s pretty responsible to have a ‘maximum’ pantry and power outage supplies on hand. We do a regular household edit to stay current with our needs and I think I’m gonna always value a certain amount of crafting/hobby supplies, entertainment and home decor because that’s what makes my house feel like home!

[reneecailloux]

I agree that we should more lean toward "intentionality" than minimalism. Hope trendies watch you and rethink that "I'm going to get rid of all of this to rebuy what looks more like minimalism" ;-)

[Shiryone]

Wow, great points. As for collectibles, my husband collected paraphernalia from the Olympics when it was hosted in his home city. About 20+ years later I convinced him to see what it's "worth" was on e-bay, and some of the items were selling for less than what he paid for them. Shoes he didn't wear much but he didn't want to get rid of dry rotted. And, etc. He wasn't happy about these things, but he faced the truth about his outlook on "stuff." I don't want to judge others and how they choose to live in their own homes, but I am uncomfortable being in an over-stuffed, cluttered space for any length of time. And the dust in places like this affects me physically. Thanks for another great video.

[jennyjenkins]

I think building your decluttering muscles is code for getting real with yourself and there's a bit of denial when you first start the process. For example, I was hanging on to 30 year old eyeshadow until I gave myself the reality check that I don't wear eyeshadow and permission to throw it out. I guess it made it past the initial rounds of decluttering because I believed that it was something I should have on hand as a woman. Decluttering is quite the journey of self discovery and realizing that you'll be better off without a lot of things, which is often a total 180 mindset shift from where you begin.

[MemoryAmethyst]

My dad collected royal doulton china dolls. He gave several to me as well for birthdays and Christmas. He did the same for my sister. Now that he is gone, I have many of them literally in boxes in the basement along with china and silverware. My kids don’t want these things. I have given boxes and boxes of china, serving ware and household items including hand made doily’s and needlepoint pictures to charity. Eventually I will be able to get rid of the rest of dad’s treasures. Certainly I have learned a lesson about the idea of saving something for my kids to inherit : hint, they don’t want my crap no matter what I spent on it.

[feylights]

It is sad to think of stuff ending up in landfills, for so many reasons. The biggest of course is the environmental impact (which makes me sick to my stomach). But it is also sad to think of the stuff itself just being thrown away, even if it's still good. Toys, for example. Labor and resources went into making them, and they're just...tossed. I'm not saying be a hoarder, I'm just saying the system itself, in which stuff is just discarded, is really sad.

[peggyminer]

I once spent about a year mindfully handling my trash to understand how I could reduce its volume. One example is that canned fruit creates more trash than frozen fruit than fresh fruit than home grown fruit.

That activity eventually translated into looking at purchases from that view point. Even manufacturers and stores are reducing packaging. Consider the packaging and how you can upcycle it.

Ultimately, do you really want and need it?

I am looking at ways to use clothing that isn't suitable for Goodwill into dog coats or beds. Even washed your dog will associate the items with you ...and be calmer in your absence.

[bellebb]

My goal for 2023 is to find a balance with intentional living, minimalism, and my own personal tastes. I have hardwood furniture, Persian rugs, clocks, China, crystal, and silver that has been in my family for up to 150 years. It's not going anywhere, but it certainly takes up its fair share of space and maintenance. The challenge is to not add too much more. Some minimalistic web sites seem to be advocating that I chuck Great-great Grandma's clock. 😁 I don't kid myself that these things are super valuable since I know they aren't in style now; but they are valuable to me. So my goal is more low to no buy than decluttering or "classic" minimalism.

[lovelyletter]

Great video! The thing that really resonated with me is the point about how the choices that you make for yourself (as in minimalism) seem to offend or impact others even though it doesn’t involve them. My elderly parents, for example live in 4 bedroom colonial (for the past 50 years) whereas my husband, son and I, live in a 2 bedroom 840 sqft condo. They are always trying to offload things to us and it makes me angry because I really need them to understand I cannot deal with any more things. I have a husband and child who like to collect and save everything and all I feel like i want to do is remove things from our home. It’s almost like my mom gets offended when I say I don’t want any extra things (no matter how sentimental they are). All this clutter creates anxiety and stress. 😢

[jenniferr]

This was so helpful! One thing that I struggle with is keeping things because I don’t want it to go into the landfills. When you said, “Your home is not a landfill.” it really made me think about what I’ve been keeping. Still, I struggle with throwing things away.

[SN-szkw]

Would love to see more free re-use centers. I was near one when my daughters were young. It relieved the guilt of unloading perfectly good items. And I always found something we could use when we did a drop-off.

[kerynl.sanchez]

I like minimalism in a way that it lets you see what is really useful in your life, but I’m not a fan of empty walls and sterile aesthetics. I like my house decorated and pretty without obsessing about every single object in it ❤

[CadetRedShirt]

Im going to be doing a No-Buy and a Use-it-Up challenges for 2023!
For rule 3, I just have to point to the obscene amounts of Beanie Babies that don't sell for anything or minimal amounts at Yard Sales.

[ariadnepiera]

You spoke so kindly of your neighbors and it reminded me of an experience I had with a friend.
I have a friend who is more of a visual organizer with a tinge of perfectionism, and for years, I wondered how much stuff was behind closed doors, since everything seemed to be out. Turns out, I had the chance to help her organize when she was pregnant, and her closets were almost completely empty, and everything was out! Some people don’t like to put things away, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they are hoarders, it might just mean they are waiting until they can perfectly put things away or like to have things out. Still annoying to have a shared space filled up by your neighbors for weeks, but it’s not necessarily that a person has more stuff than another.

[jyes.]

This video just made me subscribe. Pausing video to comment. Point 5 Excellent! I remember the exact point in time I became a minimalist. I think the lifestyle was just starting Sitting, petting my cat I looked at a display tower I bought because I didn't have any thing in that corner and thought, all that is is a dust collector
I hate dusting

[datasciyinfo]

I investigated minimalism several times and decided it’s not for me. But I still enjoy watching videos and learning more about it. I usually find some idea that I can use to improve my lifestyle or get motivated to start on a project already on my list. So thank you for your channel! I’ve subscribed.

FYI I am an economic prepper, and after 3 years of Covid, I have increased the number of years worth of extra tools, supplies, food, and consumables I am willing to store at my townhouse. For my home repair, gardening, diy wood working tools, emergency cooking, fire, battery backups — I got plenty of extras to last a few months to 10 years without access to stores. It’s a large place. I got enough dry beans and rice for 2 years for my family. To me this seems definitely not minimalist. I think I am anti-fragile and prepared for emergencies and a prolonged economic slump. I also bought a few new thing for my card making hobby during Covid, but didn’t go wild because I already had enough to last me 10 years. After 2008 financial meltdown I stocked up on lots of sewing tools/ supplies so I can make a living by barter if necessary for 5-10 years.

Still, I would like to downsize in a couple of areas, ex. some exercise equipment bought during Covid that didn’t work out well, and extra household items and clothes/bags inherited from my parents when they moved away and downsized. I am planning to spend the next 3 years to dig out from these. Thus, your channel! 😊.

[dixiebell]

E-cycling is more important than any other recycling. In the 70s, we had a giveaway table in our complex.I have put items on the street with a free sign, and I have received nice dumpster "buys ". Most folks need to stop bringing stuff in.

[amyli]

Change is hard, and that isn't limited to just minimalism. Thank you for sharing this video, Sarah! You really hit the nail on the head with each and every point you made! Hopefully, those people who never comment or are further in the back will hear this loud and clear 😊