3331: How to Be a Minimalist When You Love Stuff by Antonia Collins on Intentional Living

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[00:00:38] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a Minimalist Monday edition of Optimal Living Daily.

[00:00:42] [SPEAKER_00]: How to Be a Minimalist When You Love Stuff by Antonia Collins of BalanceThroughSimplicity.com

[00:00:48] [SPEAKER_00]: and I'm Justin Malik.

[00:00:50] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to keep this intro nice and minimal for Minimalist Monday, so let's get right to it

[00:00:54] [SPEAKER_00]: and start optimizing your life.

[00:01:01] [SPEAKER_00]: How to Be a Minimalist When You Love Stuff by Antonia Collins of BalanceThroughSimplicity.com

[00:01:08] [SPEAKER_00]: There's a common assumption that to fully embrace the minimalist lifestyle,

[00:01:12] [SPEAKER_00]: you have to get rid of all your stuff.

[00:01:15] [SPEAKER_00]: Minimalism is much more than throwing away everything you own and living a life of scarcity.

[00:01:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Here are some helpful tips and a personal story of how to be a minimalist when you love stuff.

[00:01:26] [SPEAKER_00]: What it feels like minimalism is stealing your joy.

[00:01:30] [SPEAKER_00]: I love collecting elephants and now have quite a few.

[00:01:34] [SPEAKER_00]: However, I also love a minimalist lifestyle

[00:01:36] [SPEAKER_00]: and these two aspects of my life don't immediately feel like they sit well together.

[00:01:42] [SPEAKER_00]: Do you have a collection of something or have a lot of one type of item?

[00:01:46] [SPEAKER_00]: For example, perhaps you enjoy sewing, so you have lots of fabrics and threads.

[00:01:50] [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you or your partner have a vintage record collection

[00:01:53] [SPEAKER_00]: or a shed full of tools for various DIY projects.

[00:01:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Perhaps you enjoy a cozy home with lots of throws and cushions

[00:02:00] [SPEAKER_00]: or even a wall of hanging plants.

[00:02:03] [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you have a thing for shoes and you'd rather eat worms

[00:02:06] [SPEAKER_00]: than part with that pink sparkly pair of heels sitting in your closet.

[00:02:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Going minimalist and clearing that fifth set of measuring spoons

[00:02:14] [SPEAKER_00]: might be one thing, but parting with our most treasured collections can test us all.

[00:02:20] [SPEAKER_00]: If you'd like to embrace a clutter-free life

[00:02:22] [SPEAKER_00]: but it feels like minimalism is trying to steal your joy, take heart.

[00:02:27] [SPEAKER_00]: In this post, I'm sharing some helpful tips and reminders

[00:02:30] [SPEAKER_00]: and a personal example of how to be a minimalist when you love stuff

[00:02:34] [SPEAKER_00]: and in my case, my elephant collection.

[00:02:37] [SPEAKER_00]: My not so minimalist elephant collection.

[00:02:41] [SPEAKER_00]: My love of elephants goes way back.

[00:02:44] [SPEAKER_00]: I've always been fascinated by their heightened sensitivities,

[00:02:47] [SPEAKER_00]: their wide range of emotions,

[00:02:49] [SPEAKER_00]: their tight-knit family communities where they nurture their young and care for their old.

[00:02:54] [SPEAKER_00]: Elephants are wise beyond their years,

[00:02:57] [SPEAKER_00]: never forget anything, and place great value on the wisdom passed down to them over generations.

[00:03:03] [SPEAKER_00]: Their ears form the shapes of the continents from which they come

[00:03:06] [SPEAKER_00]: and despite their size, they can walk so softly over a stick that it won't break.

[00:03:12] [SPEAKER_00]: They sense when one of their own is dying.

[00:03:14] [SPEAKER_00]: They know how to guide a sick relative to its feet

[00:03:17] [SPEAKER_00]: so that its body weight won't crush the air from its lungs.

[00:03:20] [SPEAKER_00]: And their babies are little comedians as they master the use of their trunks

[00:03:24] [SPEAKER_00]: and flap their ears wide to scare the birds.

[00:03:27] [SPEAKER_00]: In short, I love elephants.

[00:03:29] [SPEAKER_00]: And as I can't have a real one,

[00:03:31] [SPEAKER_00]: I have collected little sculptures of elephants

[00:03:33] [SPEAKER_00]: and other elephant paraphernalia since I was young

[00:03:36] [SPEAKER_00]: and I now have quite a collection.

[00:03:39] [SPEAKER_00]: Too many elephants vs. being a true minimalist.

[00:03:44] [SPEAKER_00]: In discovering minimalism and decluttering a huge amount of our family's stuff

[00:03:48] [SPEAKER_00]: that we no longer needed, want, or even knew we had,

[00:03:52] [SPEAKER_00]: I hit a stumbling block when it came to my elephants.

[00:03:55] [SPEAKER_00]: I spent many years and quite a bit of money collecting them.

[00:03:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Each was unique, chosen, and purchased either by me

[00:04:03] [SPEAKER_00]: or as thoughtful gifts from loved ones

[00:04:05] [SPEAKER_00]: because they were beautiful, quirky, intricate, carved,

[00:04:10] [SPEAKER_00]: fired in clay, made of glass, metal, precious stone, wood, you name it, I had it.

[00:04:18] [SPEAKER_00]: Now how on earth would I be able to part with my collection

[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_00]: only because it supposedly didn't fit in with my minimalist journey?

[00:04:24] [SPEAKER_00]: I couldn't just throw it all away or donate it to someone else

[00:04:28] [SPEAKER_00]: because this was my collection, my choice of elephants,

[00:04:32] [SPEAKER_00]: and represented a piece of my personality

[00:04:34] [SPEAKER_00]: and something that I cared passionately about.

[00:04:37] [SPEAKER_00]: I wondered if it was really possible for me to be a true minimalist

[00:04:41] [SPEAKER_00]: and I also worried that in becoming a minimalist

[00:04:44] [SPEAKER_00]: I'd have to make some sacrifices that I just didn't want to make.

[00:04:48] [SPEAKER_00]: Minimalism is meant to have a positive impact,

[00:04:51] [SPEAKER_00]: not spoil my fun and enjoyment of things.

[00:04:53] [SPEAKER_00]: I felt confused, frustrated, and stuck.

[00:04:58] [SPEAKER_00]: I wanted to pursue my minimalist experiment

[00:05:00] [SPEAKER_00]: but didn't want it to suck the joy from my life.

[00:05:03] [SPEAKER_00]: I headed back to the drawing board, the internet,

[00:05:06] [SPEAKER_00]: to see where I was going wrong.

[00:05:08] [SPEAKER_00]: The minimalist lifestyle is about more than your stuff.

[00:05:13] [SPEAKER_00]: As I trawled the internet for sources of inspiration and comfort

[00:05:16] [SPEAKER_00]: that minimalism was meant to be rewarding and fulfilling

[00:05:19] [SPEAKER_00]: not an exercise in deprivation,

[00:05:21] [SPEAKER_00]: I began to learn that the minimalist lifestyle

[00:05:24] [SPEAKER_00]: is about more than your stuff.

[00:05:27] [SPEAKER_00]: I'd began exploring minimalism by decluttering my home

[00:05:30] [SPEAKER_00]: and it's still a great first place to begin your own minimalist journey,

[00:05:34] [SPEAKER_00]: yet I hadn't fully appreciated that my physical stuff

[00:05:37] [SPEAKER_00]: was just one part of the equation.

[00:05:40] [SPEAKER_00]: It sure felt like a huge part as we had a lot of stuff in clutter

[00:05:43] [SPEAKER_00]: but I wasn't yet able to see beyond that clutter mountain.

[00:05:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Once I began to really think about why I was clearing my clutter,

[00:05:51] [SPEAKER_00]: exactly what I chose to keep and why

[00:05:54] [SPEAKER_00]: rather than just chucking it all out and hoping I wouldn't need it again,

[00:05:58] [SPEAKER_00]: then things began to shift.

[00:06:00] [SPEAKER_00]: I focused on the why of what I was doing

[00:06:02] [SPEAKER_00]: rather than the act of getting rid of stuff.

[00:06:05] [SPEAKER_00]: When I understood the why,

[00:06:07] [SPEAKER_00]: I began to feel more comfortable in getting rid of some things

[00:06:10] [SPEAKER_00]: and keeping others, like my elephants.

[00:06:13] [SPEAKER_00]: In short, I began to learn that the minimalist lifestyle

[00:06:16] [SPEAKER_00]: is about more than stuff.

[00:06:19] [SPEAKER_00]: It's about asking yourself questions,

[00:06:21] [SPEAKER_00]: identifying what's important

[00:06:22] [SPEAKER_00]: and making choices that align with what's important to you.

[00:06:26] [SPEAKER_00]: That's the key to making minimalism work for you and your family

[00:06:29] [SPEAKER_00]: and allowing the benefits to filter through into every aspect of your life.

[00:06:35] [SPEAKER_00]: The minimalist lifestyle isn't just about the stuff in your home.

[00:06:38] [SPEAKER_00]: It's about personal choice and intention.

[00:06:42] [SPEAKER_00]: Minimalism and intentional living.

[00:06:44] [SPEAKER_00]: On this site, I share lots of tips about decluttering,

[00:06:48] [SPEAKER_00]: simplicity and minimalist living.

[00:06:50] [SPEAKER_00]: The thread that weaves them together is the art of intention.

[00:06:55] [SPEAKER_00]: It's about defining what's important to you in life

[00:06:57] [SPEAKER_00]: from people to stuff and anything in between

[00:07:01] [SPEAKER_00]: and making space for more of what lifts you up

[00:07:04] [SPEAKER_00]: and less of what brings you down.

[00:07:07] [SPEAKER_00]: It's not about curating the perfect life, which isn't possible,

[00:07:10] [SPEAKER_00]: but it is about curating the best life you can for yourself

[00:07:14] [SPEAKER_00]: in whatever way that means to you.

[00:07:16] [SPEAKER_00]: For some of us, this is made easier when we have less clutter in our lives.

[00:07:20] [SPEAKER_00]: We have breathing space and room to focus on what's important.

[00:07:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Going back to my elephants, at the moment, they're important to me.

[00:07:28] [SPEAKER_00]: They add value and bring joy, so my intentional choice

[00:07:32] [SPEAKER_00]: is to keep them in my life and on my shelf.

[00:07:35] [SPEAKER_00]: If you're questioning how to be a minimalist when you love stuff,

[00:07:38] [SPEAKER_00]: think differently. Move away from the common assumption

[00:07:42] [SPEAKER_00]: that being minimalist means throwing everything out

[00:07:44] [SPEAKER_00]: and move toward considering it as a life of intentional,

[00:07:49] [SPEAKER_00]: deliberate decision-making.

[00:07:51] [SPEAKER_00]: Choose what brings you joy, happiness, peace,

[00:07:55] [SPEAKER_00]: fulfillment, direction, and lean away from the things

[00:07:58] [SPEAKER_00]: that drain you and take up space in your home,

[00:08:01] [SPEAKER_00]: schedule, mind and heart.

[00:08:03] [SPEAKER_00]: This is, for me, the true spirit of a minimalist lifestyle

[00:08:06] [SPEAKER_00]: and there's plenty of room for my elephants.

[00:08:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Conclusion

[00:08:11] [SPEAKER_00]: A minimalist lifestyle looks different for all of us

[00:08:14] [SPEAKER_00]: because the decisions we take and what adds value to our lives

[00:08:18] [SPEAKER_00]: are unique. There isn't a rulebook or a one-size-fits-all form

[00:08:22] [SPEAKER_00]: of minimalism that you have to follow to call yourself

[00:08:25] [SPEAKER_00]: a true minimalist. In fact, if there is a rule about minimalist living,

[00:08:29] [SPEAKER_00]: it's about remaining true to your priorities and values

[00:08:32] [SPEAKER_00]: and making intentional decisions that align with those.

[00:08:36] [SPEAKER_00]: If there's stuff in your home or your life that adds value

[00:08:39] [SPEAKER_00]: in some way, it's okay to keep it in.

[00:08:42] [SPEAKER_00]: Being mindful of when that value becomes just clutter

[00:08:46] [SPEAKER_00]: is the key for how to be a minimalist when you love stuff.

[00:08:54] [SPEAKER_00]: You just listened to the post titled

[00:08:55] [SPEAKER_00]: How to Be a Minimalist When You Love Stuff by Antonia Collins

[00:08:59] [SPEAKER_00]: of balancethroughsimplicity.com

[00:09:02] [SPEAKER_00]: and I'll be right back with my commentary.

[00:09:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you to Antonia

[00:09:05] [SPEAKER_00]: A little paragraph worth repeating

[00:09:08] [SPEAKER_00]: Quote

[00:09:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Once I began to really think about why I was clearing my clutter,

[00:09:13] [SPEAKER_00]: exactly what I chose to keep and why,

[00:09:15] [SPEAKER_00]: rather than just chucking it all out and hoping I wouldn't need it again,

[00:09:19] [SPEAKER_00]: then things began to shift. End quote.

[00:09:21] [SPEAKER_00]: I know we've heard this on the show before, but

[00:09:24] [SPEAKER_00]: if you're newer here, it could be surprising to hear

[00:09:27] [SPEAKER_00]: that minimalism really isn't about decluttering

[00:09:29] [SPEAKER_00]: or counting the number of items we have.

[00:09:32] [SPEAKER_00]: It often starts that way because it's something

[00:09:34] [SPEAKER_00]: we can all understand quickly.

[00:09:37] [SPEAKER_00]: We can see the benefits of paring down possessions

[00:09:39] [SPEAKER_00]: and might even feel motivated at the end of an article

[00:09:42] [SPEAKER_00]: to get to work and start selling, donating, and trashing items.

[00:09:47] [SPEAKER_00]: But without the why, we might not feel much at all

[00:09:51] [SPEAKER_00]: except a bit lighter or to an extreme, empty.

[00:09:55] [SPEAKER_00]: As I've said before, you can be unhappy without stuff

[00:09:59] [SPEAKER_00]: just like you can be unhappy with too much stuff.

[00:10:02] [SPEAKER_00]: And the only person who can tell you what's too much

[00:10:05] [SPEAKER_00]: is yourself.

[00:10:07] [SPEAKER_00]: So stay on that journey of figuring out your why,

[00:10:10] [SPEAKER_00]: have a great rest of your Minimalist Monday and start to your week,

[00:10:13] [SPEAKER_00]: and I'll see you tomorrow where your optimal life awaits.