Practical Minimalism pt 4
How to inform others
You’ve done it, you’ve become a minimalist. You found a reason to practice it, you’ve found a balance that works for you, and you feel like you are really putting it to good use. Now it’s time to tell your friends and family — if you want to or not.
This is the fourth and final edition, in a four-part series about minimalism. I am not trying to preach or force anyone to practice minimalism, just educate. If you do not want to give it a chance, just skip these next four editions — no harm done.
You are chatting with someone on the phone, out to lunch, or at a gathering and mention that you are a minimalist. Maybe they notice your reduced wardrobe or the permeating sense of intentionality. They ask you what minimalism is or why you are giving into this fad. Or even worse, they think it doesn’t matter and pretend like it doesn’t exist. How do you handle these situations? How do you not sound crazy for wanting less in a world that strives for more?
Learning about minimalism and finding your version of it is only half the challenge. After you find your way you have to tell others about it. You might think that this is unnecessary at first, but the only way you’ll stick with it is consistency and transparency. So how do you tell your friends about minimalism? We’ll go over how to tell others about minimalism and inform them of your preferences.
Inform
Inform them that minimalism is simply striving for less. Less quantity and more quality. Tell them this means your clothes are things you care about and come from ethical and sustainable sources. Tell them this means you only cultivate meaningful relationships. Tell them this means you have more mental and physical resources to focus on the present. When presented in practical terms, meaningful terms, they will see you as less of the crazy one. Though, never really strive for that — just be you!
Show
Once they understand what minimalism means, and more specifically, what it means to you — show them how you actually practice it. This is going to be different for everyone, so be honest here. Let them know that this is not a phase. Let them know what you have done to get to this point. What you might have sold or the relationships you might have ended. Make them know you are committed to it.
Prove
After showing them, prove to them that it has meant something. If you sold or donated clothes, prove that you waste less time picking out an outfit, so you get to sleep in or exercise. Explain how no longer having to cultivate vapid relationships allows you more time to learn new things or meet new people.
After you have informed, shown, and proven — they might ask you how they should handle this. They might also ignore all of this and go against your wishes entirely. You must stick to your practice. When they buy you something you don’t need, just inform them of why you don’t need it and what their best action should be. This could be simply returning or exchanging the item. They could provide you with a gift card so you have the money when you actually need something. They could do something more interactive with you, like take you to dinner or a small vacation. Better yet, they can donate the item or value of the item to charity. Show them how minimalism can offset things like poverty and climate change.
Lastly, don’t have your preferences of minimalism impact doing for others. I found and find this hard still. If you have friends and family members that are maximalists, don’t force them to be otherwise. That means if they want a gift that seems pointless or redundant, don’t force them to get something else or donate it. Allow them to decide how they live their life.
When the people around you see what the simple act of less is, practically, they will slowly start understanding your “why” behind it. The best way of teaching anyone anything is by showing a relatable example. Minimalism is no different. By being transparent and honest about minimalism, you will not only be helping yourself but helping the world around you.