BY: Jocelyn Schwalm
A new generation of artists, one that understands the value of quality as opposed to quantity, is embracing the idea of minimalism. In a world full of consumerism, it is a rebellion against the popular ideology that the more we have, the happier we will be. Minimalism forces us to embrace the idea that we need less in order to be happy. A new documentary aims to inform the public on just how much we are being brainwashed into leading lives that are filled with constant want.
There is a new epidemic in our society that centres around the idea that we are never enough on our own—that we will never be enough until we have nicer clothes, better shoes, or more money. With a constant reach for more comes a fundamental dissatisfaction of the self. The first step to push back against consumerism, and for minimalism, is awareness of what is happening around us. It is so easy to fall into what everybody else is doing when you’re not even aware of the fact that you’re following the crowd to fit in.
So much of this is rooted in our insecurities and our unrelenting chase of a “happy life.” Minimalism is taking a step back, looking at what brings real joy and what doesn’t. Right now, so much of our focus is on what we physically have, not how these things make us feel. Minimalism turns this idea on its head, it’s how we feel about the things we have. It is a lifestyle that could revolutionize the way that we see the things around us. The result is an inner contentedness; although you have less, everything that you have incites some sort of joy within you. It actually forces the brain to relax when you only have the essentials surrounding you.
When the things we surround ourselves with are few and simple, we can’t help but take on this mindset for our internal being as well. Everyone is looking to add value to their lives and only few will take the correct steps to do so. Minimalism not only declutters our lives, but declutters our minds.
