It took multiple visitations to the psychiatrist in 2021 to realize I was doing a lot of things wrong. Even though I had pride myself as a minimalist at the time, I wasn’t channelling the minimalism rightly to make my life better.
I was always a “yes” person even if it meant inconveniencing myself to help people out, but after the pressure landed me at the hospital, and exhausted my savings to pay the cost of seeing experts, I knew it was time to set my priorities right, with the first being protecting my mental health and peace of mind.
I used to think it was my responsibility to make my siblings’ lives better, but minimalism helped me realize that we all have our individual lives to live. As minimalists, we are saddled with the responsibility of making sure we declutter our minds always, so the pressure doesn’t overweigh us, and that I did through having deep conversations with my junior siblings on the kind of life they wanted.
Rather than pressuring myself with taking up their lives, I helped them draw out a structure which they have been touring and has been helping them. Today, I am grateful I did that because I no longer have to pressure myself to be responsible for them financially except on rare occasions. Minimalism through decluttering imbibed that in me.
I was going to visit one of my friends sometime ago, and he called that I got some things on my way. I had gotten the gift I would give him, but he wanted me to buy more. This has always been his ways since undergraduate days, but what he didn’t realize is that I am no longer the “yes” girl. Instead, I am the budgeting, and firm -NO girl because minimalism taught me that.
He was shocked when I rejected his request even though he said he was going to pay me back which has always been an unfulfilled promise. He said, “This is not who you used to be ooo. You used to help me buy everything now”. Thanks to me for adopting minimalism in full, else, I would’ve dived straight into my savings or even borrowed money just to make him feel fulfilled. Now, he knows when I say no to financially draining requests, I mean it.
Living life one step at a time by enjoying the present and worrying less about the future is the third priority I’ve put in place, and honestly, this especially has helped this learning phase that I’m in. It doesn’t matter that I’ve been out of school for a while, yet still unemployed. I believe in my journey, and through the lessons of minimalism, I am enjoying the process so that by the time the results come in, I will soak myself in gratitude for persevering and living the moment.
I live freely now by inculcating the lessons I’ve learned through a decluttered life. And through my journey, I keep those lessons with me. I refuse to worry about what I do not have control over, I spend wisely, and only buy the items I need, I say No when it is inconvenient, and I no longer live my life to please people. These have given me the peace I need to carry on with life.
Images are mine.
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