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I wanted to touch on the subject of perfection for a long while, as it seems to be deeply linked to one side of minimalism, as the search for a curated collection of perfect items for a perfect life. I think perfection is a dangerous concept though, as it can lead to much insatisfaction. Here are my thoughts on the subject.
When I started editing my items in 2011, my objective was to curate a selection of perfect items. If I was to favour quality over quantity, owning only few items, they had to be perfect, didn't they? So I made lists and started spending time and energy searching for the perfect leather jacket or the perfect tea pot. Only, this mindset lead to many purchase mistakes - assuming more expensive would be more perfect for example, or making unnecessary upgrades under the pretext of getting closer to perfection.
Perfection & Consumerism
That's when I started questioning the very idea of perfection. Does a minimalist really need to spend that much time and money running after the perfect material collection? Then I took my marketer's (top) hat (and curling mustache) and considered the problem differently. Films, series, ads are bombarding us with images of perfection all the time. They stage well-thought scenes, landscapes, interiors, outfits, displaying perfect lives. We do this too, selecting the best pictures worth instagramming, and we are faced with the seemingly perfect life of our friends on social media.I think the consumerist society feeds off our desire for perfection, offering better, newer products with the promise to help our life reach perfection with a little help from our wallet. It is a run forward to an idealistic future, that will be reached if only I find the perfect [item of the moment]. Only, it saps our energy, money and time, and keeps us from enjoying our current items and being content about our life.
What is the Alternative?
These past three years, I have been guilty of this "search for perfection" specifically within my wardrobe, spending time and energy crafting the perfect wardrobe list, then looking for the perfect items to cross off. But I only started appreciating my wardrobe, and actually spending less time and money on clothes - as intially planned when I started wardrobe editing - when I let go of the idea of perfection, and started making the most of what was already in my closet instead.The curation process then shifted from perfection to adequacy. It may sound like a game of words, but the difference is actually huge. An adequate life is one tailored to your needs, taste and constraints. It is personnalized, and, with a bit of experimentation, self discovery, advice searching, trial & error, an adequate life is achievable.
A "perfect" life, on the other hand, is often set by external standards - it has to include this and that according to the norms of society, regardless of your own situation. Besides, it is ever changing as brands and trends define what this year's "perfect trench" will look like. It is therefore unstable and impossible to reach.
My alternative suggestion is to look for the adequate items, instead of looking for the perfect ones. What does it change? First, it means you define your own criteria. What does your adequate item need to be like? Second, it means you don't have to scout every single option out there, you can stop searching as soon as you find your adequate object. Finally, it means you should be less tempted to upgrade - as long as your items remain adequate to your needs, it doesn't matter if there is a better one out there.
What About New & Shiny Stuff?
Now, there is always an attraction to novelty, and even with a minimalist mindset, one still wishes for new things regularly. However, the shift of mindset is huge on that matter as well: you aren't waiting for the new, perfect thing to be acquired in order to enjoy your life now.Also, when you do buy something new, I noticed you enjoy the new acquisition better because you see it for what it is: a little gift to self, or a tool to make your life easier and more enjoyable, and not a promise of perfection and ensuing everlasting happiness (which doesn't happen and disappoints, when you are on a search for perfection).
Finally, let's mention the paradox of choice. As Barry Schwartz explains, one of the dark sides of having a lot of choice is that the more options you have, the less satisfied you are, because you wonder if you made the right choice, and if that other one you didn't choose wasn't better after all.
Looking for perfection makes us particularly vulnerable to that: how can you be sure you did pick the perfect item, and that there isn't a better one out there? When you go for adequate, though, as long as the item you pick does meet your needs and make your life easier, it doesn't matter if there is a better option out there, this one is just fine.
I really started feeling content about my current situation, enjoying my collection of items and spending less time and money on items once I understood this. I let go of perfection to focus on fulfilling my needs, and taking the time to enjoy the moments I was using what I already owned. What about you? What is your definition of "perfection" and how do you select the items that enter your life?
Totally agree with you. I also decided that some things in my wardrobe wouldn't be replaced until they'd worn out. I might not love it as much as whatever it's replaced with, but in the meantime the focus is off finding its replacement. I spend so much less time thinking or looking for clothes now, even though there are things I need/want. But I'm less worried about that search for "perfection" and more about the enjoyment I have whilst wearing the clothes (and not being in the shops!). I mentioned this elusive perfection recently in a guest post (it hasn't been published yet). I think this concept of perfection for a minimalist also applies to nothing - the absence of items and ideal of what is the perfect minimal number or look of our minimalist lives. I am glad that I have had all these soul-searching thoughts over the years, because indeed within minimalism there is an aesthetic and brands that are marketed as the embodiment of that, which of course goes against some of the very principles we're seeking to address and conquer with honesty to our own priorities and so we have to be careful not to fall into the trap of consumerism just for the sake of fashionable minimalism. And it's a powerful mindset that we must always practice and fine-tune if we are to continue living in society as sociable humans exposed to advertising and peers etc. But I'm so grateful for how far I've already come on that journey in order to live my priorities, with the occasional slip up of course.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very thoughtful comment, thanks lucent! Indeed, letting go of the idea of perfection helps shifting the focus off material things. And it is true that the idea of a perfect life also applies to the concept of minimalism - reaching a "perfect" minimalist lifestyle with no desires at all etc. And some brands surf on the trend, of course. I find it to be a bit ironic though, as you mention, it isn't quite in line with the philosophy of simplicity in the first place.
DeleteI think it is important to be aware that we are susceptible to consumerist message even when on a simplification journey, I agree that experience helps, as does self discovery and confidence. It's a long road but I find the learning process very interesting. Honesty was indeed the key discovery for me - being honest with myself and about myself with the people around me. Who would have guessed a wardrobe editing journey could lead so far...
Hey again Kali,
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I too fell into that hole of the unrelenting search for the perfect X or Y. Funnily enough, for me it was condensed within a period of a few years, where I really learnt some valuable lessons and have come out (I believe) as a more balanced and conscious consumer.
It all started rather unconsciously for me. As a teenager, I would read magazines, and absorb cultural messages that made me feel as if my life was missing something if I did not have X or Y. I'd often come home disappointed knowing that what I had really yearned for was the "perfect lifestyle" that was marketed, rather than the product itself. It was a vicious cycle, and definitely a case of emotional spending.
I then discovered and started reading minimalist blogs which made me really question whether I needed so many things, because I had been collecting items so haphazardly based on lifestyle marketing, that I almost lost my own identity within them. I became obsessed with culling and editing, and searching/researching all of the "must-have staples" and brands contained in these capsule closets. I was searching for perfection, but this time in the form of a closet, which I then believed would enable me to stop wasting so much time thinking about what I would wear, and give me more time to enjoy life. Again, something clicked in me when I realised that this was actually consuming a lot more energy than I had thought, and made me become exceedingly rigid with my style and spending choices.
I then took a step back and really looked at who I was and how I could honesty and authentically express that in all facets of life - including with my style choices. I realised that I do like simplicity and aesthetics, but being the active person I am, I needed things that would function and were designed with this in mind. Otherwise, I'd be left with things in my closet that would tick two out of the three boxes, but never use them because I was afraid they'd get ruined by bad weather, or caught in my bicycle chain. So now, I no longer look for perfection in objects or things. I can admire beautiful things from afar and not feel the need to own them. I much prefer the journey of working on perfecting myself through practicing compassion, openness, etc., and "levelling up" as you say. If I do happen to need something, I really think about how it will make my life/job/work easier, as well as whether it's ecological and ethically produced, without falling into the pit of perfection... because what matters to me are the meaningful moments in life, the ones we create ourselves - not the ones we buy.
Love this comment Jennifer! And can totally relate with your journey. Indeed my choices have a huge practicality component too given I walk everywhere for transport, socialising, fitness and enjoyment. Kali, your great writing starts great comments!
DeleteThans for sharing your own journey Jennifer! It's so interesting to read how other people started simplifying their life, why and how it's turning out. I can also relate to your journey a lot. I think a lot of teenagers/young adults rely on products to construct their identity as a new adult - believing in the promises of lifestyle marketing. But one's identity doesn't come from what we own, it comes from the life choices we make, how we connect to other people, what we learn, what we do. I think the simplification journey helps understand that too, and we find new ways to define and express our identity, again, with honesty. And who we want to be matters more than what we want to buy.
DeleteThanks lucent imagery and Kali for your kind responses. I am made much happier knowing that there are kindreds out there who have experienced these things similarly. I only wish I had been exposed to more of this discourse when I was younger, it would've saved a lot of self-harshness and doubt.
DeleteThe Swedes have an expression for this: "lagom", meaning "enough, sufficient, adequate, just right". I've tried my best to adopt the "lagom" way of life - those Swedes really are just so damn cool after all, right? I've also adopted "who the hell am I trying to impress right now, anyway?" as my own personal shopping mantra. It seems to stop a lot of stupid purchases.
ReplyDeleteAh, lagom, interesting. I'm surprised Ikea hasn't used it in their marketing campaigns yet. More seriously, the concept is very interesting. I wonder why there isn't a word for it in English, or in French. I'm sure the Japanese have something similar but I forgot a lot of vocabulary. I remember they have a word for the impermanence/ephemeral state of all things, reminding how we should contemplate the moment before it's gone. I remember being struck by the concept as it reminds us to be mindful of what is going on now, instead of projecting ourselves in the future all the time.
DeleteThe "impressing others" part is a big part of marketing nowadays. The images of perfection respond to some society standard, recognized by all in a way, and I think a part of the marketing strategies go into making us believe that we will "be better than the others", impress them with our new purchases. Isn't it at the heart of the car industry? Who would spend so much on a Ferrari if nobody else cared? Actually, I think it's at the heart of many luxury (or would be luxury) brands - jewelry, clothing, bags... Think about it, the logo and classic model are very recognizable (re: Louboutin's red soles), but more often than not, the price isn't in line with the real quality/caracteristics of the object. Why else would someone buy an expensive item of moderate quality, if not to impress their peers? I also do think it stops stupid purchases to think about who we are really trying to impress with that item.
I believe the Japanese word you were looking for is wabisabi; although I associate that word with appreciating the organic decay of objects. Like a teacup getting cracked and stained from repetitive use. Another nice word in relation with minimalism is 'ma' - it basically encapsulates all the simplicity, emptiness and serenity found from all types of Japanese arts to casual Japanese lifestyle.
DeleteMaja's comment made me chuckle re: "who are we impressing." I should hope that my purchases mostly serve me, though I do get the feeling sometimes I do end up considering what a certain top or shoe will signify to others. I think this also goes with bags--the whole status symbol thing--but luckily I do not live or work in a social group that requires such tokens.
ReplyDeleteI'm running into the adequate/perfect conundrum right now with my clothes and weight loss. I'm sizing out of stuff I bought last year when I was larger. They are still very good clothes with no damage, just the size is now no longer optimal. Are they still adequate? Yes. Are they perfect in fit? Definitely not. I'm going to try and get my blazers taken in before donating them, otherwise, should I just cut my losses on cardigans that don't fit anymore and buy the correct sizes?
It is true that the social pressure is very subtle, and we are not necessarily aware of how we start modifying our purchase habits around a certain social group. When you have colleagues buying expensive bags and shoes all the time, justifying themselves out loud by praising the merits of "designer clothes" versus mass market high fashion "that women buy like sheep", the line of thinking slowly creeps into your own values. I find it ironic now, because buying designer brands to impress open space colleagues is just as "buying like sheep" as buying the latest from H&M, but at the time I remember buying more expensive items from brands recommended by colleagues, maybe to impress, to feel like I belonged, too. It's a sort of social token, like an indian war paint of sorts.
DeleteI think the question of what to do with current clothes that are no longer ideal can be a dilemma within a simple mindset indeed. If your clothes are too big, then they are not adequate anymore, as a part of adequacy is that they fit correctly. If you are sure that your weight loss is permanent, I'd suggest to try on all of your clothes from last year and see which ones *really* don't fit anymore. There is no point forcing yourself to wear something that no longer fits, and maybe you could donate them, to make the "purge" part of the consumerist cycle more gentle and meaningful. But it doesn't mean you should replace each and every one of them right now, as it would put you right back into the consumerist cycle. If I were you, I'd take the time to assess my needs, know my "new", thinner body better and purchase new things slowly, instead of trying absolutely to find a replacement for each too big item. But that's only a suggestion of course, I think you should do what feels right for you.
Thank you for this post - you described me a few months ago to a TEE. I did the same thing! I made outfits on Polyvore and then spent inordinate amounts of time and energy either searching for or making said items of clothing. Although I did have fun sewing many of the items, the vibe of the whole project was filled with angst instead of joy. It was an endless wanting and dissatisfaction instead of joy and satisfaction. I felt more nervous and less peaceful.
ReplyDeleteI think what also contributes to this is the immediacy of today's consumerist market. When you want something you need to have it NOW! I mean, I could search the good ol' WWW right now and have a globe of products available to me right now - I could buy right now (for a price, of course). Both the choice of products and the immediacy of it all is crippling, addicting and ultimately unfulfilling.
You put it very nicely when you say that it robs us of the joy of the present moment, because that's what it did for me. I enjoyed less and wanted more. I've since recognized this in myself and can catch myself whenever I wander down that path and remind myself that what I have is adequate (as you say), beautiful and anything I do need I don't need right now.
Great article :)
Thanks for your input! I think you're on to something with this concept of immediacy. I just read an article in a French psychology magazine, about how our society has become "immediate", and we have become impatient. They said it came a lot from modern technologies, how e-mail is immediate compared to "snail mail", how products are readily available, delivered in 24 hours etc. It has rewired our brain to want things here and now.
DeleteThe problem with this mindset is that we can't wait anymore, we can't satisfy ourselves with a sitation that appears transitional, and when you want a new object you'd consider your life to be transitional until you get it. But there is a joy is desiring, saving, waiting for an object, which makes it so much more special and enjoyable to use, than when you give in to every single desire as soon s it pops up... Maybe we need to learn patience again. Thanks again for that input, I think there is a post idea here actually :)
Great post. I think this applies to many areas of life. We are looking forward to buying a home, and I feel like my life in this rental is transitional. I often feel as if my life won't really begin until I buy a home. And then the search for the "perfect" home can be daunting, when really we need to be looking for a home that will be adequate for our needs.
ReplyDeleteI can also relate to the endless searching for better clothes. Pinterest can be the best and worst thing ever. I've recently slowed down on my purchases, and started being happy with my closet, even if it's not "perfect" It works for me right now, and when something stops working, I'll replace it. Good post.
Oof, I can relate to the renting vs owning thing. My boyfriend and I will turn 30 next year and it feels as if "everyone" around us are buying wonderful apartments, while we still rent (in the absolute shabbiest part of town too, might I add). It is so easy to forget that our apartment actually is more than good enough for our needs, has plenty of space, is calm and wonderful on the inside and dirt cheap, and that we are allowed to keep our little dog there as well. Owning will come when the time is right, and apartment prices are insane these days anyway. I still can't help but feel like I'm not a "proper" adult though. Stupid Joneses.. :)
DeleteThat's an interesting example indeed - this idea that life is "transitional" until we get this or that, and buying a home is a perfect (or, adequate? :) ) example of that. I'm struggling with this too, not about ownership, but with the fact that my fiancé and I are not working in the same city. I'm looking for a job back where he works, and life feels "transitional" until we are together again. Which is a shame, because it keeps me from enjoying the good things about my current situation.
DeleteThe "proper adult" thing is also spot on. There are these standards society has set, about what things we need to own and what life we need to lead in order to be a "proper adult". Owning a home is certainly one of them, but honestly, given the current real estate prices, the slow inflation and the real cost of a mortgage, I'm starting to wonder if that is a "must" to buy the place we live in. Especially if the justification is to be a "proper adult". But it's hard to step back from this "you should live like that" message from society, and wonder what we really need and want instead...
I get the "proper adult" message from some people, too, about renting (or maybe I'm just internalizing it as I see more and more peers owning houses). However, last year my husband and I horrified most acquaintances by moving into a 275 sq. foot efficiency apartment (albeit in the nice part of downtown). Parents were upset, friends were mystified, close friends wondered if we should be given condolences on our inability to be adults. We kept a separate rehearsal space for our music equipment and so we could practice without irritating neighbors. We're also one block from the gym we have a membership in, so it's really convenient and I love it. Everyone else seems to see it as a subtle failure to be a good grown-up, but aside from the fact that we're not building equity by having a mortgage, I'm pretty happy with the arrangement.
DeleteThat's a perfect example of this whole "proper adult" thing. It has to include a home of a certain size, with certin objects in there. You know, several bedrooms for "guests" (who come once a year), a front porch, a number of cars, (a golden retriever). I think these standards have been instilled in our perception of a proper life, and a lot of people have this idea that we aren't "proper adults" until we get that house, these cars and that dog. I think though, that things are changing slowly among younger generations, especially in urban environments. Rents have become so expensive that you can't have a "proper sized" appartment that easily, and more and more people tend to favour the convenience of being in a central neighborhood with a lot of amenities over the size of the house/appartment. Maybe, 30 years from now, the terms of a "proper adult" will have changed.
DeleteOn the other hand, though, totally guilty-as-charged about the "transitional" thinking. We've been here for a year now, and I haven't hung up any pictures - they are all sitting, framed, in a box on top of the wardrobe. How's that for transitory? (The last place we lived in was the same thing, only for two years, and couldn't bring myself to get out the hammer and nails and make a decision for where to hang everything. :-P
DeleteI've noticed that minimalist wardrobes seem to breed a lot of guilt, because as you say minimalists are often perfectionists, and tend to feel inadequate if their purchases don't live up to their very high standards. I sew my own clothes and have learned to give myself some slack. I know the items I sew will never be "perfect", but I have fun in the process and they are special enough to make me happy.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that some minimalist wardrobes tend to be comprised of a lot of expensive items, yet with a lot of purchases and closet cleanouts. I can imagine it creates a lot of guilt, as getting rid of an expensive item feels more of a waste than getting rid of a cheap one, even if they sell it. It probably has to do with very high standards indeed, and maybe also expectations beyond the mere object - promises of a certain lifestyle for example - which always disappoint. I wish I had the skills and time to sew my own clothes, it seems to be a good way to get items adequate to your needs and preferences, and enjoy the creative process behind it, without too much pressure on how perfect it has to be.
DeleteBrilliant, Kali! You're right; the imagined satisfaction of owning the "perfect" item is almost never the actual feeling of owning the "perfect" item. (Usually in my mind it's a state of nirvana, when in actuality it's just a mild satisfaction with the functionality/convenience/attractiveness of said item.) I've tried to remind myself that spending X amount of money on an item is, at best, only going to result in a vague contentment, rather than throes of ecstasy, so when shopping I ask myself is vague contentment actually worth that amount of money? And then there are those surprising purchases that make you content, but they last for so long and become such an essential part of getting dressed every day. I wish it were easier to predict ahead of time which clothes/accessories will be those workhorse wardrobe items, but sadly only retrospect usually proves them. I have learned that if it doesn't fit well or is uncomfortable, there is nothing on earth that will make me willingly wear it once the initial thrill of newness has worn off.
ReplyDeleteI saw a TED talk about that a while back... About this brain bias that make us overestimate how happy a future situation will make us feel, and also makes us forget, once we have that thing, how happy we thought we'd be and how we aren't that happy about it after all. (does that sentence make sense?) I think it's called optimism bias or something. It's crazy, because we don't learn. Even after 100 purchases with promises of happiness and 100 objects that have become "meh" after the newness effect wore off, we still believe the happiness prediction our brain makes us imagine.
DeleteUnfortunately like most brain biases I don't think we can make our brains stop, but as you say we can remind ourselves, when we are getting obsessed about a certain new purchase with so many promises, that we are probably overestimating how the object will make us feel and rationalize how we consider it, with more practical and objective criteria - it is going to make my life easier, do I need it, is it really what I want to spend my money on right now...
I completely agree. I wear vintage, and especially at the beginning of my vintage-wearing time I really focused on what a "perfect" wardrobe would look like (which to me was embodied in Solanah of Vixen Vintage's looks). However, just like you did, I realized that it was pointless. I didn't have the resources to create a flawless wardrobe, number one, and especially with vintage I simply don't run across the "perfect" items I have in my head. Not to mention, the decades I especially love, the 30s and 40s, completely go against perfect wardrobes! They were times of "make do and mend," rationing, and sacrifice. And I have found that in the "imperfection" of my current wardrobe and lack of resources, there is beautiful creativity! I've found that this "imperfection" actually makes for a way more usable, personal, and accurate 30s and 40s wardrobe because it captures the spirit of those times.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very interesting story, thanks! It is true that the "imperfection" of our items can become a part of the style and identity, and be a great source of creativity! In the end, when we make do with what we have, alter things, try new combination, the result seems much more lively than when wearing a full ensemble of newly bought "perfect pieces".
DeleteThis is a timely article. In the last year and a half or so, I've been thinking about my wardrobe, and I've recently realized how much time I've been spending on it (and how much of my money), and I was starting to feel like I was on a wheel going round and round, looking for the perfect thing over and over. I think I really needed to read this article. It was what I was vaguely feeling, but never stopping to think about. I want to be grateful for and content with what I have rather than always unsatisfied because I have to get more and newer. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, I'm glad the article helps! It is true that sometimes, we are so focused on a search of perfection that we don't realize that we're running in circles! Besides, it does take a lot of time and money when you look back, it is the same for me. I hope you'll feel more content about your current wardrobe from now on :)
DeleteI'm not sure what you mean by perfection. If it's objective and only applied to material things, it's a complete and utter waste of time and energy, because it doesn't exist.
ReplyDeleteSubjectively, and in terms of material and non-material things (moods, relationships) I think we can choose at any given moment to decide that what we already have and what we are experiencing now, is perfect.
If the definition is the same in English than in French, what I mean with "perfection", is something with no flaws or drawbacks at all. The best, something that has every single thing done right. It can be applied to both material items and non-material things like the lifestyle, job...
DeleteThe thing is, there is no such thing as "flawless" or "best", and it is external, objective standards that define what the perfect life or item must look like - you know having a great job, earning a lot of money, having a big house... Ads, media, TV series and film show a vision of a perfect life and perfect items, and I think that's what we are trying to achieve when we run after perfection. But that's pointless because perfection is a fiction. There are always flaws in everything.
But I agree with you, from a subjective point of view, you can totally decide that what you currently have is satisfactory. You call it "perfect", but that's what I call "adequate", actually. In a way, adequacy is the subjective perfection of sorts, in my opinion.
i read this, then went back to read the article about the paradox of choice.
ReplyDeleteI relate so much to this issue..!
I have these thoughts too, less about material choices and more about what you mention by the beginning of the article on the paradox of choice, where to study, where to work.. as there are too many choices, none of them is ever good enough... and this excess freedom actually is a real problem to me. because there might be always something better out there, and so I paralise.
in fact, I am unemployed for six months now... imagine that. My last job wasn't so bad, but I really didn't get paid fairly, and there were too many working hours. But life as a cook is always like that(at least in Brazil, for sure!), i know. And I thought there was somehting better out there, and I even tried a few places, but nothing is ever good.
This about adequacy put me thinking, remodeling my perspectives.
Besides that, my wardrobe is also something I struggle to put together nicely and concisely...
Great article, thanks. Loads to reflect upon.
I'm happy it can help! It is true that this search for perfection applies to our life in general, what is the perfect job, the perfect place to live, the perfect spouse, the perfect lifestyle... I also agree with you that this paradox of choice applies a lot to jobs and career, especially with the pressure of success, which means looking for a perfect career in a way.
DeleteAnd because of that, we think a job is never good enough, because it isn't "perfect" and because there are so many other choices out there. I think that, when you shift to adequacy, decide what you want in your job, for your life and your priorities, then you feel less pressure about the career because you know you have found a job that suits you. I hope you find one soon :)
There is a great word I came across: "satisficing". This is when a solution is not perfect but it is good enough. I have worked hard in my life to let go of the need to be perfect, not just in regard to clothing but in many other things as well. The need for perfection takes the pleasure away no matter what the activity. When you must make do, for women who have style, it is a time to be creative and problem-solving. Out of these moments paradoxically come the most "perfect"
ReplyDeletelooks.
Accidental icon
http://www.accidentalicon.com
I think I've read that word before, it is a condensing of "sufficient" and "satisfying" isn't it? Indeed the concept of "good enough" isn't as promoted as perfection by today's society, as perfection demands to regularly update our items, whereas the feeling of enough leads to less consumption, I guess. I agree with you about perfection taking the pleasure away, as if we were trying to attain something just without reach, running after it instead if enjoying what we have (and what we live) now. I heard a lot about this creativity that comes out of limitation - that is indeed very satisfying, when you do find a solution with what you have in hand instead of "cheating" by buying something new.
DeleteI read your article with great interest. (Found you through Already Pretty.) And I hoped to find the answer for my situation. Which is.... I have a good salary and little expenses (I am 60 so most things are in place). But ...I cannot find the switch-off button and stop spending money on clothes, shoes, jewellery etc. Dipping heavily into savings now. Am I striving for perfection? I don't think so. Nevertheless I don't enjoy my new purchases for much longer than one or two wears. Which is totally wrong and so sad. Why am I doing that? And how can I stop? I need a shrink. LOL
ReplyDelete(Just rambling onhere. Fortunately there isn't a problem -yet-. Your article just struck a cord.)
Greetje
Thanks for your kind words! I think it can take a long time to figure that kind of things out when we are used to turn to consumption as an answer to all kinds of things. I hope you can find the answers you are looking for within yourself, and I'm happy if this post can help in any way :)
DeleteThe simple meaning of minimalism is live with fewer things or live with necessary things. If you buy the unnecessary things, it is only wastage of money and time. You can live a simple and happy life when you avoid these things.
ReplyDeletehttp://minimalismus.ch/