Minimalism- a way of owning less possessions or the key to finding true happiness?  A question that two men featured in the film “The Minimalists”-Joshua Fields and Ryan Nicodemus, focused on answering.  Minimalism has not only become a way of life but a platform for them to influence others to “focus on what’s important-so you can find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom.”

In the modern age the bigger the home or the fancier the car equate to wealth and consequently happiness, right?  But what if having less stuff and more experiences were held with the same significance or even more than those arbitrary items we inevitably find ourselves buying.  Would you finally travel to India like you had once dreamed of, climbed Mount Everest? Or just finally pursue your dream job instead of viewing your life’s’ work as zeros on a paycheck?  The key may not be so hard.  The idea of ridding ourself of items we fill our lives with for temporary happiness can seem scary.

Although minimalism isn’t a relatively new concept, you may be asking yourself what exactly it entails.  Well according to dictionary.com a minimalist is: a person who favors a moderate approach to the achievement of a set of goals or who holds minimal expectations for the success of a program.  So the minimalistic lifestyle means shedding unnecessary items in one’s life that simply don’t bring true happiness over time.

For example picture a living room, what might you classify as ‘needs’ for that area of living space?  A coffee table, a large couch- don’t forget a comfy La-Z-Boy too and a T.V- modern edgy lighting, picture frames or cool geometric shapes that match your style only to take up room on your mantle? What an individual might actually want in a living space will probably vary from person to person, but most, if not all, of the things I listed above are probably things that everyone has in their living room. Does that make them essentials or needs, though?

While researching “The Minimalists”, I found that their way to happiness was ridding the items that took up space in their lives.  Without the items they were left feeling free, liberated, and more up to going out and experiencing new things.  So if you take anything away from this article, consider if that pricey new iPhone or that 50” smart T.V truly brings you happiness?