Do you want to change your relationship with your possessions? Anyone can become a minimalist—it’s not about personality type, but about developing the right mindset and skills through practice.
In Goodbye, Things, Fumio Sasaki outlines five mental shifts that make letting go easier: recognizing that decluttering is a learnable skill, focusing on what you gain rather than lose, evaluating items based on their present value, appreciating empty space, and viewing public spaces as extensions of your home. These perspective changes help overcome common obstacles like attachment to sentimental items or fear of future regret.
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Embrace a Minimalist Mindset
According to Fumio Sasaki, in Goodbye, Things, before you start getting rid of things, you’ll need to adopt a minimalist mindset. He offers five specific shifts that will help you develop a minimalist way of thinking.
1) Understand that You Can Get Rid of Things
First, Sasaki recommends letting go of the idea that you can’t get rid of things. You may believe that you’re personally hardwired to hold onto things, and that while minimalism works for others, you could never do it yourself. While this view may be common, Sasaki argues that it isn’t true—anyone can become a minimalist if they put their mind to it.
(Shortform note: According to some psychologists, changing the way you perceive yourself may require changing the story you tell about yourself. This is because people use stories to understand themselves and others, and by evaluating and revising your personal story, you may be able to change what’s possible for you. For example, if you tell yourself a story about how your home has always been cluttered and disorganized, it may become a self-fulfilling prophecy, as you expect yourself to be incapable of organizing. However, if you tell a story focusing on other traits, like how you’re someone who values relationships and experiences more than possessions, then this new story gives you the opportunity to give minimalism a try.)
2) Recognize that Getting Rid of Things Is a Skill
Furthermore, Sasaki explains that getting rid of things is a skill, one that develops and strengthens with practice, much like learning a new language. At first it may feel awkward and challenging, but you shouldn’t let this discourage you. Understanding that it gets easier as you improve will help you to take those first challenging steps.
| The Four Stages of Competence As you develop the skill of getting rid of your possessions, you might progress through the four stages of competence. Introduced by learning expert Noel Burch in the 1970s, these stages are: Unconscious incompetence: You’re unaware of the skill and don’t realize that you need to work on developing it. Conscious incompetence: You recognize that you’re lacking this skill and are somewhat aware of what it’d take to acquire it. Conscious competence: You’re able to practice the skill, but it takes considerable effort, intention, and concentration. Unconscious competence: You get so good at the skill that it becomes second nature, requiring much less intentional effort than before. It’s important to recognize which stage you’re in because that helps determine how to advance to the next. |
3) Remember that You’re Gaining Instead of Losing
Sasaki encourages you to remember that getting rid of things adds, not subtracts, value in your life. You may find it difficult to throw out a sentimental keepsake or an item you spent a significant amount of money on. However, remember that as you get rid of your possessions, you’ll gain more clarity about your life, your mood will improve, and you’ll gain more freedom. Therefore, discarding an item is still a net positive in your life.
(Shortform note: Sasaki focuses on the ways that minimalism can benefit your individual life. In reconceptualizing your losses as gains, it may also help to reflect on how a minimalist lifestyle can help the environment as well. Some studies have found that the production of household goods is responsible for up to 60% of all carbon emissions. Much of these emissions come from the industrial processes required to harvest raw materials. So while discarding an item may be a net gain for you, committing to a less consumeristic lifestyle can be a gain for the entire planet. Furthermore, donating or recycling items instead of throwing them out can also reduce the need to produce more goods in the future.)
4) Focus on the Present
Sasaki also recommends that you focus your mind on the present moment when you prepare to get rid of things. He explains that many of your possessions are currently worthless to you, but you hold onto them because you either believe they’ll be useful in the future or because they were an investment you made in the past. By focusing on their present value, you may realize that these items actually add very little value to your daily life. You can therefore let go of them without losing anything truly essential to your life.
(Shortform note: According to humanist philosopher Sam Harris (Waking Up), focusing on the present moment does more than let you evaluate your posessions—it helps you break free from materialism’s “hedonic treadmill” that continually dangles happiness in the future like a carrot on a stick. Harris emphasizes that the present is the only moment you actually experience—the past is gone and the future is always out of reach. From this, we can infer that possessions can only have value in the present, and if they don’t, then they have no value at all.)
5) Change Your Relationship With Space
As you embrace minimalism, you’ll find your living space becoming emptier. Sasaki recommends cultivating an appreciation for empty spaces, enjoying the lack of distractions and the zen-like sense of calm it brings.
(Shortform note: In his call to appreciate empty spaces, Sasaki echoes religious traditions which use simplicity in their spiritual practices. For example, Zen Buddhism, which Sasaki cites as an influence on his view of minimalism, creates plain temples with open spaces and rock gardens known for their simple designs. These spaces are intended to free the mind of distractions, allowing for uninterrupted mindfulness and contemplation. Furthermore, in Christian monasticism, monks and nuns have traditionally lived in austere, unadorned cells to focus their minds on contemplative prayer.)
Furthermore, he recommends that you consider public spaces as part of “your space.” For example, instead of stocking up on personal items so they’re always at hand, you can view stores as your own personal storage facility where you simply have to pay for an item before using it. Similarly, instead of keeping extra furniture or cooking supplies for entertaining guests, you can take your guests out to local restaurants, movie theaters, or parks. By understanding that these spaces are part of “your space,” you can avoid the need to keep excessive supplies at home.
(Shortform note: In addition to allowing you to have fewer personal items on hand, spending more time in public spaces can improve your mental health. This is especially true if you spend time in “third spaces,” or public places where people gather outside of home or work, such as parks, coffee shops, bars, bowling alleys, and libraries. Studies have shown that spending time in third spaces supports relaxation and social connection. By considering these spaces as part of “your space,” you’ll likely feel comfortable spending more time there, thereby increasing your sense of relaxation and community.)
Misconceptions About Minimalism
According to Minimalism by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, minimalism is a simple concept, yet it can be misunderstood.
What a Minimalist Lifestyle Is
- Minimalism is a tool to help you get rid of excess and focus on the essentials in your life.
- It is a lifestyle choice that means different things to different people.
- Minimalists search for happiness through life experiences, not through possessions.
- Minimalism helps you get past the material things cluttering your life, so you can focus on the most important things, which aren’t things, but rather values.
- It’s liberating: Minimalism frees you from feeling overwhelmed, and from depression, emptiness, and exhaustion.
What a Minimalist Lifestyle Isn’t
- Contrary to many people’s impressions, minimalism doesn’t demand a lifestyle of sacrifice and deprivation. A minimalist can still own a car and a house, and have children and a career. It’s about what you need.
- It isn’t “one size fits all.” Minimalism looks different for each individual because it’s about finding and focusing on what is essential to you.
- It isn’t rules-based: There are no rules. Minimalism is about eliminating the unnecessary things in your life, which will vary from person to person.
Learn More About the Minimalist Mindset
If you want to learn more about making the shift to a minimalist mindset, read our full guides to Goodbye, Things and Minimalism.
