With the holiday season behind us and all of the commercial activities kicked up into full gear, it is good to think about what is truly important in life.

But the truth is that the minimalist lifestyle is not radical, and minimalists are radical people. If you met them today, and we didn’t talk about minimalism (which we probably wouldn’t), you wouldn’t think the minimalist lifestyle is much different from yours:

Minimalists don’t count their stuff, but have hundreds of things, even after they got rid of 90% of their stuff: They own a car. they own pots and pans and kitchen utensils. they own a queen-size bed. They own a smartphone. They own a laptop. They own a dresser and a washer and dryer and more than a few days’ worth of clothes.

There are three key thoughts of a minimalist:

1. Constantly question possessions. Do Istill need this? When is the last time I used this? What would happen if I got rid of this? Could someone use this more than me? These are questions that consistently need to be asked as to constantly question your possessions.

2. Don’t give meaning to possessions. Most important, you should understand that your possessions can be replaced.

3. Don’t own excess. Minimalists have only the things they use frequently, things that add value to life; but they don’t have extra stuff, they don’t have just-in-case items. If you change your lifestyle, then your definition of “excess” would change, as well.

Minimalism is not a radical lifestyle. Minimalism is a tool people use to get rid of unnecessary stuff and live a meaningful life—a life filled with happiness, freedom, and conscious awareness.  By stripping away  life’s excess, people are able to focus on the important parts of life: health, relationships, passions, growth, and contribution. That’s what living a meaningful life is all about. That should be a focus area for 2019.

How about you—what could you strip away that would allow you to focus on the important aspects of your life?

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