{"id":8386,"date":"2024-08-08T18:28:29","date_gmt":"2024-08-08T22:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/what-kind-is-just-right-for-you\/"},"modified":"2024-08-08T18:28:29","modified_gmt":"2024-08-08T22:28:29","slug":"what-kind-is-just-right-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/what-kind-is-just-right-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"What Kind is Just Right for You?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Profit<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

\n

Note: This is a guest post from Karen Trefzger of\u00a0Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Contrary to popular belief, minimalism isn\u2019t a numbers game.\u00a0It\u2019s not about owning fewer than 100 things or a 33-piece wardrobe.<\/p>\n

Numbers like that can turn minimalism into a competition, which is all wrong.\u00a0That habit of comparison is what makes us try to keep up with the Joneses.\u00a0It\u2019s what pushes us to buy the latest and greatest, even if we don\u2019t need it, even if we can\u2019t afford it, simply so we\u2019ll fit in and gain respect.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The comparison trap is the last place we want to end up.<\/p>\n

Minimalism is about figuring out what matters to you and then getting rid of things that steal your money, time, and talents away from that.\u00a0Each of us will have different answers to what\u2019s most important, so our versions of minimalism will look different. In fact, my minimalism today, as half of a long-married couple nearing retirement, looks different from what it did 18 years ago, when I was homeschooling two teens, working as a bookkeeper, directing a choir, and performing as a classical singer.<\/p>\n

Minimalism is not about rules.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Minimalism is for everyone\u2014single location-independent entrepreneurs, families with little kids, seniors looking to downsize, and everyone in between.\u00a0Minimalism is for everyone, but it\u2019s not one-size-fits-all.\u00a0It\u2019s not about rules, it\u2019s about you.<\/p>\n

Your version of minimalism will be unique to you.\u00a0It depends on what you value, what your goals are, and what your family, job, and lifestyle are like.<\/p>\n

The only \u201crequirement\u201d to minimalism is that you identify what\u2019s important to you and what you care about most.\u00a0Then remove the things that aren\u2019t necessary or valuable to you, and the things that distract you or prevent you from having or being what you most desire.\u00a0You can\u2019t get minimalism wrong if you\u2019ve done that.<\/p>\n

As life and circumstances change, your priorities and values may change too, which means your minimalism may look different.\u00a0You might want to minimize even more, or a new situation might require a few more things, or you might need to accommodate the activities of a family as well as your own.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s still minimalism.\u00a0There are no minimalist police to punish you for owning \u201ctoo much,\u201d or minimalist awards for owning the least.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It can be helpful to read about choices made by other minimalists, what they\u2019ve learned, what their stumbling blocks and their successes have been, and what tips they have to share.\u00a0I hope my blog<\/a> and my books<\/a> can be resources like that, full of encouragement, insight, and inspiration to try something you haven\u2019t thought of before.\u00a0You won\u2019t copy me, but you might learn about or even disagree<\/strong> with something that helps you craft your own version of a minimalist life.<\/p>\n

How to start<\/strong><\/p>\n

What if you\u2019re new to the idea of minimalism, and feeling a bit overwhelmed without a set of hard-and-fast rules to follow?\u00a0Or what if you\u2019ve been decluttering and getting less busy for a while, but aren\u2019t sure how much further you want (or need) to go?<\/p>\n

It helps to ask questions, get clear about what kind of minimalist you want to be, and decide what you need to do to achieve it.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re all crafting a life.\u00a0We\u2019re motivated by sticks, carrots, and an ideal of comfort and satisfaction.<\/p>\n

3 questions to uncover your unique brand of minimalism<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 What\u2019s your stick?<\/strong><\/p>\n

What brought you to minimalism in the first place? \u00a0What\u2019s your motivation for seeking a simpler life?\u00a0 What needs fixing?<\/strong><\/p>\n