Trying to live a simple and clutter free life isn’t just about getting rid of stuff. Applying minimalism to all areas of your life eventually comes down to decluttering your internal world. For me, the process of healing mental and emotional health is about getting closer and connected to who we really are.

Right now this is looking like learning to value and trust what I think and feel- rewiring my belief system, and deciding to let go of believing or prioritizing negative opinions about the things that truly spark my interest.

If you’ve been working with minimalism and zero waste for a while, deciding to add a new (or new-to-you item) into your life can bring up all kinds of unexpected feelings. Have you experienced uncertainty about adding something different to your life after living a zero waste or minimalist lifestyle?

If considering purchasing an item brings up resistance for me, the item is probably a trigger, inviting me to figure out what the item and resistance actually represents. Is it just because I don’t really need the item and it doesn’t align with my true values? Or do I feel resistance because it’s going to mean looking inward, changing what I believe and letting go of something? (maybe a flawed or judgmental belief system)

Most of the time resistance is a sign, telling me to work through whatever thought patterns got triggered- to identify where the belief originates, how it makes me feel, weather I think it’s true, and if I want to keep it or let it go.

Stuff takes up physical space in our homes, but opinions and values (sometimes given to us by other people) can take up space and energy in our mind and body.  We can declutter our energy and mental space just as we would with our possessions. Filtering through values and beliefs is about taking each attitude and deciding if it’s still right for us now in the present moment. Actively creating a life we really want. 

Danielle Laporte has a quote that really resonates with me: "Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?”

Items bought from Front and Company, a consignment boutique in Vancouver, British Columbia.