Philip Jong

Minimalism as a lifestyle choice has gained traction as both a cultural and a social movement in recent years. In its most simplistic practice, it is a form of simple living that deemphasizes materialistic possession and promotes self-sufficiency. It is inaccurate to conflate minimalism with the mere act of decluttering of one’s belongings or reducing one’s consumption of consumer goods. Rather, minimalism encompasses an underlying philosophy to simplify living and not just reflects a set of rules to achieve such means. In fact, elements of minimalism are rooted in many religious teachings that aspire oneself to live in virtue and to embrace only the bare necessities of life. Further, Greek philosopher Epicurus believed that the true pleasure of life could only be attained by living modestly and limiting extravagant desires in order to achieve a state of equanimity. On the other hand, more contemporary origin of minimalism may be a countercultural reaction to the rise of the conspicuous consumption and the conspicuous leisure, coined by American economist Thorstein Veblen, over the last century that are now the hallmarks of modern consumerism. As someone who prefers a simple lifestyle, I value minimalism in freeing me from the obsession of materialism so that I may better focus on pursuing a more fulfilled and meaningful life.