The most recent iteration of this principle is called minimalism, but the conceptual seed was planted in 1981 with a book by Duane Elgin called Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich.

The radical aspect of voluntary simplicity is the voluntary part. To volunteer is to participate willingly and without the promise of compensation. The irony in this choice is that the rewards can actually be quite fruitful. Simplicity in living has the potential to reduce stress; lessen your need for time, money, and space; and, when combined with the actions of others, create a global shift in how we, as a species, walk through this life. To live according to the principles of voluntary simplicity is to make a conscious and individual choice to simplify life by consuming less. 

One of the easiest ways to start simplifying your life is to reduce the number of material possessions you have; below are two extremely simple strategies for doing so. Evaluate your current (and future) possessions against these simple criterion. If things don’t make the cut, don’t keep (or buy) them.

The Basics

The idea here is to own only what is actually needed and nothing more. For example, if you live alone and never have more than two people visiting at a time, maybe you don’t need 27 face cloths. Even just 100 years ago, people owned hundreds of possessions, not the thousands of possessions that the average person today has, but is all of this really necessary? Consider the following radical changes:

For every person in your household, assign a single plate, bowl, and cup. 

Streamline your wardrobe down to 5 pairs of pants, 10 shirts, 5 sweaters, etc.

Give away any item you own that has not been used in a year.

The Best

The idea here is to own only the very best. For example, instead of owning 53 disposable pens, why not own a single durable and refillable fountain pen? Buying the most well-made, highest-quality items will cost you more in the short term, but less in the long term. 

Look for items that are so well made that they could potentially outlive you and be passed to the next generation. 

Items made in the USA from 1950 through 1980 tend to be high quality, long-lasting, and worth repairing when broken. Items made of natural materials, such as cotton, wool, wood, metal, glass, and ceramics, tend to be higher quality than those made of composite materials or plastic.

Copyright 2023 Kesel Wilson (entirely, 100% human-created)

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