Minimalism vs Simplicity

Dear friends,

You may be aware of the myriad of minimalism blogs on the internet. It may be because we live in a society that teaches us consumerism is the key to happiness and you just don’t buy into that (pun intended). Maybe you like minimalism purely for the aesthetic. Either way, minimalism is a hot topic.

So why didn’t I create a minimalism blog?

Minimalism and simplicity are two different but related things. Both are important, but they serve different purposes. To me, minimalism refers to physical belongings. A “minimalist” prefers to live life without many possessions, be they shoes, bags, clothes, furniture, cars, you name it. Minimalism is an art in and of itself because getting rid of things isn’t always easy. Neither is being disciplined about what to buy or not buy. I will be touching on some of the tips and tricks I use to maintain the right level of minimalism in my own life.

Simplicity on the other hand is a little more abstract. My minimalist lifestyle contributes to the overall simplicity of my life. Because I don’t own very many things I don’t have to think about as many things, which makes it easier for me to think about more important matters like my family, friends, education, etc. I would rather have a clear mind than a cluttered one. Your mind is where you have to spend all your time so it’s worth it to eliminate the physical clutter that contributes to cluttering your brain.

Simplicity can be manifested through your physical belongings, the way you talk to yourself, how you manage your time, and where you spend your time, both physically and mentally. Taking control of the physical, tangible aspects of your life can make it so much easier to take control of the mental ones.

All of the posts on Sweetbriar Letters center around the theme of simplicity, but minimalism is just one of the things I will incorporate into the larger theme of simplicity.

Hopefully that makes sense! My hope is that something I have to say will make your life a little simpler, a little more manageable, and a little better.

Sincerely,

Kayla