My Journey into Minimalism – Between Fear, Freedom, and New Norms
I did not wake up one morning thinking: Now I will become a minimalist. It was a process. Slow, gradual – sometimes contradictory, sometimes brave, often full of doubt. I had heard of “minimalism” before, had seen it in others – but it was not a goal I pursued. It was more a gradual letting go.
From Landline to SIM Card – Taking the First Small Steps
My first step was seemingly simple: I canceled my landline and switched to a basic SIM card. Fewer fixed costs, more flexibility. It felt light. But soon the bigger decisions came – and they were no longer so easy.
Letting Go of the Car – and With It, Control?
The hardest part was giving up my car. At the time, I lived in a village with almost no public transportation. Living without a car seemed unthinkable. It meant dependency, insecurity, maybe even a step backward. And yet: I chose to do it.
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Not because I was certain. But because I promised myself one thing: I am allowed to change my mind. I am allowed to buy a car again, to own more again – if I realize I need it. This permission made things easier.
Minimalism Is Not a Goal – It Is Movement
What is often forgotten: My lifestyle change was never meant to be “forever.” Nothing in life is permanent. And yet, we often try – to hold on to life, to make it predictable, manageable. We build securities, routines, constructs. And in doing so, we take away space for chance, encounters, and change.
At some point, I also gave up my apartment. No permanent home, no retreat – at least not in the traditional sense. I often thought I was crazy. And I agreed with those who thought so too. Because yes: I was afraid.
The Fear of Falling Out of the Norm
I grew up with the idea that one must “build up” – a whole life long. More possessions, more security, more structure. And suddenly, I was moving in the opposite direction. Of course, it was scary. Of course, I felt insecure.
But over time, you meet others who live the same way. And suddenly, what once seemed “crazy” becomes a new normal. A different kind of norm. One that breathes, that changes, that adapts.
Living in Uncertainty – and Still Finding Peace
In the beginning, I often wandered in the dark: Where will I be next month? How will I make ends meet? Can I enter a new country with minimal funds?
And then those special moments came: I woke up not knowing where I would sleep that night – and yet I felt calm. I had developed trust. In life. In myself. In whatever would come. And that was the biggest step in minimalism: Not letting go of things. But letting go of fear.
Conclusion:
Minimalism for me is not a rigid lifestyle. It is a path. A courage to embrace uncertainty – and to find a new kind of security in it. Not possessions, but trust. Not a plan, but movement. Not a system, but feeling.
