Going Back to a Simple Lifestyle...

In our world of excessive stuff, there's a silent movement towards minimalistic living that's gaining momentum. A movement related to living simply is Minimalism, where the focus is on living with less, compared to simplicity, which strives for living a less complex life. The two works quite well together. A growing number of people in urban cities are questioning whether they need as much as they have: clothes, accessories, gadgets and everything that fills our homes but doesn't necessarily serve us better or make us happy. People are embracing simplicity of living. In other words, they are developing the art of living with less, going back to our rustic roots. 

One who have experienced this simplicity, have to admit certain things. First, voluntary simplicity can help mitigate the effects of climate change and other environmental problems. Secondly, if we cut out the things that we don’t need, then the quality of our lives will improve drastically. And lastly, living more simply increases the spiritual dimension of our lives as we get more time for self reflection. Voluntary simplicity fits well the category of sustainable consumption because its principles include: creating economically sustainable future, shaping balanced relationships between humans as well as building and maintaining close ties to the mother Nature. 

In economics, there is a Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility which states that the marginal utility of a good or service declines as its available supply increases (Utility is the satisfaction or benefit derived by consuming a product). In simple words, if we consume or have more commodities, they become less valuable or less satisfying. More & more things or loads of stuff is not going to give you eternal satisfaction and peace. The law is known also as Fundamental Law of Satisfaction. Voluntary simplicity is an exact oppositional living strategy that rejects the high-consumption, materialistic lifestyles of consumer cultures and affirms what is often just called ‘the simple life’ or ‘downshifting.’

This does not necessarily mean that we should leave everything and become a cave-dweller, nor there should be the complete absence of technology. Out of many people who simplify, still continue to live conventional lives, working for a living, raising families, exploring spiritual interests, connecting with their communities, and enjoying leisure time.

While writing this Voluntary Simplicity series, I used to realize that many things or stuff I have are actually an futile, useless or have a very short lifespan; but their manufacturing process either pollutes unnecessarily or consume too much resources and energy or both. So when I actually give it a thought, we all are surrounded by such stuff. For me, I have decided to gradually decrease the stuff around me and move slowly towards Simplicity.

I have realized that it is a deliberate choice to live with less in the belief that more life will be returned to us in the process. According to the most prominent historian of the Simplicity Movement, David Shi, the primary attributes of the simple life include: thoughtful frugality; a suspicion of luxuries; a reverence and respect for nature; a desire for self-sufficiency; a commitment to conscientious rather than conspicuous consumption; a privileging of creativity and contemplation over possessions; an aesthetic preference for minimalism and functionality; and a sense of responsibility for the just uses of the world’s resources. More concisely, Shi defines voluntary simplicity as ‘enlightened material restraint.’

Yes..! Even You can be happy with little. But today, we have already perfected the art of being unhappy with much - or too much. Out of our selfish greed rather than the higher values, in search of petty pleasures rather than some worthwhile accomplishments, we have critically jeopardized the planet’s life-cycles and caused species to fall extinct at a frantic pace. We must return to ancient India’s philosophy of simple living, else the collapse of our artificial system may one day force us to it. Our small everyday choices are blind and market-driven; let us make them enlightened.

The crux of the issue is the reduction of toxic loads that surrounds us. Natural living, changes every facet of life. It restrains unhealthy behavior, and build up of nasty toxins associated with hectic lifestyles. Living pure in every small way of daily living becomes the primary goal. This is appealing as it saves money, reduces stress and achieves good health. But how does one get started? Do you have to stop shopping completely and stop washing yourself, your clothes and homes because everything out there is a potential threat? Absolutely not! unless, you want to use that as an excuse to do nothing. You can try and become self-sufficient or self-dependent. Instead of automated electrical equipment, try to use mechanical or manual one which requires physical strength to operate. For example, skip the escalator and take the stairs.

In the end, The Choice is Yours - Simplicity or Complexity? Would you prefer to live a life of simplicity or a life of complexity? Well, that might depend on your views of simplicity. And you can choose any reason for opting - personal, social, humanitarian, or ecological! We all can live meaningful, free, happy, and infinitely diverse lives, while consuming no more than a sustainable and equitable share of nature. That, at least, is the challenging ideal which seems to motivate and guide many of its advocates and practitioners.