The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less by Christine Platt

Author:Christine Platt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: S&S/Simon Element
Published: 2021-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Whew! And to think, not only does this list not take into consideration my belongings that were stored in other closets and containers, but it also does not include all of my undergarments, nightwear, and accessories!

As difficult as this process was, it helped me acknowledge just how much I truly owned. I believe this is an essential first step because (1) knowing exactly what you have (and what you have too much of) forces you to acknowledge your excess and overconsumption; and (2) knowing exactly what you have (and what you have too much of) will help you make better choices going forward. After you complete your inventory, it’s a good time to revisit your self-reflections that you discovered while learning about the principles of minimalism. Are you able to identify aspects of your childhood that have contributed to why you have more than you need, especially in one particular area? Are you able to identify areas where you are most prone to mindless consumption or conspicuous consumption? How much of your excess is due to giving in to cultural expectations rather than being your authentic self? This, too, is an important part of the acknowledgment process, because the answers to these questions allow you to see where you are most vulnerable, and, more important, what areas you need to address as you move forward in the journey to living with less.

As I’ve shared, acknowledgment was very difficult for me. I wasn’t just confronting my stuff—I was confronting myself. Acknowledging just how much I had forced me to ask and answer those tough questions and face the reality of my spending habits and behaviors. With everything on display and categorized, many items with the red clearance tags still attached, I was able to fully understand how my childhood experiences and giving in to cultural expectations to “look the part” had resulted in me being extremely unintentional with purchases and careless with my resources.

Those little red clearance labels held the clues to my overconsumption—indicators of my obsession with finding a deal. Through the acknowledgment process I discovered and had to accept that bargain shopping was my Achilles’ heel. It was clear that I was in love with the thrill of the hunt but once I got the items home, the dopamine rush subsided and the items went to their respective places of storage. There were so many new but unneeded, unused, and unloved items in my wardrobe! I knew I loved bargain shopping, but I had no idea how much of a contributing factor it was to my excess until I saw and acknowledged it.

Likewise, you will also come to see there are many layers (no pun intended!) when it comes to reasons why you have more than you need. Much like me, you may discover that although there may be one main contributing factor to your overconsumption, there are other areas that also play a role in your excess. As I reflected on my self-discoveries while acknowledging how many of my belongings I did not use, need, and love, I experienced a range of overwhelming emotions.

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