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Necessary jewelry … doesn’t exist.
But that doesn’t make jewelry bad.
It’s just unnecessary.
In fact, most of the things I own are unnecessary. Strictly speaking, I don’t need a couch, a coffee table, or a nightstand. And I certainly wouldn’t die without my coffee grinder, meditation cushions, or blender.
But I’m a minimalist,
not a deprivationist.
Yes, I have the essentials: shelter, food, clothing, transportation. But I also own many nonessentials that improve my life.
The key is this: I don’t keep anything that gets in the way.
That’s why I no longer hold on to my old camping gear, wristwatch, or bread maker. It’s not wrong to own these things, but they’re wrong for my life.
Of course, someone else could find value in those same items.
An outdoorsman might cherish the tent.
A deep-sea diver might be delighted by the Rolex.
A sourdough artist might treasure the bread machine.
Which means clutter is perspectival.
As I outline in the Clutter Coffins Rule, every possession you own necessarily falls into one of three categories:
Vital. These things support survival.
Practical. These things support living well.
Clutter. These things get in the way.
A thing becomes clutter
the moment it stops supporting your real life
(not your fantasy life).
Once you see that clearly,
letting go becomes much easier.
So look around.
What’s one thing that used to feel important, but now mostly interferes with your physical, mental, or emotional well-being?
That’s how you identify the clutter.
P.S. My new audiobook, Very, Very Simple, offers 12 practical tools to help you identify and eliminate excess. It’s available now on Audible.
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