The Benefits of Being a # Minimalist

Like everybody else,I too have spent a major part of my life collecting things which caught my fancy,were necessary or were gifted to me.Then came a turning point.My parents,being too old,went to live with my eldest sister and our beloved house had to be sold.But what was to be done with all that furniture and stuff?All three of us sisters had well furnished homes,therefore most of the things just had to be given away.It was very painful for me to even imagine that all the dear things which I had grown up with,were now scattered here and there.

I began to wonder what would happen when it was time for us to depart?I requested my children to take away any of the stuff they fancied.I had a huge pile of crockery,cutlery,utensils,linen and showpieces etc and I told them to shuffle through these things before they had to buy anything of that kind.Some of it I gave to my maid.But I still have cupboards full to the brim.I feel overawed by the heaps of items which crowd my home.There are things which are not currently in use,like books,wristwatches,documents,time-pieces,cameras,cassette tapes and electric appliances.

One day both of us sat down and discarded all our old medical test reports and other useless papers which had accumulated over the years.But this did not make any significant dent in our possessions.I am still racking my brain what next to discard.It is not easy to part with your cherished belongings.

Why did I buy so much?I am not a shopaholic.I merely wanted to have a decent home and provide my children with the basic comforts.None of this stuff is of recent purchase.Some of it was gifted by my kids themselves when they came visiting us after their marriage.So this is how it happened.I have come to the conclusion that I ought not to have bought so many things in the first place.It is best to be a minimalist.A simple way of life can actually be very rewarding.

If this hits home then the tips below will help you to start on this journey.I am well aware that young adults,those who are in the process of setting up their homes have to per force buy a lot of stuff.But this is also the time when one is attracted by every new trend and gizmo in the market.If you keep a few principles in mind,you will not go overboard.

On the way to becoming a minimalist--

1)These days the markets are inundated with new versions of stuff we already have;if possible,stretch what you possess.Kill that temptation to have the latest model.If at all you have to buy it,get rid of the first one-exchange or give it away.I myself use everything till it becomes unusable.

2)Don't go shopping merely to kill time,or because there is a sale on,or because you have money to spare.Trim your shopping lists regularly.

3)Discard duplicates.Do you really need so many wrist watches,mixer-grinders,choppers, mobiles,bags and footwear?

4)Those obsolete,redundant items like cassette players,c.d players,cameras and time pieces etc also deserve to be shunted out. 

5)Then there are trinkets and souvenirs which represent memories from the past.Most of us stick to them but they occupy a lot of space.Keep what is extremely precious to you,which you take out quite often,and discard the rest.

6)The books you have read-- will you ever find the time to read them again?

7)Whenever the urge to buy a new apparel stirs,go through what you already have and see if it can be altered to fall in with the current trend.

8)Whenever you feel the need to buy something look up your inventory,see what will serve your purpose.Innovate,recycle and improvise.These efforts can be very soul-satisfying because you not only desist from adding one more item to your belongings but also use up something which was lying derelict.Find a new use for old things instead of just storing them away.In this way you will create and not consume.

9)Eliminate the social accounts which you do not really need.Turn off the notifications which consume a lot of time but impart little.Also the aps which serve little purpose.

10)Go through your to-do list and cancel what you can do without.

11)Too much of media exposure takes your attention away from what is important to you and your loved ones--snip it too.

The benefits of minimalism

1* First and foremost,minimalism allows you more free time-permission to be your own self.

2*You can relax,you will not feel overwhelmed,irritated or persecuted by the countless tinkles emitted by your gadgets.

3*You can pursue your passions,do what you really enjoy doing.

4*You can give more time to your relationships-which,after all,are what make life livable.

5*You also save the time which you would have spent on shopping,hunting for the latest device.

6*And you save a lot of money.

7*That constant worry about what to do with the old redundant devices which have been replaced with newer ones is no longer there.

8*There is a sense of freedom,of not being tied down,not answerable to every so and so.

9*The house is less cluttered,with more space to move around.You also have more space to store the essential items.It is easier to clean your home.

10*You are doing your bit to minimize the amount of garbage which leaves your home.

11*There is a marked increase in your self esteem.You are  doing your own thing--no longer following the herd.The master of your own choices.


 In a very subtle way,minimalism makes life more simple,enriching and satisfying.Too much of stuff takes away a lot of time.It distracts us from the essentials.We tend to assign excessive importance to material things and neglect the needs of our inner core.Many modern conveniences have clubbed together to make workaholics of us.Instead of allowing us more free time these gimmicks in fact keep us on leash--and occupied.Try to just sit idle in a park now and then,watching children at play,communing with nature.It will refresh you enormously.

Some Habits which Thwart Success

We all want success-whether it be in our relationships or vocation;and work hard to attain it.But hard work does not always result in success-or recognition.Despite our best efforts.Naturally this causes a lot of consternation.We rack our brains,blame this or that factor,but the statusquo refuses to improve.

The reason is very simple-hidden variables are at work.We blame external factors but fail to look within.It is not easy to figure how our habits,attitudes and beliefs translate into our behavior and shape the outcome.Our attributes are capable of forestalling the rewards which could easily have been ours.We think we are doing everything in the proper way but it is difficult to judge ourselves impartially-unless someone else points it out.If this rings a bell with you,let me put some direct questions;the answers to which could illumine dark corners:--

Are you unsure of yourself?
Do you avoid accepting challenging tasks fearing that you will not be able to fulfill that responsibility and only make a spectacle of yourself?

Are you scared of taking a big leap?
Perhaps you like to play safe and believe that one in hand is worth two in bush;but if you had taken some calculated risks you could have been in a higher strata today.

Are you diffident?
Maybe you are so shy that you would rather play second fiddle than be the cynosure of all eyes-even if it was for receiving accolades for your performance.Grow up,will you?

Are you stubborn?
We all have certain drawbacks and our well wishers point them out too,but if we are too stubborn to accept that fact then we shall never progress or meet success.
If it is not about believing that you are perfect and do not need to change your ways then it could also be about sticking to your old,tried,comfortable way of working which you refuse to change.This too,is a major obstacle to personal growth.

Are you a loner?
Loners are at a big disadvantage in this era of networking.We all have different skills and talents and no one person is a master of everything.If you are facing a tough situation in your work or have your hands too full,then taking outside help will relieve you of unnecessary stress and also help you succeed.
Secondly,whether in personal life or career,there come moments when one needs the power of supporters behind him/her.Today a lone person-no matter how right or capable is-will not be given the same recognition as someone who has the force of a group behind him. 
  
Are you very modest?
You might be carrying the full load of an organisation on your shoulders but if you don't talk about it,no one comes to know.It is true that showboats are a pain in the neck but it is also important to let others know about your work and achievements.

Are you facing a crisis in personal life?
Personal issues,anxieties preclude all else from one's consideration so that it becomes difficult to devote the required time and energy to one's work or private life.If a problem is blotting out all else from your mind,it is best to sort it out at the soonest so that you can do justice to other responsibilities.

Are you plain lazy
Well,what can I say to that?You are the best judge!

So if you are disappointed with the the speed of your growth you would do well to introspect and find out where the fault lies.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Depressive Bipolar Disorder ?

It is very difficult to understand the workings of human mind.Some people go through ghastly tragedies,yet gather their wherewithal and start afresh;while someone else may come apart after witnessing an incident which was not even his direct concern.This reality was revealed explicitly to me when Arif visited my clinic Sahyog.

               First visit

Arif,a hefty football player,was 33yr old when he came to me;or rather was brought to me by his elder brother.He suffered from severe depression.So much so that he wept copiously as he sat in my office.

Both he and his brother told me intermittently that his problem started three months ago.He used to be a physical instructor in a modest school at that time but he left the job because of his disorder.

Six weeks ago he had consulted a psychiatrist who gave him in-house treatment for ten days.He was still on medication and though not cured (as you must have gathered );he wanted to stop his medicines.The doctor's prescription stated that he suffered from Depressive Bipolar Disorder.
Initial talks failed to reveal the reason of his depression.I gave him suitable advice and called him back after four days because he needed urgent help,and yet required some time to ingest what I had said.
              Second visit
This time he came alone.He was in a much better frame of mind.He told me that three months ago he had witnessed a ghastly accident after which he could not sleep for four days and thus the problem started.He had still not told anyone about it.
I pointed out that the mere decision to share this experience with me had considerably relieved him and he looked markedly better on that day.Therefore he should try to not keep things cooped up and share his worries with those who loved him.
He told me that he had started going to a stadium and watching children at play.This too had soothed him.I asked him to keep it up,coach them when needed and also take up a job.
               Third visit
Arif looked perfectly normal when he next came,he was even smiling!He told me that his wife and bhabhi(SIL)were very cooperative and he had no complaints on any front.He thanked me for my help and surprisingly,also expressed a desire to join Sahyog.

I guess the doctor diagnosed Bipolar Disorder because he was fine till he saw the accident and absolutely shattered the next.But ten days'stay in a nursing home could not bring out the cause of the disorder.

This case brings to light the necessity of counselling and medication going hand-in-hand.Medicines only give symptomatic relief and do not address the root cause.