The Pros And Cons Of Minimalism

Bigger is better, is that not the American Dream? This dream includes being successful enough to grant purpose to the earth and to provide for a family. According to “Behind the Ever-Expanding American Dream House” by Margot Alder, the average American home has nearly tripled in size over the last 50 years. On top of an unnecessarily large home, one many have a wardrobe that is updated six times a year with a job that takes up more time than you have to spend your money. Though, as individuals, we have more “things” than we would ever need, research has concluded that we do not receive happiness from obsessive buying. This is where the concept of a minimalist lifestyle is most crucial to the wellbeing of individuals and it could solve many problems that seem to have no answer. Minimalism can be described as keeping a very simple life by preferring the minimal amount of something. Perhaps cutting down on the practice of “retail therapy” could benefit the wellbeing of the environmental, mental, and financial aspects of human life.

From my travels, I also learned that there can be more than one solution to a problem. Indeed, having a variety of perspectives makes it easier to come up with approaches to different problems. My travel experience has strengthened my interpersonal skills, as well as my integrity and determination.

If an individual asked many different people from around the world what they thought the meaning of life is, this individual is destined to receive numerous answers that would vary from living a happy life to bringing about happiness to others. However, the most recurrent response would likely be something to the extent of “living a happy, healthy life.” Very few ever accomplish what McCandless achieved, an actual state of happiness and contentedness within one’s life. “ many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind…”(Chris McCandless, Into the Wild) McCandless had the naive idea that if one wants to find serinity within oneself, the individual must have the courage to venture out of one’s habitual lifestyle and mold to unaccustomed experiences. McCandless also infers that finding meaning in your life is not only accomplished by experiencing unorthodox mannerisms but by taking life lessons from these experiences and applying it to better yourself in the future. When ordinary needs have been fulfilled, an individual tends to seek more. Some take up religion or even drugs but others, such as McCandless, strive for personal fulfillment or

society is not content, not happy, and not satisfied, but nothing is done to reverse their

we do not realize how things that we do every day are a determination of not only our current but

I attended the “Hardcoar about Social Justice Documentary Series” about minimalism on November 14, 2017 in the HCC Digital Auditorium. The event involved a documentary movie about minimalism followed up by a small panel of people who live a minimalist life style who answered questions. The movie presented an alternative to our modern consumer culture and the idea that money and material goods are the source of our happiness. The movie mainly used a variety of anecdotal stories from minimalists who changed their life styles, as well as scientists and economists who explained the benefit of minimalism. The panel didn’t last long, and just answered two questions. They talked a bit about how living with zero waste can tie in with minimalism.

There are numberless reasons why anybody would want to go an travel but according to Carmen Allan-Petale (Allan-Petale, 2013) the number 1 reason is " Getting out of your own comfort zone" and being able to challenge yourself in vastly different situations. This is super beneficial to everyone whether you're a a tech guru trying to build a multimillionaire company to a lawyer who's defending an innocent man. It never hurts to learn how to act quick on your feet and being able to resolve problems that normally might frighten you. And traveling does just that, going to a foreign country and not being able to speak or understand a single word the locals are saying or traversing through an entire desert or just getting out of your comfort zone will inevitably hone your skills at being susceptible to any

Happiness is a quest that everyone embarks to find yet there are different avenues to happiness that is individualized for each person. It is human nature to be able to organize and rationalize chaos in the world. Nothing is more chaotic than the journey of finding ones place in the world. While society today tries to be more inclusive this journey to make sense of the world often segregates those whose lives don’t fulfill a purpose based on societies standards. Throughout the book Timothy Shriver sheds a light on the instinct in humans to find their place in the world, and in doing so hope to attain a standard of “happiness” they have set for themselves.

The urge to leave home for opportunities that enhance your life and let you explore new skies around the world is not foreign to anyone, it is something everyone strives for one way or another just like Aloo, a fortunate Indian boy from Africa who got the opportunity to go and study abroad but had to first face the dilemma of choosing between this once in a lifetime opportunity and his family.

“For A More Creative Brain, Travel” by Brent Kane correctly portrays the idea that traveling allows you to be a more creative and opened-minded person. This article shows ample evidence of why travelling

Our parents as I have said many times were the nation's greatest generation. They worked hard, sacrificed and built the "good" life for them and for us. I know my mother and dad did. So what went wrong? How did this generation lose its way? Suffice it to say many books have been written on the subject. For the sake of brevity, I will summarize what is common knowledge. Over indulgence, permissiveness, failure to make our children accountable for their own actions and humanism are all big factors. A falling away from God, lack of discipline and the attitude of "If it feels good do it" also come into play

Less but better. This is the modern philosophy that Greg McKeown, a public speaker, leadership and business consultant and author wants to impart to everyone. In Chapter One of his book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Greg McKeown introduces his own outlook in life. Greg McKeown wrote this self-help guide after one significant event in his life.

n today's world, people are often so caught up in their day-to-day lives that they don't have time to think about their life. As a result of this, it can set them up to go in a direction that doesn't match up with their true needs.

We spend so much time on the hunt, but nothing ever quite does it for us. We get so wrapped up in the hunt that it kind of makes us miserable” Dan Harris, Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things. As Americans are becoming more infatuated with shopping malls and online purchases, we are more focused on filling our homes rather than filling our hearts. When we are more obsessed with tangible goods rather than personal relationships, this type of mindset will continually leave us unsatisfied and with a void, always wanting more. In the minimalist mindset, their motto typically goes as follows: if something does not bring you joy or serve a purpose, there is no need for it. When looking around a typical home, we begin to see how much of a hoarding personality most of us

Society wilts their own time overly attempting their