There’s something profoundly satisfying about completing a difficult task.
That feeling while you finish a race, accomplish a project at work, and even just finish cleansing up after a very successful party.
You get to face back, take a deep breath, and savor the accomplishment. It’s an incredible feeling.
Yet, in our journey toward minimalism, I often hear a standard refrain, “Decluttering is a process and I’m tremendous with that. There is not any endpoint to decluttering anyway.” But, as with every task, isn’t there a moment of completion, a moment of pure satisfaction when the labor is finally over?
Yes, after all there may be! There is an endpoint to decluttering. And it’s wonderful!
Decluttering, like many worthy endeavors, requires dedication after all. And it’s easy to imagine that this have to be a never-ending cycle. And while it’s true that we’d like to remain vigilant against clutter returning, that doesn’t mean we never experience the moment of accomplishment.
Minimalism, as I’ve come to appreciate, does have an endpoint.
It’s not about achieving a wholly empty room or living with only a backpack. Instead, it’s about reaching some extent where the stuff you own serve a purpose in your life. It’s the attractive moment while you go searching your space and think, “This environment frees me to pursue what’s vital.”
Does it mean there are not any unnecessary possessions remaining? Probably not. But there may be a moment when the initial work feels accomplished.
Now, that doesn’t mean decluttering can’t still be a journey. It took us three months to declutter our essential living spaces and nine months to handle your entire home. Then, three years later, we moved right into a smaller house. The process was not without its challenges, and it wasn’t overnight. But every step we took brought us closer to the endpoint.
Here’s why I believe that is so vital.
Believing that decluttering is an unending process can keep us from making progress. If there may be “no end to this journey,” what’s the purpose of working hard to reduce our unneeded things? No matter what you do… there’ll all the time be more left.
But there’s a profound difference between living a decluttered life and all the time decluttering.
Living a decluttered life is feasible, and you’ll be able to achieve it!
Yes, there’s maintenance. New possessions enter our homes. Seasons of life change. Kids get older. But when you’ve reached that initial milestone, the toughest work is over.
Maintaining a minimized space is way easier than getting there. And trust me, reaching that sweet spot is wonderful.
So, what does life appear like when the decluttering is completed?
More Time: You spend less time cleansing, organizing, and on the lookout for things. And doing more of the stuff you love.
More Freedom: Without the load of excess possessions, you might be lighter, freer, and more in command of your life.
More Contentment: Once you realize you’ve got every little thing you would like, contentment comes easier.
More Financial Stability: Maintaining fewer things (and fewer impulse buying) mean more savings and more opportunity to finally get ahead.
More Intentionality: Every possession becomes a conscious selection. You begin to use this intentionality in other facets of your life as well.
Some of the best advantages of minimalism are discovered while you reach the finish line.
Does this mean you’ll never buy or acquire anything latest again? Of course not. There could also be times when things begin to build up a bit in your house. But removing a couple of things, from time to time, is far easier than decluttering your entire home the primary time.
I don’t want this text to discourage anyone who’s struggling to make progress. Just the alternative!
I need to encourage you to not wander off in the assumption that decluttering has no end. There is a finish line—and the harder you’re employed to get there, the higher!
So, if you happen to’re still on a journey towards minimalism, keep going.
The endpoint is real, achievable, wonderful, and possibly closer than you’re thinking that.
