Minimalism is Optimizing for Wellbeing

When enough is the only thing you really need in life

Beautiful Ojai, California where I took a half-day break from driving on my road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Photo: Per Håkansson.

Minimalism is often associated with less while our brains are wired to always chasing more. But minimalism can also be perceived as just enough, the fewer better things that lead to invaluable simplicity and clarity.

• Enough food

• Enough work

• Enough money

• Enough friends

• Enough sleep

• Enough workouts

Enough of what really matters to you create a healthy balance in life which allows you to go deeper, to seek mastery, to find the greatness inside.

Enough is the result of knowing yourself and understanding why you’re here. It’s where you can switch from chasing things to exploring your true inner self.

Everything beyond enough is created by a society that feeds on unlimited growth, not on wellbeing. And we can see that today with people and planet living a very unhealthy and unsustainable existence.

Biologically we’re not designed for this information overload and need to create effective filters, learn to ignore and say no, build our own systems for meaning and wellbeing. Ignorance is true bliss and being ignorant is okay.

It’s okay to say no, it’s okay to ignore everything from emails to phone calls to buying stuff to following old beliefs to participating in collective mindlessness to create your own road less traveled, and to just be your brilliant self. It’s all okay!

Here is how I’ve scaled back on digital information and addiction to scale up on personal growth, inner peace, and daily wellbeing: