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Minimalist Resolution Update 4: April 2011

This will be my last update this year for my minimalist new year’s resolution. I will write a final update once the year has ended.

For those of you just tuning in, at the beginning of the year I resolved to purchase nothing for one year (other than consumables like food and hygiene products).

Why is this my last update?

There are a few reasons:

  1. I’m bored writing about it, so it’s time to move on.
  2. You probably don’t want twelve updates over the year telling you I didn’t buy anything (and I don’t want to waste your time or my time with something so banal).
  3. Most importantly, my internal decision-making pattern has completely changed. I no longer get that impulse to purchase things. Sure, there are still things I want, but I no longer buy stuff on a whim (I noticed this after the first two months, and by the end of 90 days my pattern had completely changed).

I will continue to pursue this resolution for the remaining two-thirds of the year, and I’ll write a recap in January 2012.

Lessons Learned

I’ve learned quite a bit over the past four months:

  1. I am not my stuff.
  2. I do not need to purchase new stuff to make me happy.
  3. I have enough.
  4. I don’t have less; I have more.
  5. It’s much easier than you think: it’s easy to say no.
  6. My time is better spent creating rather than consuming.
  7. I am not a consumer.
  8. Less stuff equals less worrying and less stress.
  9. Less purchases equals less need for income.
  10. Less need for income equals being able to leave a soul-crushing job.
  11. I already have everything I need.
  12. Even though I didn’t purchase anything, I was able to donate the majority of my clothes this month and I still have plenty left.

Read my final update, January 2012: Resolving to Learn from Failure.