1500 - 2000 / Henry David Thoreau / Social and Environmental

7 Steps To Elevate Your Life by Embracing Minimalism [Thoreau]

By Effluo | Published March 11, 2023 | No Comments

Is it possible to elevate your life by embracing minimalism?

Is less truly more?

Can you achieve happiness by removing things from your life?

In this article, we will review the answers to these questions through the prism of the past.   At Effluo, we study the teachings of great historical figures to get inspired by the lives of history’s greatest minds.  To answer these questions, we looked at the work and life of Henry David Thoreau, and the impact excess consumerism has on our life balance.

Life Balance Wheel – Social/ Environmental

Our life consists of many different areas.   When we speak about achieving balance in life, we speak about achieving satisfaction in different life areas.

Life areas consist of physical and emotional health, relationships, financial security, social acceptance, and environmental health.  You can download the free Life Balance Wheel PDF for additional information and to determine your personal satisfaction in the different areas.

•   Financial / Professional
•   Family / Relationships
•   Intellectual / Hobbies
•   Physical Health / Body
•   Social / Environmental
•   Spiritual / Emotional

Who Is Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau was a widely respected American philosopher, author, and poet who lived in the 19th century.

He is best known for his embrace of minimalism and for his words encouraging others to live intentionally.  His most famous work, Walden, details an experiment where he chose to live alone in a wooden house on Walden Pond for two years.

During this period of solitude, he reflected on how possessions do not define a person’s worth, sparking a movement towards embracing minimalism and eliminating the excess from life which can weigh you down.  He argued that true freedom can be obtained through the embrace of minimalism.

What is Minimalism?

Henry David Thoreau was a dedicated practitioner of minimalism, and his main philosophy was to live intentionally.  He believed that by simplifying our lives, we could eliminate unnecessary stress from within and live true to ourselves.

Therefore, Thoreau’s view on minimalism is to live life with purpose and clarity – sacrificing one’s distractions in order to make more time for what matters most.

Minimalism, as he saw it, was about decluttering life not only physically but emotionally as well.  This notion results in you taking back control of your own life and consciously focusing on activities that bring joy rather than living life mindlessly reacting to your environment or circumstances.

While society has kept forgetting this core idea in search of wealth and material comfort, Thoreau’s work helps us remember that minimalism is, ultimately, about liberation from any excessive burden weighing upon us – whatever shape it might take.

The Necessaries of Life

The necessaries of life for man in this climate may, accurately enough, be distributed under the several heads of Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel; for not till we have secured; these are we prepared to entertain the true problems of life with freedom and a prospect of success. – Henry David Thoreau

For the human, there are four requisites to an enjoyable and fruitful life:

•   Food
•   Shelter
•   Clothing
•   Fuel

But most of us live well beyond these necessities; we often try to accumulate more possessions and material wealth as if that would bring us true happiness.  Thoreau reminds us that securing the fundamental requirements for survival is necessary.  However, over accumulation of these things does not necessarily makes us free.  On the contrary, it imprisons us. 

He argued that a maximalist lifestyle will not lead to real success or satisfaction.  He believed less can be more, to simplify our lives affords us a greater understanding of what truly matters.

The definition of necessary could be describing a minimalist lifestyle exactly – by focusing on these four items, we reduce stress and create a space for both contentment and growth.

Steps to Elevate Your Life by Embracing Minimalism Overview

Henry David Thoreau, in his book Walden, provided the following recommendations or steps for embracing minimalism in order to elevate your lifestyle.

1.   Create Your Own Definition of Necessities
2.   Re-Evaluate Your Priorities
3.   Don’t Procrastinate Living
4.  Practice The Art Of Mindfulness ‘Live In The Now’
5.   Live To The Dictates Of Wisdom
6.   Remove The Hindrances to Elevation of Mind
7.   Enrich Your Inner World

1 Create Your Own Definition of Necessities

Darwin, the naturalist, says of the inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego, that while his own party, who were well clothed and sitting close to a fire, were far from too warm, these naked savages, who were farther off, were observed, to his great surprise, “to be streaming with perspiration at undergoing such a roasting.” So, we are told, the New Hollander goes naked with impunity, while the European shivers in his clothes. – Henry David Thoreau

It is clear that the definition of necessities in life differs greatly from person to person.

Thoreau here turns to Charles Darwin, the well-known naturalist, who noted this phenomenon while traveling around Tierra del Fuego – he and his party were far from warm despite being clothed and close to a fire, yet he observed the local inhabitants streaming with perspiration from the same environment.  Similarly, Thoreau mentioned that New Hollander goes completely naked with no repercussions, while Europeans shiver in their clothes.

Of course, this demonstrates how the definition of necessities can differ drastically between cultures and serves as an insight into the fascinating array of ways people live around the world.

This notion lends itself to interesting conversations about perspective and contentment – which essentially speaks to what we as humans truly need in order to function and feel fulfilled. 

Therefore, when you look to define your necessities, look beyond cultural expectations and instead focus on your true needs.

2 Re-Evaluate Your Priorities

I too had woven a kind of basket of a delicate texture, but I had not made it worth any one’s while to buy them.  Yet not the less, in my case, did I think it worth my while to weave them, and instead of studying how to make it worth men’s while to buy my baskets, I studied rather how to avoid the necessity of selling them. – Henry David Thoreau

In this passage, Thoreau pointed out that natives of the land began to weave baskets to sell to the new settlers of the land.  Wherein before, they did not need to do that.  He further elaborates that through his works, he also weaved “baskets” and then looked at how to sell them. 

Here, however, he steps out of the mold, and instead of asking how to increase the demand for his “baskets,” he asks how to avoid the necessity of selling them, to begin with.  

How can you simplify your life to be free to do what you enjoy?

This is the essence of Thoreau’s message; that we need to set our own priorities and live intentionally.  Money is important, but it is not everything.  By creating this awareness in yourself, you can be sure that whatever actions you take are fully aligned with your values.

As a result, Thoreau was able to prioritize his well-being and be conscious of how every action that he took would shape his future.  This is an incredibly motivating yet inspiring idea for those wishing to live intentionally and be unapologetically true to themselves.

3 Don’t Procrastinate Living

When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is to adventure on life now, his vacation from humbler toil having commenced.  The soil, it appears, is suited to the seed, for it has sent its radicle downward, and it may now send its shoot upward also with confidence.  Why has man rooted himself thus firmly in the earth, but that he may rise in the same proportion into the heavens above? – Henry David Thoreau

Have you ever wanted to just take a vacation from the mundane and experience life to its fullest?

That’s what Thoreau is inviting us to do.  He believes in embracing minimalism by focusing on the essential needs of life and avoiding accumulating superfluities.  Embracing minimalism is the key to true freedom.

Living intentionally and mindfully can bring freedom, joy, and an appreciation for all that is around you.  You are invited to grow along with nature itself which reaches upward, aspiring for greater heights!

Instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity to come, don’t wait and don’t miss out – an adventure into life now!  So don’t waste your precious time collecting luxuries; instead, adventure on by investing in experiences that will bring hope for a lifetime!

4 Practice The Art Of Mindfulness ‘Live In The Now’

In any weather, at any hour of the day or night, I have been anxious to improve the nick of time, and notch it on my stick too; to stand on the meeting of two eternities, the past and future, which is precisely the present moment; to toe that line. – Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau believed that finding solace and clarity in the present moment was key to discovering our true potential.

What better way to live life than to live it with a purpose, moving forward without spending time worrying about the past or future?

To live “in the now” helped Thoreau break away from social norms and live a more simple life.  By practicing mindfulness daily, he looked forward to taking advantage of each day by acknowledging both his past and future experiences while living in this current moment.

We can all take on this same mindful mindset by being aware of our actions and choices, not just during extraordinary times or events but at any hour of the day or night – no matter what the weather may be.

After all, it is in those moments that we live life to its fullest potential.

5 Live To The Dictates Of Wisdom

There are nowadays professors of philosophy, but not philosophers.  Yet it is admirable to profess because it was once admirable to live.  To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust.  It is to solve some of the problems of life, not only theoretically but practically. – Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau reminds us that becoming a professor of philosophy surely requires dedication, skill, and knowledge; however, it is not the same as being a practicing philosopher.   Likewise, becoming a successful member of society requires dedication to trying to fit in, but it is not the same as living to your full potential.

Practicing philosophy requires embracing the dictates of wisdom and living with minimalism.  It’s about solving life problems at their roots by living virtues such as simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust.  Likewise, living to your true potential requires the shedding of external influences and embracing simplicity and independence. 

Elevate your life through these dictates of wisdom.

6 Remove The Hindrances to Elevation of Mind

Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. – Henry David Thoreau

Despite the everyday luxuries and comforts that society expects us to constantly strive for, embracing minimalism can actually be liberating.  It allows us to experience life in its rawest form, embracing nature as well as our own inner selves, which are often neglected.

Thoreau believed that by removing most of these distractions, we can focus on becoming elevated in both our minds and souls.  Releasing ourselves from this extra baggage that burdens us, saves not only money, but also offers a sense of freedom, inner strength, and more energy to use towards pursuits such as exploring the world around us or bettering the human race.

7 Your Inner World

The ancient philosophers, Chinese, Hindoo, Persian, and Greek, were a class than which none has been poorer in outward riches, none so rich in inward. – Henry David Thoreau

The ancient philosophers, Chinese, Hindoo, Persian, and Greek, certainly weren’t wealthy when it came to material possessions- they had no fancy cars or mansions.  But they were incredibly rich people in a different kind of way.

These wise people realized that having less opened up the opportunity for more experiences and connections with others by understanding that wealth isn’t judged by material objects but can come from meaningful conversations, thought-provoking books, knowledge gained through experiences, and authentic relationships.

Thoreau was onto something when he said that this class of people was richer than any other.  We should look to the wisdom of these ancient philosophers as a reminder to live intentionally and live better.

7 Steps to Elevate Your Life by Embracing Minimalism Summary

Thoreau said, “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!” and that couldn’t be truer for today’s modern age.  In these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to live intentionally and elevate our lives.  Helping you do that is minimalism, a lifestyle of living with less.

So if you’re ready to live with intention and elevate your life, let’s walk through 7 steps of embracing minimalism.  Follow these tips, and you’ll soon find yourself able to live a simpler, more meaningful life as a result!

1.   Create Your Own Definition of Necessities
2.   Re-Evaluate Your Priorities
3.   Don’t Procrastinate Living
4.  Practice The Art Of Mindfulness ‘Live In The Now’
5.   Live To The Dictates Of Wisdom
6.   Remove The Hindrances to Elevation of Mind
7.   Enrich Your Inner World

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