On goals

Minimalists argue over the use of goal setting. For some it is superfluous, even obstructive. Others think great deal of it as a form of visualizing one's desires and influencing the subconscious. To me it is just a tool to bring awareness to what I am heading for. In some cases it works brilliantly, but sometimes it doesn't help at all.

It is important to understand that some activities just do not have a purpose. When children do role plays, they don't try to achieve something (although it is of great value for their psychological development). But then again, games like chess don't make sense without a target and definite rules. Applying this to personal goals we can distinguish two categories: present-oriented and future-oriented. Meditation is a perfect example for something that only happens in the present moment on the one hand. It may have long term benefits, but doing it for that reason means to miss the point. On the other hand consider writing a book. It is enjoyable while doing it, but kind of dissatisfying when not brought to an end. In my experience setting goals works best for the latter.

Funny enough, here are two examples where it is just the other way round:

I do sports merely because I love it. The sensation of my blood rushing through every cell of my body makes me feel alive. Of course I know of the health benefits, but the reason why I train is just that I enjoy it so much. Consequently I used to never set specific goals. My objective was to get stronger, but not by numbers within a certain amount of time. In general that worked fine, but for deadlifting I did not make any progress. Only when I decided to aim towards a definite weight, I found out that I had been afraid of injury. I never really gave 100%. After having set my goal I began to improve rapidly. So in this case having a goal helped me to become conscious about why I got stuck.

With songwriting I had once set the goal to add a new part to the song I was currently working on every day until it was finished. After a while I felt like running out of ideas. Retrospectively I ignored the principle of input and output. Only when I stepped back from my original goal, creativity returned and I was able to finish the song.

Do not follow these instructions

The act of buying is a conversion from a symbolic representation of value (money) into something that matters to you personally. Minimalist philosophy is not against doing that, but against buying without conscious reflection.

In the beginning you begin to wonder whether your stuff is really worth its price to you. Maybe you find out that you don't have the time to actually use it or all of it. Then you start decluttering and downsizing your belongings. Or perhaps you discover that how other people think great deal of something tricked you into believing you need it, too. Hence you pay closer attention to your own true desires the next time you long to have something.

Minimalism is no doctrine that tells you do think before you add something to your shopping cart. It is a consequence of following certain principles. Minimalist living is only a name that describes what happened. Don't look at it as a lifestyle to follow because it has been in the media or someone told you about it. Let it happen from the inside out.

Goal setting and enjoying the present moment

Don't forget your social life when setting New Year's resolutions. If it seems difficult for you to name a specific goal, keep on trying until you find one. This may be traveling with friends, getting to know new people weekly, or having extraordinary experiences with your loved ones.

Having something to head for makes it much easier to keep in touch and/or strengthen bonds. It also helps you to be conscious about how important certain relationships are to you. Being aware of their meaning lets you appreciate them and enjoy getting together more. This is how future plans let you be here now.

The bill is on me today

Presents used to be rare because people couldn't afford them that often. Nowadays they're rare because we lack occasion. Let friendship be reason enough. Be it little gifts like buying a round.

Goodbye to the all-you-can-eat-lifestyle

Minimalism derives its name from comparing it to the ordinary lifestyle. Its goal is not really to minimize stuff - although in relation to what most people own, it may appear like that.

Ordering a dish at a restaurant is minimalist in relation to an all-you-can-eat-buffet. However, it doesn't mean that you're abstaining from something.

Charity in a globalizing world

How can I preach minimalism when 80 percent of the world's population (as of January 2013) live on less than 10 dollars a day?

How can I pretend to contribute when I personally haven't lend a hand with fighting poverty yet?

These are serious questions and I know that there is something to them. Concerning the first one, I find that global poverty is rather an argument in favor of minimalism. Of course, someone who struggles to put food on his family's table won't see the point in it. But I am addressing the people who build, support and maintain structures that force these families into struggle for existence. It is you and me. Helping refugees in your town (addressing the second question) but buying clothes at stores that produce abroad is not only contradictory. In sum it means that you are part of a system that exploits poor countries.

I need to gain a clear attitude about charity service. Although I still think that destroying the exploitative structures is the most important issue, I agree that suffering cannot be brought to an end without helping each other firsthand.

Nevertheless we need to stop companies such as Monsanto from destroying local industries in less developed countries. And be assured that donating to an aid program doesn't do the job - it sometimes even adds to the problem. Moreover, before trying to fight enemies, one should stop to support them financially. Don't buy products of unethical companies (that is to say almost any company). A lot of problems in Africa for example would not exist if it wasn't for western companies "exploring" new markets and thereby leading them into dependence. Here minimalism comes into play, as it demonstrates how relinquishment is not only self-sacrifice for a higher purpose, but also raises one's own quality of life.

The most important question for mankind

When I talk about degrowth I often find myself having to justify it. But in world where half of the original forest stand has been cut down, new epidemics affect overcrowded meat production facilities almost annually, and piles of waste take up more and more space of the pacific ocean - why do you want growth?