What is Enough? | MINIMALISM Lifestyle | 5 stages of minimalism

[@ArrowHillCottage]

What stage are YOU in? Let's encourage each other!

[@lindamon5101]

Hoarders denial.

[@chris-ci7ch]

4.5 - final declutter is 50 years of photos

[@healthylifeingredients6211]

I'm in Stage 5 and it is PURE HEAVEN! I've been here for several years now. I am very familiar with each stage and am surrounded by many people (neighbors and friends) that are in Stages 1 and 2. It makes me so sad. I see them constantly trying to keep up, do more, have more, be more and they just seem exhausted, overwhelmed and unhappy. Society tells us we need to be all of these things. I just want to scream from my rooftop that the other "side" is so much better. Its freeing! To others reading this comment and are currently in the beginning stages, don't give up. Keep plowing through little by little. You will get there and it is pure bliss! Love, Leslie

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Great comment of encouragement! ❤️

[@cynthiacrumlish4683]

I have been calling myself an Enoughist rather than a Minimalist. So fortunate to have enough food, clothing, air, clean water, and a solid roof over my head that everything else feels like gravy. Stages 4 and 5 seem to be where I am at right now, though wish my house could be even more streamlined. Saying No to events, activities and even certain people that drain my energy is an interesting phase. My sisters and I were raised overseas as Army Brats where situations at times could be seen as challenging by some but we loved it and took it all in our stride. Good training which gave us a dose of Reality and an appreciation for the things that really matter.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

That’s a good perspective! Enoughist. I like it! I agree that saying no can be very difficult! ❤️

[@RTAV108]

Your statement 'You are enough in an empty room' is in fact what takes one on the path of realisation and is entry point into spirituality. God made man in His own image / Tattvamasi - You Are That is the foundation and at the same time ultimate enlightenment. As you said, the belongings or possessions are mere tools and extensions of ourselves to get us to be where we want to be. They do not or should not define us. I am happy to see that this intentional living and minimalism journey knowingly or unknowingly brings people to recognise higher values and thus goals in life. Just yesterday I watched your Finding Joy At Home video and I was so moved to see how you concluded it with the statement that homemaking builds families, society and nations. The comments to that video were also heartwarming where people have said that they would not trade the times spent in their grandparents' homes for any treasure in the world! This is so true! Not everything can be measured in terms of academic / professional achievements and wealth accumulated / vacations spent lavishly; all these things being the cause of comparison and means for competition that in turn rob us off of our peace, contentment and confidence. After all, once again, they are just external and not integral to us as humans.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Beautifully said! I do believe that the greatest gift minimalism has given me is confidence in who I was created to be! ❤️

[@Silver.Maple.Cottage]

Loved this video! Thank you. I've been on this journey for around 2ish years now. I'm elbows deep in slowly decluttering every ounce of my life. I started thinking it was taking to long, but I'm not just donating all my items. I'm selling 90% of the stuff I'm decluttering. Then, if I don't sell it I donate it. This is helping me build a small savings while taking back my life and it's a freeing feeling to know I'm okay and stuff doesn't make me the person I am. I'm excited to keep going on the journey. Thanks for all the encouragement along the way ❤️

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Great job! Slow and steady wins the race! I honestly think that if people declutter too fast, they are at greater risk for falling back into the same situation. Going slowly helps a person process a lot more of the emotional side of things! ❤️

[@Silver.Maple.Cottage]

@@ArrowHillCottage I completely agree with you! A few things I did have to really process on. It was good for me. I've got a good rhythm and pace going so I'll just keep the course. 🤗❤️

[@charmingintrovert3240]

I really like your idea of selling as much as you can before you donate. The process of handling each item, taking a photo, pricing it, listing it, negotiating with buyers and ultimately selling the item all reinforce the burden of having too much. Now when I am at an estate sale or thrift shop I don't want very much because I know the hassle associated with owning more than I need.🤗

[@ArrowHillCottage]

That is very true! It intensifies that feeling of ‘never again!’

[@cantocant2346]

Curating collections was a ground breaking idea for me. It goes hand in hand with the idea of a "container" being designated to hold the entire collection. Once I decided where my collection would be displayed it was easy to weed out the collection.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

It really helps so much to set that limit!!! ❤️

[@federicamorales9216]

Just did another round of decluttering last night. I've been in Stage 5 many times but life happens and I visit all stages at different periods of my life. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@xpsxps1339]

Hi, I just discovered your channel a couple of days ago, so I am watching it pretty intensely right😃 now while also slowly decluttering. Thank you for this particular video, especially the parts where you are talking about bouncing back into the previous stages. I have been on my intentional journey to a simpler life for two and half years now (before, it was more of an intuitive process), and it takes me lots of time even if I have less stuff than the average people usually have. I consider myself slow (though during these 2 and 1/2 years, I perhaps got rid of around 3000 pieces of stuff from shoes to furniture pieces because I don't want to throw things into the trash (most of my possessions are quality and in excellent condition), and I also am environmentally oriented. Bouncing back into the previous stages is sometimes discouraging, so it's helpful to hear I am not alone from somebody who is obviously further than me😊. Thank you for sharing!.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

So happy the video was helpful! You are definitely not alone in doing a bit of jumping of stages here and there. The minimalism journey definitely isn’t linear! ❤️

[@aliceaustin3603]

I have decluttered about 30 boxes ... fortunately I can't even remember what I donated. It tells me it was time for them to go. Less is definitely more!

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Yay! Great work! ❤️

[@doolcomom]

Love from Korea ❤ I started to become a minimalist, and I feel calm and peaceful watching this video. Thanks for your sharing knowledge. I really enjoyed this!

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@Ripplesinthewaters]

Hi, April! I think I’m in stage 5. I have gotten rid of so much that my closets aren’t overfilled anymore and my garage can fit two cars in them. I still have more to declutter, but it is all in bins that make going through them much easier than when I had way too much stuff. I’ve replaced old, broken things with items of higher quality (something my husband doesn’t understand. All he sees is that I’m shopping). Now, my family notices how nice the house is and it’s not hard to keep it that way. :)

[@ArrowHillCottage]

That’s great! I wish you continual success on your journey! ❤️

[@thecreatorinme7]

I listened to this twice… I’m in awe of the truth really. I’ve been a good manager of my home until this last year. I work too much and buy to much and am really struggling with mess and stuff… I’ve lost my peace. I’m in between stage 2-3. Thank you for your content. I’m starting my journey. I’m ready to claw my way out

[@ArrowHillCottage]

I’m so glad it was impactful for you! Blessings on your journey! I’ll be here to cheer you on! ❤️

[@thecreatorinme7]

@@ArrowHillCottage so appreciated!

[@kristinolan7240]

I am stage one and ready for the next step!

[@ArrowHillCottage]

We will be here cheering you on! ❤️

[@CoftheIsland370]

I'm so glad I found you! My stage: is a combo of 4 and 5. I KonMaried my life years ago, and I only ever threw out one item that I later needed. Getting rid of stuff has made cleaning so much easier and has made me feel so much more comfortable in our house.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Proud of you! ❤️

[@nancyyoung9972]

I’m in stage3 heading to stage 4.I would say. I go thru the stuff I own periodically. I do feel some peace. I know I am enough. I try to remain teachable and open to new ideas. I’m on fixed income and minimalism has become invaluable. I’m much better with what I bring into my home and what goes.1 in 1 out rule.Going forward always room for improvement. I have much less clothes and things since I started. I also moved from a house to a studio apartment. I love it. The apartment is small but looks spacious and uncluttered.My neighbors have same apartments as mine and say mine seems bigger.😊

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Way to go! Blessings on your journey! ❤️

[@bennet01]

This is one of the best videos you did, really good... This is my second year of minimalism... I think I reached only stage 3... Thank you

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Thank you! ❤️

[@Jenniferhneway0]

Stage 2 decluttering all

[@mamasquid1401]

I think I'm in stage 3ish to 4ish. I'm still in the middle of the first round of decluttering. I am planning to do it on different levels, delaying the harder decisions for now just to get the junk out. Even that has made a big difference. Then I get to the real emotional work of minimalism. So I am in the right mindset, but still at the beginning of my journey.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Yes that is a good point! Sometimes a person can be in two levels at once in some regards! When decluttering sentimental items, for example! ❤️

[@haleyshome1113]

Great video! Thank you for sharing.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@laurarivera1225]

Hello 👋🏼 new to the channel, I feel like I'm on stage 3. One area where I get stuck is that I hold on to certain stuff that my husband believes I should try to sell for a few dollars, but it just sits there, I don't have the desire to do what it takes to sell it. It drains me.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Have you tried having one big garage sale? I know…they can be a pain! But, if you set aside a corner of the garage and then as you declutter - put price tags on items…and box them up and put them in that corner (as if you have donated them)…..then when you have enough built up you can put on a sale and agree that whatever isn’t gone by the end of the day can get donated. Win for both of you! ❤️

[@PenniestoDollars]

Stage IV here!

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Yay!!! ❤️

[@barbaramulligan8161]

Thank you! New to this and I like the idea of Christian minimalism (not sure if that’s your take on it) and I’m trying not to keep “storing up treasures on earth”. I think I’m in step 2 but husband had a hard time letting go of things like clothes and books.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Minimalism has definitely brought my faith more into focus! Blessings on your journey! ❤️

[@barbaramulligan8161]

I’ll keep watching! Thank you and merry Christmas!

[@kimghoss6021]

Thank you excellent content.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Thanks so much! ❤️

[@rosepetal9748]

👍👍👍

[@ArrowHillCottage]

Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@sandrajones2926]

I have too much junk. I need to get more organized and get rid of tuns of stuff. I need more energy. It seems like a daunting task.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

It can seem pretty overwhelming at first for sure! Just try to take it on a little at a time! ❤️

[@مقبولدعائیں]

While getting rid of clutter by disposing off or donating extra things I feel I “May be” needing it later. Thus disposing little and keeping back more. Kindly guide.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

For this type of situation, I would recommend setting those ‘maybe for later’ items in a bin or a shelf somewhere and put a time limit on how long they are allowed to take up space in your life if they aren’t being used. Sort of a test. ❤️

[@ImLunaShesZeta]

I would say I am in stage 4.

[@ArrowHillCottage]

That’s awesome! Learning to say no? That was tough for me! ❤️

[@مقبولدعائیں]

Believe me I wanted to ask you this question, I.e., what is enough?

[@ArrowHillCottage]

I promise that you will know! ❤️