Finding meaning in a simple life?

[Ultralight]

I know a lot of people use simple living and minimalism to strip away the extraneous stuff in order to focus on the meaningful things in their lives.

A person perhaps simplifies so they can focus on writing a novel or starting a business or unicycling across Antarctica, or whatever; they find "meaning" in novelizing or entrepreneurship or unicycling.

My question is how did you find "meaning?" How did simplifying help you enrich, explore, and really live your meaning?

And: Did anyone start simplifying as a method of finding meaning in the first place? How did that pan out?

Please share. I'd enjoy and learn from any insights you may have.
Thanks.

[Tammy]

It gave me time to read and learn. I love ideas.

[SteveinMN]

For me, the meaning existed before I moved to a simpler life. I knew what interested me -- more experiences than "stuff" -- and I knew I was spending a lot of my time and energy and some of my money on things and commitments which didn't really "do it" for me. Learning about simple living simply crystallized what I already knew inside I wanted to do -- learn and think and spend time with family and friends and enjoy how I passed my time. I just had to figure out how to get rid of the commitments that no longer served that end. That was where sites like this one and YMOYL came in -- they presented new ways of thinking about daily life and how to move aside or eliminate those parts of life which were ... misplaced.

[Float On]

Finding meaning in simplicity.

In 1985 I worked in a backpacking/camping/adventure ministry with innercity kids out of Washington DC.
I lived in a simple canvas tent on a wood platform when we weren't backpacking. I had a cot. A little stool I'd made, a little woven vase I'd made, 2 books, a notebook and 2 pens. 3 pair of pants and 5 shirts. A hat, 2 bandanas, a swimsuit, a rain slicker. Hiking boots, slip on canvas shoes, 6 pair of good socks. And nature and all the activities we could do outside. It was simple and very meaningful. Not only for what we offered the innercity kids but I still keep up with all my old co-workers and have noticed all of us crave simplicity.

[Williamsmith]

When a I finally had time to think about the meaning of life I discovered that of the many things that surrounded me, very few gave me pleasure much less had meaning. In fact, many things felt like a burden to keep, maintain and store. So I began investigating people who lived simple lives and discovered they had more meaning in their life than people confused by the avalanche of things. A man named Dick Proenekke comes to mind. In his 50s he moved to Alaska and built a cabin at a twin Lakes and lived there rather self sufficient for decades. He didn't have lots of things but he had much meaning. In a way, I try to model these people.

[Ultralight]

I ask this mostly because I have a hard time finding meaning in life. While I do like having a largely uncluttered life and simple living and minimalism have made me feel happier over all, I was hoping it might open a space for me to find some meaning too. Unfortunately, no luck so far.

[Williamsmith]

All of us have to make that discovery on our own terms. Simple living and minimalism is not a path to meaning. It is rather a response to finding true freedom. It's about rejecting consumption for the sake of defining yourself. Choosing to find meaning in simple, plain and subtle things.

For me, and I speak for myself only, I find the idea of meaning and the existence of God to be tied together. When I rely on God instead of anything I can control or construct myself, I find meaning. That can be in a cup of coffee or it can be while standing in view of Niagara Falls. I believe that if you empty yourself for the benefit of others less fortunate - of which there are plenty- you discover meaning. You may choose a different analogy but that is What comes to mind now as the sun rises at my place.

[Ultralight]

All of us have to make that discovery on our own terms. Simple living and minimalism is not a path to meaning. It is rather a response to finding true freedom. It's about rejecting consumption for the sake of defining yourself. Choosing to find meaning in simple, plain and subtle things.

For me, and I speak for myself only, I find the idea of meaning and the existence of God to be tied together. When I rely on God instead of anything I can control or construct myself, I find meaning. That can be in a cup of coffee or it can be while standing in view of Niagara Falls. I believe that if you empty yourself for the benefit of others less fortunate - of which there are plenty- you discover meaning. You may choose a different analogy but that is What comes to mind now as the sun rises at my place.

Williamsmith: Thank you for sharing.

I tend to be able to know what is not meaningful to me better than I know what is meaningful. Does that make sense? :/

So I was hoping to clear the fog away and find meaning in what was left newly visible. Though I haven't really been able to do this beyond the obvious.

I have no religion, nor am I spiritual in any way.

I am compassionate and help others when I can.

[nswef]

UltraliteAngler, Have you made a list of what is NOT meaningful? It might give you insight into a pattern of what is not so that what is meaningful might come through with a bit of digging. I'd recommend The Artist's Way by Julie Cameron as an exercise book in trying to find meaning. Just from my experience, it helped me.

[Ultralight]

UltraliteAngler, Have you made a list of what is NOT meaningful? It might give you insight into a pattern of what is not so that what is meaningful might come through with a bit of digging. I'd recommend The Artist's Way by Julie Cameron as an exercise book in trying to find meaning. Just from my experience, it helped me.

This ain't a bad idea at all! Though I will say I have removed many, many things from my life that are not meaningful as I identify them -- hobbies, relationships, possessions, etc.

I worry that since I do not have a purpose or meaning in life I am not setting a good example for others who may be considering SL or minimalism. They might say: "I am better off with my stuff. Just look at Jake over there. He's got nothing to show for having nothing, not even an purpose or meaning in life!"