To think that a minimalist home means the person has minimal emotional baggage and unresolved issues, so they don’t need lots of stuff with emotional attachments?

[WryJadeWren]

Inspired by the other thread…

I believe a minimalist living space reflects someone with a clear mind and emotional clarity, someone who’s worked through their issues and doesn’t feel the need to hold on to material possessions for sentimental reasons. On the other hand, people who live in clutter or are hoarders are often holding onto things because of unresolved emotions or relationships. They tie meaning to their possessions as a way of keeping hold of the past and often struggle with letting go due to emotional or mental exhaustion. It seems like clutter is more about emotional baggage than about a lack of meaningful connections.

Not necessarily true.

I have two (wonderful!) friends with spotless, minimalist houses. They both had incredibly chaotic childhoods with significant neglect. Both have openly said that keeping a clean, organised, minimalist home keeps them sane, and that clutter sets them on edge as it reminds them of their childhoods.

I half agree. But you're implying that all clutter is linked to emotions from historical possessions. I think you need to include the idea that a lot of clutter comes from people having multiple identities and wanting to have items which enable / visualise those identities - whereas a minimalist person knows who they are and can therefore prioritise possessions accordingly

I’m minimalist, but it’s probably because do have unresolved issues, and like to keep my mind as clear as possible (tidy house, tidy mind)!

My home is pretty minimalist. But I think it's more I cba to deal with clutter. Nothing to with any " issues'

I would love to agree with you as my brain works that way and it sounds rational but I swear the most organised, controlled, professional people I work with well, wow their houses!!!! They are bloomin bonkers. It’s like the nutty professor. They are all professional to the outside work but their homes are crazy messy, dirty, can sit down, can’t find anything. Not because they are lazy, just their home is not the top priority in their lives, and I absolutely love that about them. No one can be so perfect all the time. My home is way more tidier than some of theirs only difference is they can afford a cleaner. I can’t so tuff luck on me lol

If my house is tidy and minimalist it usually signifies I'm manic. No emotional clarity to be seen anywhere.

Not sure that I've ever met someone with zero or minimal emotional baggage, unresolved issues, clear mind, emotional clarity and has worked through all their issues. Life is a battlefield.

But if such a paragon ever wanders along, I'll make sure to have a good swatch at their interiors.

Nah. Minimalists are soulless control freaks. 😜

I think you are ignoring the huge middle ground between hoarding and minimalism.

I believe a minimalist living space reflects someone with a clear mind and emotional clarity, someone who’s worked through their issues or perhaps they are still tackling their issues and minimalism helps with this.

I don't think this someone who’s worked through their issues is very realistic, life keeps happening, and issues keep cropping up.

No. In my experience minimalist house can equal someone really struggling and desperate to feel in control of their environment. A messy house can equal a very relaxed, zen person who enjoys happiness and goes much more with the flow. (Not always, of course). A hoarder is different though - I think you’re right about emotional issues there.

Or maybe they get stressed easily and think it’s related to ‘stuff’? I think it suits some people, with others I feel sad that they haven’t made a home out of where they live, or that they got rid of everything that made their house a home

I think extreme hoarding and extreme minimalism are 2 sides of the same coin tbh.

I'd think the opposite. The minimalists are trying to gain control over perhaps the only area of their life where they can exercise it to this degree. Then to opposite end of the spectrum with full on clutter are those that have lost control. The happy medium is your normal, sometimes messy but basically clean and tidy home.
Big generalisation of course 😊

No. I think you are over thinking it. Some people don't like clutter and they have a place for everything.
I have plenty of emotional attachments but not to random things or clutter.

No i think you're entirely wrong.

I like a very minimal home. It's because I grew up and both moved house a lot and then went boarding school so never had the opportunity to accumulate or grow attached to things.

Not because I'm an emotional stalwart

I like crap. Little bits here and there that I look at and make me smile /giggle or bring back a nice memory. While I have the capacity to hoard , when I go into clear out mode A LOT goes .

Doesn't help that DD and OH also have hoarding tendencies and have to be bullied into getting rid of stuff.

My best friend does the minimalist thing (a bit too much in my opinion, but hey ho). We both just as fucked up.

I think there is somewhere in between! I don’t know anyone who has a minimalist home who has any hobbies for example. My hobbies definitely aren’t emotional baggage!

I suppose minimalism could be just as much about anxiety or control as it is about peace. I’m mostly thinking about the extremes where it feels like people are drowning in stuff vs those who’ve clearly let go and created space. But I can see how for some, minimalism might feel like erasure rather than clarity.

If only life was so simplistic. I have stuff I struggle to get rid of. I also left a home so quickly that I had to leave stuff behind. But you are right it's just stuff.

I know a couple of minimalists who seem to struggle to make connections with people, so maybe that's why they have less stuff too?
maybe as they don't really have (?dont allow themselves to have for fear of hurt) emotional connections with people or experiences, or stuff that they associate with them.

I know a couple of minimalists who seem to struggle to make connections with people, so maybe that's why they have less stuff too?
maybe as they don't really have (?dont allow themselves to have for fear of hurt) emotional connections with people or experiences, or stuff that they associate with them.

The most minimalist person I know is also one of the most disturbing- sleeping with the enemy, line up the tins level.

You are so wrong, and you should be grateful you have no clue what you are on about.

Pop psychology. YABU. I say this as a minimalist who dislikes ornaments.

Though I’m not a true minimalist now I think about it. I do have things like magnets on the fridge, too many shampoo bottles, a sentimental memory box in the loft and that sort of thing. But anyway YABU with this insane theory 🤣

I hadn’t considered that angle. I suppose minimalism could also reflect emotional detachment rather than clarify, depending on the person. It’s interesting how both clutter and minimalism can be linked to unresolved stuff, just in opposite directions.