So without further ado, here are the 5 different types (or levels) of minimalism:

1. First of all, on the lowest level of minimalism, there’s Minimalism of Desire: This is when you expect less from the world. You appreciate what you have and let things unfold without a sense of entitlement. It doesn’t mean you stop wanting a better life. It just means you let go of the bitterness you feel when things don’t go your way.
2. Level 2 is Minimalism of Possessions: This is when you own only what you need. You get rid of things that don’t serves you and don’t buy things just for the sake of owning them. This extends to the money you earn. You make it count and spend it only on things that will make you and your loved ones happy and healthy. This also means you don’t chase excessive amounts of money that you don’t truly need or couldn’t possibly spend.
3. Level 3 is Minimalism of relationships: This one’s tough to explain, coz I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. When you practice minimalism in your relationships, you don’t collect people like social badges. You stop counting how many friends you have. Not just on Facebook, but in real life. Because you realize that the amount of people you know doesn’t matter nearly as much as the quality of the relationship you share with those people. So you keep in your life only those who enrich it with their love, those who make you happy and support you with all their heart. It’s hard to practice this sort of minimalism though, coz if you’re not careful you might become a relationship Nazi, who judges people on the merit of what they can do for you. This level isn’t about rejecting all but a select number of people. It’s about seeing those you spend your time with for who they truly are and making sure you have enough time for those who mean the most to you.
4. Level 4: Minimalism of sound: When you practice this type of minimalism you try to make as little noise as possible. It’s about only using the sounds you absolutely need to. So, if you can say something calmly and quietly, there’s no need to yell. If you can move gracefully and slowly, why rush and make a ruckus? This extends to minimalism of words, which basically means you say only what you must to get your point across.
5. The fifth and last level is Minimalism of thought: in which you practice mindfulness, to reduce excessive thinking, make decision-making more efficient and eliminate stress and anxiety.

Essentially all 5 levels advocate the idea that fewer is better. When you do fewer things, you can do them well. When you buy fewer things, you can afford to spend more on quality items that will last. When you have fewer clothes, you wear them wholeheartedly and with style. When you make fewer decisions, you make them deliberately. When you say fewer things, you say them with intention. When you stop collecting material items, you can start collecting experiences.

No matter which type of minimalism you adopt, it will help you invest in memories and free up your limited resources for activities that you can enjoy with your loved ones. You don’t need to have it all when you recognize that you have enough. Of course, the concept of “enough” looks different to you than it does to me. That’s the point. You have the freedom to set your own limits according to what feels best for you, but it’s important to know who you are; to spend the time to get to know yourself so that there is a reason for everything you do and so that you’re not just doing things because that’s what you were told you must. When you pursue a life of less consumption, you reduce the impact you have on this fragile planet we share.

At the end of the day, minimalism is about keeping clutter to a minimum, whether that clutter is physical, mental or otherwise. What matters here is that you are intentional in eliminating what you don’t need and to understand what’s important to you, so you can make room for it. This kind of awareness and mindfulness impacts not only your choices, but everyone around you. By investing in what matters and designing your life to be as unique as your soul, you no longer have to pursue happiness, because it comes with the territory.

Whichever type of minimalism you prefer, I recommend you give it an honest effort. If you find it difficult to do, click here for my article called “The Ultimate Guide to a More Minimalist Lifestyle”, which has more detailed instructions. If you need more help even after that, ask me in the comments below, send me a message, or book a FREE breakthrough session to see how I can help you through Skype.

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Until next time, remember: Happiness doesn’t require energy. It requires Strategy.