Voluntary simplicity, the charm of simple life

voluntary simplicity It is a lifestyle in which the idea of ​​banishing consumerist practices, working less and having more free time is promoted.. This approach involves an implicit rejection of habits driven by capitalism, within which unlimited consumption occupies a central place.

The objectives of voluntary simplicity are very diverse. They range from taking better care of physical and mental health, to promoting personal evolution, and also include concern for the fate of the planet.

Those who promote voluntary simplicity are not a group as such, nor do they constitute a social movement in the strict sense. The matter is much more relaxed and spontaneous because Its purpose is not to start an indoctrination crusade, but simply to have a higher quality of life.

Voluntary simplicity in history

Throughout history, there are many individuals and groups who have advocated for a simpler life. Traditionally, the topic has been associated with religion as well as some spiritual practices. Christianity, not the church, is in fact a doctrine that promotes detachment from material things.

Something similar happens with Buddhism. which takes the concept of renunciation to its maximum expression. Hinduism is another example of that philosophy. Meanwhile, there are many great people who opted for voluntary simplicity, although they did not call it that way.

One of the figures who promoted and put this lifestyle into practice was the philosopher and poet Henry David Thoreau.. We are talking about a Puritan from the United States who is considered the father of “Civil Disobedience.” He lived for a long time in complete austerity and about it he wrote:

“I did not want to live what was not life nor did I want to practice renunciation, unless it was necessary. I wanted to live deeply and extract all the marrow from life, to live in such an intense and Spartan way that I could do without everything that was not life.”

The principles of voluntary simplicity

Voluntary simplicity is the commitment to a lifestyle marked by simplicity. It must be a voluntary choice, which is not motivated by the intention to carry out a sacrifice or submit to self-repression, but by the conviction that this way of life is much more positive for oneself.

The general principles of this way of thinking are the following:

Self-containment. It has to do with the renunciation of consumerist practices. Those who choose a simple life only buy what is necessary and do not go to stores as a means of entertainment.Rejection of money accumulation. The goal of someone who lives this way is not to accumulate money or property. He only seeks to have what reasonably guarantees a life without deprivation.Restructuring of desire. The two previous aspects have a lot to do with individual desire. In a simple life you have to reconfigure the coordinates of desire so that they do not focus primarily on material things.Decrease. Those who practice this approach also seek to work less to have more free time. Therefore, the goal is to produce only to satisfy essential and valued needs.

What does a simple lifestyle bring?

Each person must answer the question about what is the contribution of living more simply. The motivations can be many and, therefore, the benefits are also very personal. In general terms, A life with less consumption definitely benefits the planet..

Likewise, consumption is a practice that mainly benefits large producers. Becoming someone who always has a pseudoneed to achieve well-being. In this sense, consumption not only affects our pockets, but also distances us from what is most essential: our attention rests on what we lack, instead of what we have, so the first seems much greater than the second. .

Although there are groups organized around this way of thinking, the truth is that it is an open and flexible perspective that each one can put into practice personally and to different degrees. Fewer objects and more experiences in our lives is always a healthy option.

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