12 Insights from Goodbye Things: The New Japanese Minimalism

Author and minimalist Fumio Sasaki published Goodbye Things: The New Japanese Minimalism in 2015, and it has since become a staple in minimalist and intentional living culture. Known for its 55 actionable steps towards minimalism, Goodbye Things takes readers through Sasaki's own journey of intentional living while also providing exercises and lessons for others to take for themselves.

In this blog, we reflect on 12 insights from Goodbye Things, including science-based minimalism facts, inspirational anecdotes, definitions, exercises, and more.

💡 Insight #1: Definition of a Minimalist

Sasaki gives our personal favorite definition of a minimalist:

“A minimalist is someone who knows what is truly important for themself.”

Notice how there is no reference to decluttering, lack of ownership, tiny houses, finances, sustainability, or anything specific. Sasaki simply declares minimalism a practice towards identifying what is truly important. In fact, Sasaki continues to share that minimalism is unique to every individual:

“Minimalism is a method for individuals to find the things that are genuinely important to them - it is a prologue for crafting your own unique story.”

Minimalism helps us introduce our own story - it's simply a prologue to our own book of life.

The most natural follow up questions to this analogy are:

• What about the rest of the story?
• What happens after the prologue?
• Where does minimalism fit into my own life in the future?

The following 11 insights provide more context and insight #12 answers these specific questions.

😵‍💫 Insight #2: We get used to Things

Sasaki poses a guiding question in the early part of the book:

Why do we continue to accumulate even if we know we don't need more things?

The answer: we get used to things.

"We eventually get used to the new state where our wishes have been fulfilled. We start taking those things for granted and there comes a time when we start getting tired of the things we have."

When we accumulate a new item, we get a hit of dopamine that is registered by our brain. It feels great to have something new for ourselves. However, over time, that warm feeling fades and soon disappears - all until we purchase something new again and start again.

See the cycle emerging?

Sasaki observes this cycle through the lens of variance and stimuli:

"Variances or changes are necessary for people to recognize stimuli. This is why we often find ourselves unhappy after we've owned something for a while. Although we initially had a desire for it, our brain recognizes a lack of this variance once we get used to having it. The novelty of the new stimulus wears off and the item becomes a part of our lives that we now take for granted. Without that variance, we eventually get sick and tired of it."

When we get used to something, its appeal is no longer large. However, if we do rid ourselves of unnecessary and unimportant possessions, the value of the things we do keep are magnified and sustained.

The key lesson from Sasaki is simple: eliminate the excess to focus on the important.

📚 Insight #3: Our items define us

The truth of society today is that what we own is a reflection of who we are.

"What we own equals who we are"

If you own an extensive book collection, you must be interesting and well-versed. If your clothes are designer and chic, you're perceived as successful and wealthy. If your record collection of niche indie music is extensive, you have to be trendy and hip.

Sasaki reminds us to stray away from this societal theme. Instead, look within to find true importance. By finding ways to reflect ourselves through personality and beliefs instead of possessions, we no longer desire the "cool" items we own, and we can let go of the need for distracting possessions.

🏂 Insight #4: Minimalism is not a Personality Trait

A challenged faced by beginner minimalists is how they will be perceived after starting to declutter their possessions. Sasaki argues that minimalism is not a personality trait and is instead a skill and tool:

"It wasn't a personality change I went through, I simply learned the techniques and learned the habit of getting rid of excess."

No different from learning a new language or technology, minimalism should be learned as a framework. It does not come with extra qualities or personality traits we must abide by. We are in control of our own approach to deploying the skill of minimalism:

"Its not the act itself, but the decision to act that takes time. The more you do it, the less time it will take to decide, and the easier it will be to say goodbye to your things. It's actually a skill."

📈 Insight #5: We Gain by Eliminating

It may sound oxymoronic, but by eliminating the possessions of our lives, we actually experience net gains to our lives:

"There are more things to gain from eliminating excess than you might imagine: time, space, freedom, and energy, for example. The list of the things you gain is limitless."

In later parts of the book, Sasaki gives the following gains from minimalism:

1. Weight loss - people with less things are more active and less stressed, leading to weight loss.
2. Peace of Mind - mindfulness and minimalism are tied to one another, and owning less and meditating more is like "reinstalling our own personal operating systems."
3. Productivity - with less possessions comes clarity to focus on the important things. This includes our professional, academic, and personal goals.
4. Sustainability - by owning less, we consume less and reduce our carbon footprint.
5. Relationships - fewer possessions gives more attention to our relationships and the people we care about.

And this list is surely not exhaustive - there are other benefits waiting for us to find.

🤔 Insight #6: Reflection is Necessary

Sasaki gives a wonderful exercise to help us evaluate why we struggle to rid some possessions over others :

"Don't worry if you can't discard your possessions all at once. The important thing is to ask yourself why you may be reluctant to part with some of your belongings. You may be surprised by some of the answers."

By asking ourselves, "why am I reluctant to get rid of this?" we begin to collect data and notice themes along our minimalist journeys. When we identify our own roadblocks towards minimizing, we can develop strategies for combating these roadblocks.

Why are we scared to get rid of things at all? Think about it.

🦕 Insight #7: We have 50,000 Year-Old Brains

Our brains are like old computer operating systems from the 90s - limited in storage, capacity, and functionality. Sasaki teaches us that through minimalism, we can eliminate the unnecessary data from our brains to free up space for the important parts of life:

"With our 50,000 year-old brain hardware, we don't have the room to waste time or energy on any extra possessions. It's wiser to clean up our system and delete all the unnecessary data so we are free to function efficiently and happily."

Our brains have developed throughout the past 50,000 years and only for the most recent 30 years have they been tasked to digest, sort, and store as much information as they receive today. This juxtaposition poses a challenge for us.

The remedy to 50,000 years of brain decomposition and changes: mindfulness.

When we practice mindfulness, it is like we are installing our brains with the software updates it requires to process information in the digital age. Mindfulness is a healthy and sustainable way to approach stress, overconsumption, distractions, fears, and more.

🧹 Insight #8: Dust Reflects an Opportunity to Minimize

If we're honest, we likely all have dust accumulating somewhere in our lives. A simple lesson from Sasaki teaches us that if there is dust accumulated on an item, it's likely we can get rid of that item:

"Dust isn't very pleasant, but it is a useful sign that tells us maybe it's time to consider throwing an item away. The heavier the layer of dust, the less we've used something."

Similarly, if we haven't used an item in the past year, we are safe to eliminate that possession from our lives.

Forget the "but what if I need it?" panic we all experience. Sasaki reminds us that we can rent items we need for one-off occasions.

Where do you have dust accumulated? Can you throw away those items today?

🗑 Insight #9: Organization is not Minimalism

Organization is really wonderful - absolutley, we should all strive to be organized in our lives. However, organization is not minimalism. And sometimes, organization efforts lead to more accumulation.

Sasaki urges us to stop accumulating storage options like bins, containers, and shelving. Instead, by decreasing our own storage options, we are organically encouraged to possess less.

To learn more why organization is not minimalism, we highly recommend reading this page from Marie Kondo.

💳 Insight #10: Before purchasing an item, ask...

1. Does it have a minimalist type of shape and is easy to clean?
2. Is the color gentle and easy on the eye?
3. Will I be able to use it for a long time?
4. Does it have a simple structure?
5. Is it lightweight and compact?
6. Does it have multiple uses?

And I'dd add one last overall question: Does it truly bring happiness and purpose?

Sasaki uses these questions before purchasing a new item to gauge wether the item is worth buying. If its a yes to all the questions, then Sasaki will proceed with the purchase.

🛫 Insight #11: Experiences are Distinctly Yours

Experiences are the most valuable item to a minimalist. After all, minimalism is meant for us to find the experiences that matter most to us. Sasaki teaches us that experiences are valuable because of individuality:

"You'll feel a much richer sense of contentment by building your experiences rather than buying items because your experiences resist comparisons with others."

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” I think Sasaki would echo Roosevelt's sentiments and also add that experiences are unique to the individual, not allowing for comparison.

🎬 Insight #12: Minimalism has an End

"Minimalism isn't an objective. It's a method. There are many important lessons that I've learned through minimalism. But, if you've already learned these lessons and more, you don't need to become a minimalist."

Minimalism does not have to be a life-long mission, says Sasaki. Instead, minimalism is a tool and experience for us to learn from. As long as we live by the lessons of minimalism, it does not need to be at the center of life longer than it needs.

Maybe this idea of freeing ourselves from minimalism is the most minimal proposition of all. By freeing ourselves from minimalism, we have learned the necessary lessons of minimalism, and we can confidently rid ourselves of the framework that set us down the path towards intentional living.

From insight #1, Sasaki said minimalism "is a prologue for crafting your own unique story." We've learned the lessons of minimalism, and now, our lives filled with intention can begin filling the pages following the prologue.

📕 Conclusion

If you enjoyed this brief summary, be sure to check out Goodbye Things: The New Japanese Minimalism and read it for yourself! Thanks for reading!