MINIMALISM IS OWNING FEWER POSSESSIONS.

Minimalism is intentionally living with only the things one really need—those items that support his/her purpose. One can remove the distraction of excess possessions so he/she can focus more on those things that matter most.

That is a short, elevator-pitch answer.

But oftentimes to answer more in-depth. But to explain simple living further, we can add:

IT IS INTENTIONALITY.

It is marked by clarity, purpose, and intentionality. At its core, being a minimalist means intentionally promoting the things we most value and removing everything that distracts us from it.

It is a life that forces intentionality upon us. As a result, it forces improvements in almost all aspects of your life.

Intentionality looks different for everybody, as no two individuals are the same, but it requires each of us to dive deeper and become more introspective about our values and passions.

IT IS FREEDOM FROM THE PASSION TO POSSESS.

Modern culture has bought into the lie that the good life is found in accumulating things—in possessing as much as possible. They believe that more is better and have inadvertently subscribed to the idea that happiness can be purchased at a department store.

But they are wrong. Embracing minimalism brings freedom from the all-consuming passion to possess. It steps off the treadmill of consumerism and dares to seek happiness elsewhere. It values relationships, experiences, and soul-care. It lets us see all that we already have and reminds us to be grateful.

In doing so, we find a more abundant life.

IT IS FREEDOM FROM MODERN MANIA.

Our world runs at a feverish pace. We are too hurried, too rushed, and too stressed. We work long, passionate hours to pay the bills, but fall deeper into debt every day. We rush from one activity to another—even multitasking along the way—but never seem to get anything done. We remain in constant connection with others through our cell phones, but true life-changing relationships continue to elude us.

Becoming a minimalist slows down life and frees us from this modern hysteria to live faster. It offers freedom to disengage. It seeks to keep only the essentials. It aims to remove the frivolous and keep the significant. It values the intentional endeavors that add value to life.

IT IS FREEDOM FROM DUPLICITY.

Although nobody intentionally chooses it, most people live in duplicity. They live one life around their family, one life around their co-workers, and another life around their neighbors. The lifestyle they have chosen requires them to portray a certain external image dependent upon their circumstances. They are tossed and turned by the most recent advertising campaign or the demands of their employer.

On the other hand, a simple life is united and consistent. It has learned a lifestyle that is completely transferable no matter the situation. It is the same life on Friday evening as it is on Sunday morning… as it is on Monday morning. It is reliable, dependable and unfluctuating. It works in all circumstances. It is honest and transparent.

IT IS COUNTER-CULTURAL.

We live in a world that idolizes celebrities. They are photographed for magazines, interviewed on the radio, and recorded for television. Their lives are held up as the golden standard and are envied by many. People who live simple lives are not championed by the media in the same way. They don‘t fit into the consumerist culture that is promoted by corporations and politicians. Yet, they live a life that is attractive and inviting.

While most people are chasing after success, glamour, and fame, minimalism calls out to us with a smaller, quieter, calmer voice. It invites us to slow down, consume less, but enjoy more. And when we meet someone living a simplified life, we often recognize that we have been chasing after the wrong things all along.

IT IS NOT EXTERNAL, BUT INTERNAL.

The principles have helped hundreds of thousands find freedom by removing much of the physical clutter in their homes and concentrates almost exclusively on the externals of life. And while it helps people find freedom from external clutter, it does not take the next step of helping people find freedom and unity in their heart and soul.

We have learned embracing this lifestyle is always a matter of the heart. After the external clutter has been removed, we create the space to address the deepest heart issues that impact our relationships and life.

IT IS COMPLETELY ACHIEVABLE.

Becoming a minimalist is completely achievable. My family stands as living proof. We were just your typical family of four living in the suburbs accumulating as much stuff as our income and credit cards would allow. Then, we found minimalism. We have embraced minimalist living and will never go back to the way life was before. We stand as living proof that simple living is completely achievable (and unique) to anyone who seeks it.

Whether you’re trying to save money or just trying to get out of the same old rut, it can be fun to find new and interesting ways to enjoy your downtime. The first step to getting out of the same boring routine is exploring all of the options available. The process of trying out some hobbies you might not otherwise have considered can be an enjoyable experience by itself.

Say goodbye to watching TV like a zombie day in and day out, and say hello to having more fun, creativity, and wellness in your life. Consider 13 ideas to help get you started.

Hiking, Walking, or Biking

You don’t need to go to a gym to remain active. Instead, take a walk around your neighborhood or apartment complex. Seek out local trails that are for beginners and reconnect with nature.

Reading

Reading is a super cheap hobby that has a lot of benefits. It forces you to focus on something meaningful, can serve as an escape, and can spark creativity or inspiration. If you’re reading nonfiction, you probably will learn something new.If you’re not the page-flipping type, try audiobooks. They’re like podcasts and you can take them anywhere and listen to them on a walk.

Writing

You write and write and write all throughout school and college, and when you graduate, it’s the last thing you want to do. Unless your job involves writing reports, you probably don’t think of it as a hobby.Keeping a journal can be good for the soul, though. If you find it hard to vent to people, or if it’s difficult for you to work through things out loud, writing down your thoughts can help you make sense of it.

Cooking and Baking

Spending time in the kitchen can make some people miserable, but others thrive when they’re experimenting with different ingredients to make the perfect dish.The best part about cooking or baking is that so many recipes are available online you don’t need a cookbook at all. You can choose to follow recipes or adapt ones to make them your own.

Volunteering

Some might not consider volunteering a hobby, but it’s certainly an activity people can enjoy in their spare time limit. It has a lot of benefits, too. You feel good when you’re able to give back, especially to a cause that matters to you. You also may get involved in a friendly community of volunteers and make new friends.

Get Artsy

Depending on the medium, most artistic hobbies can be done on the cheap—especially when you consider one-time investments pay off in the future.For example, you might need to buy some brushes, pencils, paper, and paint, but the equipment and materials should last for a few months.

Learning

You might not think of learning as a hobby, but the possibilities are endless here. You can choose to learn a new language or a new skill that you can put to use at work. Or maybe there is a topic specific to you that you’ve always wanted to research. None of this has to involve formal study; you can follow your own path at your own pace.

Camping

Camping is a great hobby to pair with hiking, and it’s fairly inexpensive. For complete beginners, a tent, sleeping bag, firewood, and fire-starting materials are the basics to purchase. A small tent can be bought for around $25-$35, and basic sleeping bags are around the same price. To start a fire, all you really need are twigs and branches around the campsite, and a lighter to start the fire.

Finding Inspiration

If none of these hobbies speak to you, look to your friends and family for ideas. Do any of them have interesting hobbies you want to learn more about? Ask them about it, and they might help you bring down the cost by letting you borrow certain things or letting you partake in their hobbies with them.

World Leaders have condemned violent scenes in the United States after supporters of US President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building in Washington DC. The incident left four people dead. A state of emergency has been declared for 15 days in the US Capital.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, in such circumstances, it is important that political leaders impress on their followers the need to refrain from violence, as well as to respect democratic processes and the rule of law.

In a tweet, United Nation General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir has said that he believes that peace and respect for democratic processes will prevail in our host country at this critical time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he is distressed to see the news about rioting and violence in Washington DC. He said, orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue and the democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson termed the scenes in US Congress as disgraceful. He said that the United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, her thoughts are with everyone who is as devastated as they are by the events of the day. The Prime Minister said, she has no doubt democracy will prevail.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, Canadians are deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy in the United States, our closest ally and neighbour.

The riot forced the suspension of a joint session of Congress to certify Joe Biden’s electoral victory for few hours. However, later the US Congress certified Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election. The certification has cleared the way for Mr Biden to be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on 20th of this month.

Vice-President Mike Pence, who as President of the Senate oversaw the certification process, confirmed to Congress that, of the 538 electoral college votes cast, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris received 306 while Donald Trump and Mike Pence received 232 – mirroring the results of November’s election.

India will be chairing three-key subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The panels are, Counter-Terrorism Committee (for 2022), Taliban Sanctions Committee, and Libya Sanctions committee. This was announced by the Permanent Representative of India at the United Nations Security Council, TS Tirumurti today.
 
India will chair the Counter-Terrorism Committee of UNSC in 2022. Mr Tirumurti said, chairing of this committee has a special resonance for India which has not only been at the forefront of fighting terrorism especially cross border terrorism but has also been one of its biggest victims.He said, Taliban Sanctions Committee has always been a high priority for India keeping in mind its strong interest and commitment to peace, security, development, and progress of Afghanistan.
 
Mr Tirumurti said, India will be assuming the chair of the Libya Sanctions Committee at a critical juncture when there is an international focus on Libya and on the peace process.

In Cricket, Australia were 251 for 5 wicket against India on Day 2 of third Test match at Sydney a short while ago. Ravinder Jadeja took the third wicket of Marnus Labuschagne who scored a half-century. The match was stopped for a brief period due to rain and wet outfield.

Earlier, Australia resumed their second day play from an overnight score of 166 for two. The hosts had won the toss and elected to bat first on the opening day.

Rohit Sharma is finally back for the Indian side replacing Mayank Agarwal in the opening slot. Umesh Yadav, who was ruled out of the Test series after getting injured in the Boxing Day Test, has been replaced by Navdeep Saini in the playing XI. This is the debut Test for Navdeep Saini.

The four-match series is currently levelled at 1-1, and if India manages to win this Test, the side will retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy even if Australia goes on to win the last Test at Brisbane.

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has announced the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2021 examination date and the eligibility criteria for admission into Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The Minister informed that JEE (Advanced) – 2021 will be held as a computer based test on 3rd of July this year.

The eligibility criteria of scoring minimum 75 per cent in Class 12th has been relaxed for taking admission in IITs this year. The exam will be conducted by IIT Kharagpur this year.

The Centre will hold the eighth round of talks with the representatives of farmers’ unions in New Delhi today to address the issues concerning them. In the earlier meeting on 4th of this month, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said that the government wanted farmer unions to discuss the three farm laws clause-wise, but they could not find any solution as farmer unions remained adamant on the repeal of these three laws.
 
The Government has repeatedly assured the farmers’ leaders that it is committed to address their issues and both sides need to take steps forward to arrive at an amicable solution. Mr Tomar had reiterated that Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the Mandi system will continue like before.