王曉元/譯

While going small and breaking out of “The More Virus” sounds terrific， many of us still doubt a minimalist lifestyle. Some folks believe minimalism is a weird religious cult， while others think its too extreme. These are valid concerns， and its why weve put together a list of common misconceptions of minimalism to help put your mind at ease.

雖然遵從“小”與擺脫“更多病毒”聽(tīng)來(lái)很棒，但許多人對(duì)極簡(jiǎn)生活方式依然持疑。一些人認(rèn)為極簡(jiǎn)主義是一種怪異的宗教狂熱，另一些人則認(rèn)為其過(guò)于極端。這些擔(dān)憂都有道理，因此我們這里整理出一些對(duì)極簡(jiǎn)生活的常見(jiàn)誤解，希望有助于釋疑解惑。

1. Minimalism means throwing eve-rything out

1．極簡(jiǎn)即什么都扔掉

Nothing is gained by throwing eve-rything out.

什么都扔掉，只會(huì)什么也得不到。

Minimalism is more about learning what matters to you than just chucking1 your life into the trash. Its about rediscovering your favourite hobbies and interests and engaging with people who uplift you. Its about letting go of things that bring you stress.

極簡(jiǎn)更多的是了解什么對(duì)自己重要，而不是將自己的生活一股腦扔進(jìn)垃圾箱；是重新發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的愛(ài)好與興趣，與能提升自己的人交往；是放棄那些給自己帶來(lái)壓力的東西。

Minimalists dont throw everything out. That would be impractical. Its also not environmentally friendly to generate so much waste. Do you know what we can throw into the bin？ This myth.

極簡(jiǎn)主義者并不是什么都扔掉。這不切實(shí)際。產(chǎn)生這么多垃圾，也不環(huán)保。你知道我們能把什么扔進(jìn)垃圾箱？你不知道。

2. Minimalists dont buy new things

2．極簡(jiǎn)主義者不買新東西

Ive been a minimalist for many years， and I still buy new and second-hand things.

我是多年的極簡(jiǎn)主義者，但我依然買新東西，買二手貨。

My wife and I buy all sorts of things. But what makes this process different for minimalists is that we are generally replacing， not adding， stuff we already own.

我妻子和我買各種東西。但對(duì)極簡(jiǎn)主義者來(lái)說(shuō)，這個(gè)購(gòu)買過(guò)程的不同之處在于，我們一般是替換已有的東西，而不是添加?xùn)|西。

And you know what？ Sometimes we do buy new things that make us happy. What we dont do is buy impulsively without careful consideration.

而你知道嗎？有時(shí)候，我們確實(shí)購(gòu)買能讓自己快樂(lè)的新東西。我們不做的事情是，不仔細(xì)考慮便沖動(dòng)購(gòu)買。

3. Minimalism happens overnight… or must take time

3．極簡(jiǎn)主義要么一夜實(shí)現(xiàn)……要么花時(shí)間適應(yīng)

Minimalism occurs differently for everyone. No two people will approach it the same way， so its silly to say “its going to happen overnight” or “dont shock your system—take it slow.”

接受極簡(jiǎn)主義因人而異。沒(méi)有兩個(gè)人會(huì)以相同的方式看待極簡(jiǎn)主義，因此，說(shuō)“極簡(jiǎn)主義一夜實(shí)現(xiàn)”或“不要嚇著——慢慢來(lái)”，都很傻。

Were all different. We need to forge our path to a minimalist lifestyle. We also need time to adjust to a new way of life， and that period may be longer or shorter depending on your situation.

我們大家各不相同。我們需要走出自己那條通往極簡(jiǎn)生活方式的路。我們也需要時(shí)間來(lái)適應(yīng)一種新的生活方式，而這個(gè)時(shí)間或長(zhǎng)或短，依自身情況而定。

Weve found that the gradual transformation from scattered， overwhelmed and chaotic， to clear， purposeful living is the most exciting part of the minimalist experience.

我們發(fā)現(xiàn)，極簡(jiǎn)主義體驗(yàn)中最為令人興奮的，正是逐漸從散亂無(wú)章、應(yīng)接不暇、毫無(wú)秩序轉(zhuǎn)向通透順暢、目標(biāo)明確的生活。

4. Minimalism is a number

4．極簡(jiǎn)是一個(gè)數(shù)字

Perhaps youve noticed extreme minimalists who own less than 50 things and sleep on the floor. This trend has contributed to the idea that minimalism is about a number. The person who owns the least amount of items wins.

大概你已注意到，極端的極簡(jiǎn)主義者東西不超50件、睡覺(jué)就在地板上。受這種趨勢(shì)的影響，人們覺(jué)得極簡(jiǎn)主義就是一個(gè)數(shù)字。誰(shuí)東西最少，誰(shuí)就贏了。

Its a competition within the community. In some cases， people are made to feel shame for owning too many things.

這是一個(gè)社群內(nèi)部的比賽。有時(shí)候，人們會(huì)因自己東西太多而感到羞恥。

This needs to stop.

這種情況不能再繼續(xù)下去了。

Minimalism isnt about numbers. Its about what makes you feel productive and happy. If you own more than 100 things， so what？

極簡(jiǎn)主義無(wú)關(guān)數(shù)字。它關(guān)乎什么能使你富有成效并感到快樂(lè)。即便你擁有的東西超過(guò)100件，那又如何？

Again， your approach to a minimalist lifestyle is dependent on your personality. Some are motivated by numbers， while others feel inspired by aesthetics or a feeling.

同樣，你對(duì)極簡(jiǎn)生活方式的態(tài)度取決于你的性格。有些人受數(shù)字的驅(qū)使，有些人則受審美或某種感覺(jué)的觸動(dòng)。

As long as youre confident that what you own is essential （be honest） and brings you fulfilment， your perspective of this mindset is working well for you.

只要確信自己擁有的是基本必需品（確實(shí)是說(shuō)實(shí)話），能帶給你滿足感，那你對(duì)極簡(jiǎn)的理解就沒(méi)跑偏。

5. Minimalists are emotionless robots

5．極簡(jiǎn)主義者是沒(méi)有感情的機(jī)器人

From the outside looking in， it can seem a little cold how easily minimalists can discard things that were once sentimental in their lives. Its for this reason that minimalists are perceived to be detached or unemotional.

從外人的角度看，極簡(jiǎn)主義者能輕易將自己生活中有紀(jì)念意義的東西扔掉，可能顯得有點(diǎn)冷漠。正因如此，極簡(jiǎn)主義者被人視為超然或無(wú)情。

However， most minimalists I know are sentimental. We just keep memories alive through photos and journal entries rather than physical souvenirs.

然而，我認(rèn)識(shí)的大多數(shù)極簡(jiǎn)主義者都是多愁善感的。我們只是通過(guò)照片和日記而不是有形的紀(jì)念品來(lái)保留回憶。

Treasuring a memory doesnt mean we need to keep the material things that give us that memory. Those emotions live within us， and thats something that the loss of an item cant take from us.

珍藏一段回憶并不意味著必須保留引發(fā)回憶的那些實(shí)物。那些情感長(zhǎng)存我們心中，就算少了一件東西也帶不走它們。

6. A minimalist lifestyle is unsustainable

6．極簡(jiǎn)生活方式不可持續(xù)

Some people believe minimalism is temporary and unsustainable. Like its just some phase that well eventually get over.

一些人認(rèn)為極簡(jiǎn)主義是暫時(shí)的，無(wú)法持續(xù)。它就像我們終會(huì)跨過(guò)的一個(gè)階段。

Minimalism is a mindset， not a hack. If you treat it like a hack， it wont mean enough to keep going.

極簡(jiǎn)主義是一個(gè)觀念，不是一種技巧。如果你把它當(dāng)作一種技巧，那它的意義就不足以持續(xù)。

However， if you feel minimalisms benefits， it wont matter who you live with， your work environment， becoming a parent， moving cities; the principles will carry on with you.

然而，如果你感受到了極簡(jiǎn)主義的益處，那么，你與誰(shuí)一起生活、你的工作環(huán)境、生兒育女、從一個(gè)城市搬到另一個(gè)城市——這些就都不重要了；那些原則會(huì)與你同在。

7. Minimalists have no style

7．極簡(jiǎn)主義者沒(méi)有格調(diào)

Culturally we often associate style with having more options， being more extravagant and flamboyant. If these things matter to you， theres no need to give that up as a minimalist.

從文化上講，我們常常將格調(diào)與擁有更多選擇、生活方式更加奢華夸張相聯(lián)系。如果這些東西對(duì)你很重要，那作為一個(gè)極簡(jiǎn)主義者，你也沒(méi)必要放棄這種生活方式。

While its true that the minimalist aesthetic is focused on simplicity， it doesnt mean thats how everyone should be. As long as everything you possess has a clear purpose， go nuts.

雖然極簡(jiǎn)主義的美學(xué)確實(shí)專注于簡(jiǎn)單，但這并不意味著大家都應(yīng)如此。只要你擁有的每一件東西都有明確的目的，那就為之瘋狂吧。

A common trait Ive found in minimalists is that they dont follow fashion or home decor trends. They dont react to mainstream recommendations and instead focus on timeless pieces.

我發(fā)現(xiàn)，極簡(jiǎn)主義者有一個(gè)共同的特點(diǎn)，那就是不趕時(shí)髦或追隨家裝潮流。他們對(duì)主流推薦無(wú)動(dòng)于衷，而是專注于價(jià)值永恒的物件。

When someone says that minimalists have no style， what theyre really saying is that they do not see a style they recognise and can immediately relate to.

有人說(shuō)極簡(jiǎn)主義者沒(méi)有格調(diào)，他們其實(shí)是在說(shuō)，沒(méi)有看到自己認(rèn)可并能立即與之產(chǎn)生共鳴的格調(diào)。

8. Minimalism is about deprivation

8．極簡(jiǎn)主義是在剝奪

When assessing the real value of a minimalist lifestyle， I think we get it wrong. Minimalist experts have long preached that minimalism is an approach to want and do less.

在評(píng)價(jià)極簡(jiǎn)生活方式的真正價(jià)值時(shí)，我認(rèn)為我們大家都搞錯(cuò)了。極簡(jiǎn)主義專家們長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)宣揚(yáng)的是，極簡(jiǎn)主義是一種讓自己要得更少、做得更少的方式。

In our view， minimalism is an approach to want and do more.

而在我們看來(lái)，極簡(jiǎn)主義是一種讓自己要得更多、做得更多的方式。

This paradigm was sparked in a conversation we had with Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist. By paring down2 our schedules， commitments， toxic relationships， and things， we free up our capacity to dream， play and be of service.

這種范式產(chǎn)生于我們與“成為極簡(jiǎn)主義者”網(wǎng)站的喬舒亞·貝克爾的一次交談。通過(guò)減少日程安排、各種活動(dòng)、有害關(guān)系和物品，我們讓自己的能力得以釋放——去夢(mèng)想、去嬉戲、去為他人服務(wù)。

We create the white space to think about what we want out of life. More importantly， we create pockets3 of time to take action. In the end， minimalism is about adding more than it is about subtraction.

我們創(chuàng)造留白，用以思考自己對(duì)生活的需求。更為重要的是，我們騰出了碎片時(shí)間，可以行動(dòng)起來(lái)。最終，極簡(jiǎn)主義關(guān)乎的是增加，而不是減少。