When I first started researching minimalism, I felt totally overwhelmed. Did I have to give up all of my possessions and never buy anything again? That might have been a reach, but I still felt like it was an all-or-nothing journey that I wasn't quite ready to take. Those thoughts kept me from taking the first step in my journey for years.

My closet is still pretty full and so are my dresser drawers. I have a bookcase that is practically overflowing. I use the space under my bed for storage. I am not what you think of when you think of minimalism, but I am still a minimalist.

Why start if you can't go all the way, right? Wrong.

Minimalism, in my opinion, is more of a mindset than a set of rules. It influences our lifestyle and it may even show up in our wardrobes and home decor, but it's how you look at what you have that is really important. Unless you change the way you view stuff and the value you give to what you own, you're never going to be on a true path toward minimalism.

That's a lesson that I've had to learn throughout my journey, and one I still struggle with. I don't know if it is a struggle that goes away completely. I still find myself wanting new fall clothes and sometimes making purchases that I know I don't really need just because I think they'll make me feel happier –– and they will, but only for a day or two.

But those setbacks don't make me any less of a minimalist. You are not your missteps or your failures. It's what you do after those setbacks that show who you truly are –– and what I do after making a frivolous purchase is reflect. What was I doing or how was I feeling, and how did it lead to me buying this item? Understanding your emotions, habits, and motivations are all part of the new mindset you start to develop once you start your journey.

And maybe that is where you start. Reflecting on why you have what you have and what it means to you. Understanding whether you shop out of joy, habit, or because it is how you spent time with family or friends. Maybe that is when the wheels start turning. I can't say that is how it will be for you, but it's definitely been a turning point for me.

So how do I fuse being a minimalist with still having a good amount of stuff? 

For me, like I said, it is the mindset paired with the small actions I have been taking along the way. It isn't a competition where you have to own less than 35 items to win; it's not a Wal-Mart speedy checkout. Once you start to shift your mindset, taking those actions and making small changes become a little easier each day. You don't always feel like you have to take advantage of that sale just because it's such a good deal. You start to examine whether you really need that piece of jewelry... or any at all. You take more care with what you bring into your home.

You start to notice a whole lot of other stuff, too, like how commercials try to manipulate you and how the man is trying to keep you down... But that's a post for another time.

What's the point?

The point is that if you are willing to just start, then you are a minimalist. If you are willing to examine your views on consumerism and shopping and go through what you own to figure out whether you really need it... Then I say go ahead and call yourself a minimalist, even if you still have some old sheets poking out from a dresser drawer.

Get in touch! Let me know about your minimalist journey in the comments.