I live in a hippie place. I am a minimalist. I work with people in the startup sector. This contrast gives me a unique perspective of two extremes.
My friends in Bangalore are trying to find the psychological impact of Instagram reels and every Twitter feature while my hippie community is trying to quit social media altogether. “I don’t want to consume more information,” said someone I know when I recommended watching something amazing on Netflix.
While there is a possibility of startuppers being anxious and lost all the time, there is a real phenomenon where those who prefer a simple lifestyle are losing their capability to comprehend complexity.
I understand choosing the simple life. But in that bargain, are you losing your mental muscles that are designed to read Taleb, Borges and understand where the world is heading?
If you’re living a simple life but are rendering yourself incapable to comprehend complexity, minimalism / simplicity is just an excuse to escape the complexity because you couldn’t handle it.
For example, my friend who doesn’t want to “consume” this information doesn’t have the capacity to process such vast amounts of concepts, data and ideas. I think she has lost those muscles. This is visible to anyone who has spent enough time with her.
My balance is where I can delve into complex ideas, frameworks and data while living a minimalistic lifestyle.
Very rarely do I meet someone who has the capacity to process complexity and yet chooses to live a simple life. I love those people.
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