Nudging self out of comfort zone

My friend asked me today with  surprise – aren't you Minimalist already?  Why do you have so much interest in Marie Kondo method? Aren't you already done with this organization stuff?  I started wondering too. Why the heck I have so much interest in this subject?  Maybe there is nothing there. The only excuse that I find for my behavior is that I don't want to get settled in. I want to nudge myself out of  my comfort zone. Believe me, doing anything out of comfort zone is not me.  I like to stick to my routine.. No changes please. Then how come I am striving for different options, different ways in this subject of de-cluttering? It seems foolish that I am still eager to try new things - even when I have found my 'happy rhythm'.

 Here is my fear though. Generally, life is not defined by 'constant'. Someone wise has said that the only constant in life is change. Change is going to happen even if I want it or not. And change can be determined by mainly three factors. These are - 1. my old habit patterns, 2. the societal norm and 3. our genetic predisposition as human species. 

My personality and history of my old habits points me towards shopping- me shopping aimlessly in the mall. I can easily get back into my former ways and start hoarding stuff if I don't make sincere efforts to stay on this chosen path.  Society will encourage me to stay consumerist.  We live in capitalistic society where advertisements and self image drives our behavior. People like me, knowingly or unknowingly, will  make choices that boost our self ego which is defined by materialistic success.

As far as genetic norms go, greed is basic form of human nature. In the past, greed has served us well. Our desire for higher status lead to survival of the fittest and hoarding necessary things has made us survive in very harsh conditions. But this materialistic revolution is new to our genes too and they didn't get a chance to adopt to these modern times.

So, all in all, these environmental and genetic forces along with my personality traits can easily take me into opposite direction. 

I know the consensus about health and fitness is set and I will be guided in right direction even if I am not in-charge. But I guess, that is not true for de-cluttering.  I am trying to go against the stream here. And that's why, maybe, I am trying to keep myself engaged by staying curious. Being curious about different ways of de-cluttering and making it more fun for me will keep me going. Reading what like-minded people write will give me confidence boost. Honestly, there is lot for me to learn, to explore. 

Here is my vision for the future. I wish, in the future, it will be "cool" to be minimalist (my innate desire to be 'cool' is so apparent..ha ha)  I think this minimalistic trend is already happening in countries like Japan. Hopefully, the world will catch up. When this lifestyle of having less and having only those things that we enjoy becomes mainstream, it will be effortless for me to ride along. But again, at present,  people have different preferences and I don't fit in most of them .  I am an odd apple. I won't mind that. I know, for me,  this minimalist path will take me towards my happiness - as long as I nudge myself out of my comfort zone. -praj101