This may be hard to understand for those that do not suffer from the same affliction, but minimalism can be a behavioral trait for some like me. The mere sight of clutter can affect me in a visceral way, especially if aesthetically unpleasing. It was also a big source of my struggles with my kids through their teen years. It wasn’t because of Marie Kondo although I loved her first book, or the new trend (as opposed to similar concepts that have existed in many cultures for a very long time). Minimalism does not equate to either anti-consumerism or sustainability by default. However, if those are the driving factors leading to a minimalist lifestyle, it can have a positive impact on society.