“Less is More.” Over and over, I hear that phrase, yet I don’t think it could be further from the truth. We’re promised that if we get rid of things, if we “clean up” our lives, we’ll feel free. And while that may work for some people, this idea of obsessing with less and becoming a minimalist doesn’t work for me.

I get it, we all want that organized life we see on Instagram, but that doesn’t have to be minimal. I’ve spent too long scrolling on my phone, coming across videos of these sterile, empty houses or apartments — beautiful, yes, as if they came out of a magazine, but lacking any sense of true personality and self. All I see is an unauthentic stripped-down space with nothing to hold on to, nothing of personal value. That’s really what minimalism is to me: stripping the world of its character.

It’s almost like you could see this whole thing as a trend. Right now, this concept of “less” is such a prevalent idea, especially with social media and its easy influence on us. But what do trends do? They have their moment in the sun, then disappear. Yet for some reason, this trend keeps sticking with us over and over, like a song stuck on repeat in our heads. Why?

Since its beginnings after World War II in response to overconsumption as a society, it has fascinated people and has since worked its way into every part of our lives. It’s stayed with us and evolved with us, not just as material objects. We can see it in artwork, fashion, music and even buildings.

Some people might argue, however, that minimalism can get rid of our stress and lead us to be more independent. They believe having less can lead to more freedom and can bring more clarity. After all, having fewer things leads to less of a mess and fewer distractions. And while I understand the appeal of a clean, simple space, it often leads to emptiness and a lack of a personal connection, leaving just a bland space.

But it’s those cluttered, crazy and unique parts of life that make it worth living. The memories and joy that are held in old objects we keep — old concert tickets, photos of our closest friends, shoeboxes full of trinkets and toys from our childhood — they’re irreplaceable. And emptying our space of those objects, those memories, it doesn’t help.

I realized less isn’t more. More is more. It’s all the little things we might deem as clutter that show who we are and give us meaning. So, minimalism isn’t the answer. It’s the problem.