“It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease.
Hack away at the inessentials.”
Bruce Lee
Confucius once said, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
If we make life complicated and fill it up with things, happening, and doings, how can we ever figure out how to focus on what matters most to us?
We are all running about trying to squeeze everything we can into the few “free” hours we have when, in fact, we would likely be a lot happier and healthier if we embraced the beauty of simplicity!
Here are few suggestions you can try today to simplify your life, and maybe find more joy:
- De-clutter.
When was the last time I read anything from your TBR stack of books piled up on the floor next to your bed or your favorite chair?
When did I last wear my favorite hat or that scarf hanging on the closet floor?
Give that stuff to someone who needs it!
De-cluttering will give you an opportunity to enjoy the things that truly matter. Plus you’ll feel a sense of relief with a more organized working and living space.
When we choose to eliminate the clutter around us, we gain a deeper appreciation for the things we really care about.
2. Food.
Food is another aspect of our lives that can be simplified in many ways.
First, instead of worrying about the next bite, or the next meal, enjoy the taste of the food that’s already in your mouth. Savor it. Let it all sink in and try to taste each flavor.
Consider the ingredients in your food. Take your time and use quality ingredients when you cook. The end result will taste better, and more to your liking!
3. Electronics and Connection.
Think of all the gadgets in your life. Do you use them all? Do you even use half of them anymore?
The more stuff we have to “connect” us to the “outside world,” the more we tend to feel disconnected!
Take out the earbuds, turn off your car radio, and put down your cell phone. Instead of trying to be always connected to people you don’t know, or to people to who you are connected only because they can “help” you, try communicating with those around you. Nothing is more satisfying than a rewarding conversation with a family member or close friend! Granted, that may require the use of your cell phone, but you get the point.
4. Thinking.
A cluttered mind steers us away from what’s most important. Simple ideas are almost always better. By simplifying our thinking, we open our minds to new possibilities.
A simplified mind does not mean we aren’t thinking, it just means that we are choosing to focus on a thing with greater clarity.
When our attention is split into several directions, it is difficult, at best, to make rational decisions. And if we are dwelling in the past or worrying about the future, how can we live in this moment?
If we are trying to jam a week into a single day, we will feel a tension that will pull us away from where we want to be and are meant to be. Instead of wondering what’s next, savor the here and now.
Be. Here. Now.
Release the useless distractions and minutiae from your mind, and you will feel better, and clearer. You will also regain a sense of peace and harmony within yourself.
5. Schedule.
As with all the other clutter we have mentioned above, begin eliminating some of the clutter in your hectic schedule and do what’s best for you and your family, not everyone else.
Obviously, you cannot do all of these things at once. Take time for yourself. Sit in a quiet space and think about what is important to you. Once you know what it is in terms of time or family, or whatever you choose as your primary target, you can build a plan to move toward your goals. If something doesn’t work well, don’t waste a lot of time on it, move on or make a new plan for a life that has more joy and less “doing” in it.
Living life simply is extremely rewarding. When you do so, you eliminate many of the useless cares and are able to focus on what’s really important to you. Give it a try!
Chat soon.
[…] is written as a followup to last week’s post about simplifying life, and fresh, new choices for the […]