Life can be ridiculously complicated, if you let it. We fall prey to the American Dream as I posted about last week, which has become more of a nightmare. One solution is to simplifyour lives. Many people are considering this by choice or out of economic necessity.
Most of this post comes from Leo Babuta at Zen Habits. He does not copyright his writings and I would love to share some of what he says about this subject.
Thich Nhat Hanh’s quote, which I’ve stolen as this site’s subtitle, is the shortest guide to life you’ll ever need:
“Smile, breath, and go slowly.”
SMILE. BREATHE. GO SLOWLY.
If you live your life by those five words, you’ll do pretty well. For those who need a little more guidance, here are the lessons that Leo has learned (so far) as a few guidelines, or reminders, really. He has quite few links to other posts and resources on his blog.
And as always, these rules are meant to be broken. Life wouldn’t be any fun if they weren’t.
the brief guide
less TV, more reading
less shopping, more outdoors
less clutter, more space
less rush, more slowness
less consuming, more creating
less junk, more real food
less busywork, more impact
less driving, more walking
less noise, more solitude-see my post Can you please turn down the noise?
less focus on the future, more on the present
less work, more play
less worry, more smiles
breathe Also see Calgon, take me away!
What steps have you taken to simplify your life?
My goal is to help as many women as possible with these issues we all deal with! Be sure to subscribe via email or RSS so you don’t miss any posts! If you know of someone who would benefit from the info in this post and in my blog and you would like to share with them, please click on the appropriate link below!
great post bella! I think you already know I’ve been on the journey to simplicity, just check out my post “the splendor of simplicity” for starters, and the post following – I have been engaging in all that you mentioned above and it has been most delightful indeed.
Somebody said once that the definition of surrender is “giving up attachment to results” – i love that. when we can rest in Him and not worry about however things are going to play out, good, bad, or indifferent, that we are going to be ok, and that we are loved.
keep pressing on your journey, relax….breathe…..and practice the above, you will be just fine…..you’ll be more than fine, you’ll be the best you’ve ever been, and then some…..ciao bella
The “more clutter, less space” one is especially powerful, I find. Increasingly, I just want blank walls and surfaces — they are very soothing! Now if I can just make some inroads on the clutter and “chatter” inside my own head…… 🙂
I am always looking for ways to simplify my life, mostly because everyone around me seems to want to complicate it. It is an ongoing battle.
This is a great list. I think I’ll print it out and work on one new thing at a time until I feel like I can breathe. I’ve heard breathing is a good thing. I’d like to try it.
I love this philosophy and I really am trying to follow it!
Thanks for the post!
Can relate so much. de-cluttering: emotionally as well as my environment. It is incredible how much I can see myself, feel myself better since I strated this de-cluttering. Have a wonderful weekend
Yes, I am decluttering and scaling back in a huge way!
Found you on the over 40 hop.
~Lily
http://www.neverfadingwood.blogspot.com
Wow, 5 simple words, yet so very hard to do at times. I need to listen to this. I have to my health depends on it. The one thing I’ve learned this summer, is it’s ok to say NO! I was always a yes person, do anything, anytime. Then we discovered how it was literally killing me! So I’ve stayed home this summer, we’ve hung out as a family. We don’t have to be entertainment directors all summer long for the kids, and I don’t need to be in charge of every project that comes along.
5 simple words…thanks for the reminder!
Love the “brief guide” to simplifing life. My husband and I recently experienced a decluttered, less is more, lifestyle when we put our house on the market. Our realtor suggested removing 1/2 of our stuff to help make the house look larger. We did just that. And we loved the less cluttered feel of the house. Unfortunately we put all of the stuff in storage. Now our new home is almost ready for move in and now we will have to deal with the stuff again.
We have lived for nearly 5 months without so many things I am a little overwhelmed about unpacking all of those boxes we stored.
Stopping by from SITS. Wonderful post, just what I needed. Especially for this week coming up. I’ll have to chant this to myself over and over.
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Wow, great post! I love the “less consuming, more creating”!!
Please may I recommend a book?
Status Anxiety, by Alain de Botton.
It’s much more humane than Affluenza, which covers roughly the same ground.
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