Ponderings (May 2007) - “SIMPLIFY'

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary …

Simplify is “to make simple or simpler; to reduce to basic essentials; to diminish in scope or complexity: streamline; to make more intelligible; clarify”

Sharing my thoughts …

As we spent our holiday weekend taking care of the house, cleaning up the yard and gardens, and preparing our pool for the summer season, it hit me, once again, that we need to simplify.  How often do we fill our lives with stuff, people, and activities to the point where every minute of every day is dedicated to “doing” something?  This creates a more complicated lifestyle!  We’ve even made our food more complex; processing it, taking it from its natural, simple healthy state, to create something that is toxic to us.  I believe that living a complex and complicated lifestyle is as toxic to our well-being as processed foods are to our body.  Of course, if you decide to simplify your life you will be going against the mainstream culture where “more, faster and bigger” is better.  It will take courage and creativity to simplify; but, the benefits will be great in the long run.  Here’s wishing you the courage and creativity to simplify your life!

Questions to ponder …

  1. What things and relationships in your personal life are complex?
  2. What can you do within the next year to simplify your personal life?
  3. What things and relationships in your professional life are complex?
  4. What can you do within the next year to simplify your professional life?
  5. What one change can you make today that would help simplify your life?
  6. How busy and complicated is your daily schedule?  How can you simplify it?
  7. What is the price you pay in choosing a complicated lifestyle?   A simple lifestyle?
  8. What is the benefit you gain from choosing a complicated lifestyle?  A simple lifestyle?
  9. How does it feel to envision creating a simpler lifestyle?  Does it drain or energize you?
  10. How often do you ask “Do I need this or just want it?” when adding “stuff” to your life?

Related quotes …

Our life is frittered away by detail … Simplify, simplify! … Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose.  [Henry David Thoreau]

Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.  [Edwin Way Teale]

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent.  It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction.  [EF Schumacker]

I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best both for the body and the mind.  [Albert Einstein]

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.  [Hans Hofmann]