I’m on this quest for simplicity, but from speaking to my husband and friends, I know that simplicity looks different to different people. To one person simplicity might mean owning less stuff. For another, it might mean their things are organized and in place. For someone it might mean eating meals with simple ingredients. Someone else might see it as simply eating less.
I felt like I needed to define what it means for me to simplify. Because I want to be as I move forward. So here is what a simple life looks like to me.
A simple life is a life lived with passion and moves toward that passion. Because when the focus is on the passion, then I can make my time more effective, life more rewarding, relationships more intimate and golden. When passion tingles in my belly, I feel joy more closely and the smallest of moments feel monumental.
A simple life is focused on people and not things. This means family and friends are put before material possessions. This means that I should surround myself with people who contribute to my passion and so they contribute to my joy.
In a simple life, I don’t buy material goods for the sake of buying. I buy, instead for need. And the things that I have will be lessened. No one needs all that I have. I’m so so fortunate. But it’s time to share what’s all around me for the sake of simplicity.
A simple life is focused on quality. Always quality over quantity. I know that when I look for the quality, when I focus on it, then relationships, work, and passion are all stronger and more rewarding.
A simple life doesn’t get tangled in the what ifs and the overthinking. It means I’m not bogged down with overthinking and I haven’t committed myself to every activity under the sun because I feel obligated. Life isn’t defined by what ifs and have to-s because it’s focused on living in the moment now.
I know that these guidelines will probably shift and change. They’ll grow and adapt to my life as I work toward simplification. But they’re the foundation that I’m going to start with for these 30 Days.
This is a great reminder to go back to my Happiness Project Commandments as those acted as a guideline for a simple life for me. Funny how you can frame and hang meaningful words, but overtime, forget why they are hung so predominantly.
Jacki recently posted..Mindful Monday #1
I HEART The Happiness Project. And guidelines are so important when it comes to changing your life, especially when you declare them publicly and often1
Anna Hartman recently posted..Listen To Your Mother and Traveling Mercies
I love all of these but especially the one about material goods.
Jess recently posted..Meal Plan Monday - Whole Life Challenge Edition
This is one I really want to focus on in the coming weeks. I feel like I can think so much better and clearer when I don’t have so much excess in my life.
Amen, Anna: “A simple life is focused on people and not things.”
Exactly. This should be our guiding light.
Hatton recently posted..Links Lately : A very mom bloggish thing to do.
YES! Why is this so easy to loose track of?
To all that I simply say…Ditto!
Lisa Howard recently posted..Broken Bumpers. Broken Hearts.
Love it, Lisa!
Great post Anna. I wish more people in our society would embrace this lifestyle. After life is about living not about stuff!
Jennifer Ford Berry recently posted..How to Stop Junk Mail