5 Simple Hacks to a Simple Life

Invest in thoughts that boost your happiness.

Do you want to make your life easier?

I thought so.

We get so caught up in the chase after the simple life that we end up overcomplicating it.

In fact, there are several hacks that will make your days a lot easier. It all starts within your mind.

Watch what you think.

You think you are a responsible adult.

I bet you are selective about the food you nourish your body with, the clothes you choose to match the occasion, and the people you surround yourself with.

But are you picky about your thoughts?

When you become a responsible thinker, you notice that your thoughts create your reality.

• What you think about yourself reflects how people approach you.
• The beliefs around your finances determine your relationship with your bank account.
• Whether you think you can manage the storm breaks the outcome of your dark days.

Mindfully crafting your thoughts is your superpower.

When you make mindfulness your priority, you take happiness into your hands.

The thoughts you choose today create your tomorrow.

When you think constructive thoughts, your metabolism runs faster, you see beauty in the world, and you react to life differently — in a way that serves you.

Instead of relying on somebody else to make you happy, focus on the thoughts that build you up.

You are responsible for your thoughts. Nobody can make you feel worse unless you give them permission to do so.

The thoughts you choose today will create your tomorrow.

Hack # 1:

Journal your thoughts. Dedicate chunks of time each day to check on the beliefs you play on repeat.

• How did the event make me feel?
• What caused the tension in my body?
• Why do I feel angry?

Facts do not influence how you feel, but your interpretation of what happened colours your reality.

Beautify your thoughts. Thoughts are the headwaters of action, life, and manifestation.

— David Wolfe

Kick comparison in the butt.

Nowadays, it is hard to resist the temptation of scrolling through social media without comparing your life to somebody else’s highly-edited reel.

It is childishly easy to give into depreciating thoughts telling us we are not as pretty as them, not as good or not as confident as they are.

But comparison, just like worrying, is unproductive.

It is time- and energy-consuming. It rains on your parade. It strips you of the simple joy of life.

And when you don’t feel good, you act no good.

How can you move forward if your inner critic sabotages your growth?

How can you succeed, if the enemy is inside your head?

It is okay to go at a different pace than others, and also to have different dreams, goals, and aspirations in life.

We are all equal and all destined to find our paths.

Spend less time on social media. Engage in your life instead of prying on everybody else.

When you catch yourself carrying the weight of what others think of you, redirect your thoughts to powerful affirmations:

• I am in the right place and at the right time.
• I focus on myself because I prioritize my growth.
• There is nobody to compare to. Comparison is an illusion of the mind.

The truth is people aren’t thinking as much about you as you think they are.

Hack # 2:

Set a time limit on social media platforms. Better yet, consider a social media detox.

If you promote your brand through Facebook or Instagram, or you post to express yourself, put that into your schedule. But don’t mindlessly scroll through reels and photos to “check what others are up to”.

Your mental health will thank you later.

You don’t have to live up to anyone else’s standards, you don’t have to look like anyone else, you don’t have to compare yourself to anyone else. You being you is enough, and you putting your positivity and good vibes out into the world, once you get to that point absolutely everything will fall into place.

— Lizzie Velasquez

Start chasing failure.

Do you know what you get when striving for perfection? Anxiety.

Fear of failure is your roadblock to creativity. What you fear prevents you from living a fulfilled life.

You won’t eliminate mistakes from your life. But you can embrace them by shifting how you think about them.

Failures don’t put an end to our dreams. If anything, they become our fuel for persisting with our visions.

Mistakes become lessons. Lessons turn into opportunities.

When you get comfortable with the possibility of making a mistake and learning from it, several things happen:

• you stop caring what people think,
• you enjoy life as if you were a kid again,
• you learn new skills,
• you greet new possibilities.

Failure can be your strength or a suppressor of your growth.

You call the shots.

Start telling a new story: It is impossible to fail.

What everyone else may deem as a failure, for you is a redirection.

You never fail. You persist. You keep your eyes on the prize and follow through with your vision whether circumstances seem favourable or not.

Hack # 3:

Do you know that slightly uncomfortable feeling in your gut when you are about to step outside your comfort zone?

It feels exciting and scary, at the same time, as you cannot predict the outcome.

Go with your guts. Don’t ask: what if I fail?

Always ask: What if I make it happen?

When you take risks you learn that there will be times when you succeed and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important.

— Ellen DeGeneres

Quit overthinking it.

Overthinking is the prevailing addiction we are unconscious of.

It takes many forms.

You want to make a change. On the other hand, what if it turns out worse than you have imagined?

You want to be a successful writer, so you linger with publishing your articles until they are perfect, overanalyzing every line.

If you wait for the perfect timing, you get stuck in the old life.

To change where you are today, you have to think less and act more.

If you feel the calling to act on an impulse, do it.

I encourage you, dear reader, to stop analysing how your dreams will come true. Instead, follow what feels right at the moment.

Don’t choose the easiest path, but the one that brings you growth and satisfaction today.

Just like too many apps running on your phone, overthinking sucks the life energy out of you.

Hack # 4:

Beating the habit of overthinking requires presence.

Accepting the present moment slows down the mind.

When you cannot calm your racing thoughts, think about them as clouds in a blue sky. Observe where are they coming from and label them.

Ex. ‘the fear cloud’, ‘the anxiety cloud’, ‘the jealousy cloud’ etc.

Then watch them passing by, or imagine sweeping them away with your hand.

To think too much is a disease.

— Fyodor Dostoyevsky

What somebody else thinks of you is none of your business.

When others judge, it is their problem, not your concern.

Growing up we learn that what people think is more important than how we feel.

We were made to believe that our worth is a reflection of our status, bank account, and the things we possess.

Here is the twist: Your value resides within. Nothing external can add or diminish your worth.

If you want to measure your worth:

• pay attention to how you treat others,
• observe how you talk to yourself in the mirror,
• listen how hard you cheer yourself on your way to success.

When you accept yourself as you are, regardless of the opinions of others, the pressure to chase after the illusion of happiness wears off.

You discover that you can be happy where you are, and this realization shines upon everything you do.

When you are no longer preoccupied with the minds of others, you get to focus on your thoughts.

After all, your thoughts build your life.

When you worry about what others think of you, you are not in control of your mind. In reality, you are the slave of people’s opinions.

Don’t you value your freedom?

Show the highest level of self-respect by making space for your authentic self regardless of society’s expectations.

A focused mind is the most powerful tool in your possession.

You can’t tell what others think, so why even bother trying to figure it out?

Hack # 5:

Write down your concerns about what others think.

Ex. I am afraid that people think I am stupid/lazy/selfish.

Next, meditate on whether your actions support those claims.

If not, who cares if people still think of you in those terms? The only person who deserves to know the truth is you.

If yes, how can you change your actions so that you feel comfortable with yourself?

You are meant to evolve into a better version but only for yourself, not for others’ comfort.

You probably wouldn’t worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do.

― Olin Miller

Those ideas are not over the top.

Simple rules make for a simple life.

They preach about mindfulness, self-discipline, and boldness.

Commit to observing your thoughts.

Don’t give into judgement, and you will avoid being judged.

As Within, So Without.

Thank you for being here, — Kate