Summary

The website content advocates for embracing a lifestyle of simplicity to combat stress and discontent, emphasizing the importance of focusing on what truly matters and finding joy in less.

Abstract

The article discusses the journey of the author towards a simpler lifestyle, driven by the realization that their life was overwhelmed with stress and devoid of joy. The author describes the process of reassessing personal values, reducing material possessions, and letting go of perfectionism. By identifying what's truly important and adapting to life's changing seasons, the author found happiness in simplicity, suggesting that others can also benefit from this approach. The article encourages readers to declutter their lives, both physically and mentally, to maintain focus and reduce the burden of excess. It underscores that simplicity is not just about owning less but also about making intentional choices that align with one's values and priorities.

Opinions

The author believes that a busy and stressful life is often mistaken for importance and significance, but in reality, it can be empty and unsatisfying.
A simple life is presented as a full life, contrasting with the notion that being busy equates to being important.
The author expresses that stress and anxiety are often self-imposed and can be alleviated by simplifying one's lifestyle and focusing on core values.
There is an opinion that many people unintentionally complicate their lives and that this complexity is not aligned with a divine or natural order.
The article suggests that the pursuit of simplicity is a continuous process, not an immediate fix, and involves regular reflection and adjustment.
The author advocates for the spiritual discipline of simplicity, which can help reduce overwhelm by narrowing down needs and wants.
The author posits that consumerism has led to an overconsumption of goods and that decluttering can be a path to contentment.
The article implies that intentional living and regular reevaluation of one's priorities can prevent getting stuck in unfulfilling routines.

Learn to Say No to Stress and Excess!

And yes to a lifestyle of less

A few years ago I was gripped with an urgency to simplify. I was tired and overwhelmed with the amount of work it took to sustain the lifestyle I had worked so hard to achieve.

I took a look at my life, cataloged my time, and asked myself if I was investing the best of me in those who meant the most to me, those who had been entrusted to me. I had to conclude I wasn’t.

Then I took an honest look inside and didn’t like what I saw there either: bitterness, dreams abandoned and scattered, negativity, discontent, and a lack of joy. I decided it was time for a change!

As I simplified the things around me and my perfectionistic goals, I began rediscovering things that brought me joy: gardening, walking, sitting on a covered porch in the rain, journaling.

Slowly, I regained some margin in my life, some empty space in my head and heart. My emotional connection to things, material possessions, and even my beautiful dream home began to loosen.

Looking back I shake my head, wondering how I allowed myself to get caught up in what Mark 4:19 describes as “the cares of this world.”

I look around and see my story replicated everywhere in women who are stressed, dealing with anxiety and stress-induced health issues, burdened with guilt while waiting for “someday” when they can actually enjoy life and have time for what really matters to them.

Truthfully, being busy and stressed creates a self — righteous air of, I must be important; my life is so full. In reality, the Bible says

“A busy, showy life is an empty life, but a plain and simple life is a full life.” (Proverbs 13:7, MSG)

Living the Simple Life: The Difference Between Busy and Hurried

You can be busy and still practice simplicity

medium.com

I doubt anyone sets out to complicate their life and infuse it with stress and chaos. Yet, perhaps you’ve found yourself living anything but a simple life and wondering why you aren’t happy.

It’s liberating to learn that you don’t have to be trapped in a cycle of busyness, stress, and unhappiness. It starts with defining why you want to simplify your life so you can design a plan to create a life that reflects more of what you value.

Keep in mind that you didn’t get to this place of stress, burnout, or discontent overnight, so you won’t be able to simplify your life by snapping your fingers. But, you can begin to focus on some basic principles of simplicity in order to reap the benefits of living simply immediately.

Basic principles for living a simple life

Here are some key principles to keep in mind for seeking a simple and happy life.

1. Identify what’s important to you and focus on those things. When we’re not intentional about our lives, we may wake up one day and wonder how we got where we are and how things got so complicated. Write down what’s important for you or create a vision board and then start making small changes that reflect what you want.

2. Simplicity changes with the seasons of your life. Your focus now may not be your focus in a few years. Stay intentional and reevaluate so you don’t get stuck doing things that no longer matter. Ecclesiastes 3 assures us that we can adapt to life’s changes because there is a time for everything and life is a kaleidoscope of changing seasons. Take a few hours each season and reflect on life; identify things that you want to let go or stop doing and those you want and need more time for. Don’t operate on auto-pilot; be intentional.

3. Generally speaking, we complicate our lives, but that’s not God’s design. Adversity is real and tragedy strikes but many of our problems are collateral damage from a complicated life. Avoid senseless drama, drastic changes without prayer or preparation, and as Jesus taught, count the cost before you venture into something new. (Luke 14:28)

4. Less is more in almost all areas of life. Decluttering is now a big business in western culture as we are waking up to the fact that we don’t need as much stuff as we thought we did. Start by decluttering one area of your life — it could be clothes or closets — and evaluate if you have been overdoing it or over-consuming in other areas of life. When we really get down to it, we don’t need all the things consumerism has tricked us into thinking we need.

5. Simplicity helps us maintain our focus. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the simplest things like grocery shopping? With so many choices, it can be difficult to make day-to-day decisions. As you practice the spiritual discipline of simplicity, you’ll find the overwhelm of making a decision recede. You’ve reduced your needs, your wants, and your options, allowing you to easily weed out what doesn’t pertain and laser in on what works for you.

I wish you the best as you move along the journey to simplicity. Start small and work up your simplicity muscle!