When Subtraction is Worth More than Addition

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Abstract

p of growth, it’s usually when I turn things down, I turn things off, and I throw things out.There’s often more taught through simplicity, through nature, through stillness than through the multitude of words.“To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, subtract things every day.” — Lao Tzu<h2 id="8071">Behind the Blog — When Subtraction Beats Addition</h2>I’ve been contemplating taking a break from my blog(s) to focus on my longer-form writing projects.There are some books I’d like to get finished writing but it’s a lot easier for me to write a blog, to read a book, to take notes, to listen to a podcast and to con

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tinue to… learn, gain knowledge, etc.But when I think of all that, I’m not sure what it gets me in the end. I love learning. But as the writer in Ecclesiastes (12:12) shares, “much study, wearies the body.”That’s often me, a man of much study.I think there is a time and place, a time and space for study and learning. But even more time for stillness. What is learning if you don’t let it soak it, don’t let it transform to wisdom, don’t let it sink into who you are?I’m one of the busiest non-busy people I know. But I think we can all fall into that trap easily. So I hope I can add a little subtraction to my life.</article></body>

Inspiration short

On any random day, you can find me reading 8 different books, listening to 15 different podcasts, and waking and sleeping to Spotify. I’m a glutton of knowledge.

But when I find peace, when the anxiety lives, when I take a step of growth, it’s usually when I turn things down, I turn things off, and I throw things out.

There’s often more taught through simplicity, through nature, through stillness than through the multitude of words.

“To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, subtract things every day.” — Lao Tzu

Behind the Blog — When Subtraction Beats Addition

I’ve been contemplating taking a break from my blog(s) to focus on my longer-form writing projects.

There are some books I’d like to get finished writing but it’s a lot easier for me to write a blog, to read a book, to take notes, to listen to a podcast and to continue to… learn, gain knowledge, etc.

But when I think of all that, I’m not sure what it gets me in the end. I love learning. But as the writer in Ecclesiastes (12:12) shares, “much study, wearies the body.”

That’s often me, a man of much study.

I think there is a time and place, a time and space for study and learning. But even more time for stillness. What is learning if you don’t let it soak it, don’t let it transform to wisdom, don’t let it sink into who you are?

I’m one of the busiest non-busy people I know. But I think we can all fall into that trap easily. So I hope I can add a little subtraction to my life.