When we talk about a Simple Life, we are not talking about Paris and Nicole. We are talking about a life that is in harmony with our values. We are talking about a life that is joyful to live. Webster's Dictionary has a number of definitions of the word simple. A few of them are: Uncomplicated Easy to do/understand Without guile or deceit Those words pretty much sum up how we would like to live our lives. How we get there is another story. Uncomplicated...easy to do/understand In today's world those seem pretty unreachable objectives at first glance. Our lives are filled with things to do. But, if we stop to really look at what we are doing and how we are doing it, some truths will emerge immediately. Make a list of all of the areas in your life. Some areas might be: Family Work Social engagements Volunteer work Me Time Now, on a separate piece of paper make two columns under each heading. Title one column Current and title the other Prefer. In the Current column list those things that you do on a regular basis in that area. In the Prefer column list the things you would like/prefer to do in that area. Study this list for the next day or two, adding things when you think of them. When you think that the lists accurately reflect what you are now doing and what you would prefer to do in each area, you are ready to simplify you life. Ask yourself these questions: What can I take out of the Current column to make room for the things in the Prefer column? How can I better structure my time to fit in the things I prefer? Can I delegate some of these tasks? Keep the list handy, adding and subtracting as your life changes. When your Current and Prefer columns look pretty much the same, you are living a simple life. Without guile or deceit When we are true to our values and ourselves it is easy to be truthful to the world. It is easy, sometimes, to deceive ourselves as to what is most important in our lives. Very often we think that the things that take up most of our time are the things that are most important to us. Just as often, we are wrong. Be without guile in your dealings with the world, but most importantly be without guile in your dealings with yourself. |
