LIVE WITH SIMPLICITY
Your environment says a lot about your state of confidence in life. Clean, open soul-nourishing spaces give your body and mind room to breathe, grow and maintain perspective. Your surroundings significantly impact your attitudes, experience of life and happiness and can dictate the base level of stress you may experience each day. When you are in a simple, clean, organised and bright space you tap into your productive, motivated and more energetic self, which lifts life to new heights.
The art and mastery of the skill of simplicity is one of the most valuable and yet most under-rated qualities you can strive for and embrace in life. Many of us live in a world of ‘stuffocation’, where our identity is defined by our belongings. Simplicity represents clarity, presence and freedom from effort. It allows you to clear your mind so you can continue on your journey with confidence, free from the clutter that’s holding you back. In this state you open the gates of opportunity and great attitude as you have a solid, basic, well-functioning structure and lifestyle that is adaptable to change.
The very idea of living an uncluttered and simplified life with less stuff immediately makes our minds feel less trapped. The benefits of owning far fewer possessions means there is less to worry about, look after, clean, organise and store and, most importantly, will assist you with greater economic security and time to foster what you are most passionate about in life. You will find more time, experience real freedom to grow and be able to focus on your health and wellbeing, allowing you to create more experiences in your life and live more mindfully.
Clutter is stuck energy and is represented as a gradual build-up of items, new and old, precious and pointless. Your body also experiences clutter when it is filled with stuck and old thoughts, many of which sabotage your days and your goals. Tired, negative beliefs and habits create a low-lying level of weight and stress in your mind and body, which can be detrimental as we strive and grow from year to year.
‘Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.’ Confucius
A problem we see happening in today’s world of consumerism is the level of meaning we give to our belongings. We tend to ascribe too much meaning to our things, often at the price of our health, our relationships, growth, authentic experiences, passions, and our desire to contribute and give to others. This is not the formula for a happy and easy life.
When you realise that keeping your life simple, both internally and externally, is an essential skill, you will be able to relish in a new-found sense of freedom and confidence. This results in having fewer worries and fewer things to look after, and a mind with more open space to create the life you want to live.
Decluttering your life is a great step towards creating a simpler, more streamlined environment that will allow you the space to attract new opportunities and move you towards optimal wellbeing both personally and professionally. It is about creating a sense of ease in life. Clutter puts the mind and body in a state of dis-ease.
The decluttering journey can be fun, creative and incredibly rewarding when you gain clarity on what you want to create. Simple, easy living will open up a whole new energy and happiness in your life – you just need to start small and make a commitment towards change. Remember, you spend many, many years accumulating and collecting more and more things, so it may take a little time to make decisions on what to keep and what to remove. In the end, long-lasting happiness is not created by accumulating physical things, but by life’s journey itself.
TOP TIPS FOR DECLUTTERING
Make a list and choose a day each month to clean out a room.
Give yourself some structure and deadlines, decluttering one room at a time.
Get some help from family and friends if it is too overwhelming to do on your own.
Decide if the room needs a small tidy-up, a revamp or an overhaul.
Examine what’s in the room and cupboards; does it have meaning and purpose?
Ask, ‘Is it essential? Does it work? Will I use it? Who am I keeping it for? Does it bring joy?’
File, throw away or donate your belongings.
Enhance each space and make it work for you – is it simple and easy to manage?
Make the space look great for you, bring in nature, and keep things that make your heart sing.
TOP TIPS FOR SIMPLE LIVING
Clean as you go, using the one touch policy – don’t move things, put them away.
Prepare for tomorrow today – get things ready and organised the night before.
Set up systems with reminders in your diary for keeping on top of your spaces and routines.
Create as much natural light as possible.
Use a clean well-structured diary to support you to stay on top of your daily commitments.
Don’t confuse intent with action!
Some areas for you to consider decluttering and simple living:
your personal environment
finances
relationships
wellbeing.
Paying regular attention to the practice of keeping your life simple, organised and minimal will present you with a feeling of space to be creative, spontaneous and free. By making small tweaks in your routine, you will clear out the energy drainers and allow opportunity to come in the door.
The goal of simple essentialist living is to do more in our daily lives
with less worry. This means doing what is right for us in an easy and
effortless way.