As a coach, I have people come to me for a number of different reasons, but one of the most common reasons is because life has become just too darn complicated. Trust me, I get it. In today’s world, it is so easy to get overloaded by the media, work and family obligations, and, of course, the never-ending plight of keeping up with the Jones’. With all of this swirling about in your brain, you are unable to focus — life has become one big complication.
I have a secret weapon, though, and I’m going to share it with you today. Does life have to be so complicated? What if you, in the timeless words of Henry David Thoreau, just “simplify, simplify”? Can you imagine a world where things were just…simple? Seems almost too easy doesn’t it? That, my friends, is that magic of simplicity.
Simplicity doesn’t mean you have to sell all your belongings and move to the woods for a life of solitude (unless, of course, you want that!). What simplicity means is getting back to the basics, organizing, and seeing what steps you can remove from your daily life to keep more of your precious time and energy. When you simplify, you let go of what no longer serves you and therefore make room for what you want — that’s magic.
Some small places to begin can be in everyday communications, organization, your diet and your sleep. Think about it, an act of kindness needn’t be a grand gesture, but rather could be a small token of appreciation. You can start to simplify your home and work life by putting simple structures in place for procedures and files. If you are looking to improve your health, reach for that apple instead of that Snickers bar and head to bed just 10 minutes earlier. It’s all very simple, but it can make a huge difference in your life.
I want to be clear and say that I realize that not everything in life is simple — sometimes things are one big mess and that’s when people like me can help you focus and find your way out of it. Perhaps it is a belief that needs to be changed or a simple mindset that needs to be altered. But for the everyday things we can make just a little bit easier? Well, that’s just magical.