Simplicity = Balance

This week I thought I’d explore the ideas of Simplicity to achieve balance in your life.

We’ve all heard the saying before “It’s the simple things in life…” But what does this really mean? And how do we simplify our lives in such a technologically advanced world. How do we create balance?  Simplifying is as individual and as personal as you are unique, and it is a great philosophy to incorporate into your life. By simplifying our life we choose to not obsess over commercialism and material possessions, rather, to stop and smell the roses.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication – Leonardo Da Vinci

The house, the car, the job, schools, income, holidays, the list is endless. Modern day living seems to focus on what you have got and getting more of what you haven’t. Is it really necessary? These assumed pressures, or “keeping up with the Jones’ syndrome present significant esteem problems for the modern woman, contributing to those unwanted feelings of not being good enough and not having enough. It seems to be a perpetual cycle that spirals throughout the community and leads to an unsatisfied and unbalanced life.

Living simply doesn’t mean going without. You have the power to choose what you want to focus your energy on. Feeling unhappy with your current living arrangement? Change it. Move furniture around. Paint a wall. Donate unused belongings to charity. Get out in the garden. Place some flowers in a vase. There are many simple solutions to be found if we open our minds.

Think about the Good family from the seventies show “The Good life”. Feeling unfulfilled and disenheartened at his job in a plastic toy factory, Tom Good and his wife decided to devote their energy into sustainable living. Growing their own produce, creating their own wine. The good family faced their challenges with simplistic positivity, staying grounded. Their life was sophisticated in a way that money cannot buy, and hence deepened their relationships.

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated – Confucius

Think about experiences that bring you great joy. Is it enjoying a cup of tea on the veranda after a sun shower? It might be finally getting to read that book you’ve had on hold at the local library. Whatever it is for you, simplicity is as much a state of mind as it is an act of living.

Simplify your thoughts. Become aware of the conscious stream of negative chatter and worry that contribute to complicating your life. And change them. Spend five minutes a day in contemplation, reflecting on how you can make simple changes to your life. Do something everyday that makes you feel good and contributes to the overall community and health of the environment. This could be as simple as establishing a recycling regime in your household, or setting up a compost or worm farm for all those food scraps. Take a walk through your neighbourhood and pick up any rubbish you find lying about, chances are if your neighbour sees you doing it, they’ll join in too. Say hello to people you walk past in the streets. Smile at strangers.

It’s these simple selfless acts that contribute positively to the global consciousness, teaching our children to be simplistic in life, therefore increasing our self reliance and gaining greater confidence and satisfaction, achieving an overall simplistic balanced life.

How do you simplify your life to create balance?

Be Happy,

Nic xo