"Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify." - Henry David Thoreau
I'm currently reading Henry David Thoreau's notorious book, Walden. While I was reading this portion of his book, these words seemed to jump out at me and slap me in the face. My life, like so many others, is so over complicated that I feel as if I'm on the verge of having a mental breakdown 99% of the time. I know as a part of the human race, that I'm not the only one that feels this way, I am actually a part of the majority. The fact of the matter is that we want to do so many things, but we simply don't have the time to do everything in this short life. The more we try to do, the further we stretch ourselves and the thinner we become until feeling empty rather than fulfilled becomes normal. Going through the motions of life and not pausing to see the beauty and magic all around is no way to live. That's why I believe we should all attempt to strive for a life of simplicity, instead of chaos because I know that is where true happiness lies.
Here are ways to find simplicity and hence, true happiness in your life.
1. Clean out the clutter.
Things. We all have them, we all want more of them, but what is the point? Buying more things creates a happy moment, but as we all know, this moment is fleeting. Instead of wanting more, train yourself to want less. Less clothing, less decor, and fewer gadgets. When we minimize the things, we minimize the distraction and figure out the things that are truly important in our lives.
2. Do not overcommit to friends.
No one ever wants to be left out, and I think that is why we will say "yes" to hanging out or helping out on a Tuesday, even though you may be exhausted and already burnt out from the week. Practice saying "no" because often times we forget about our own needs and tend to others instead. It's okay to be a little selfish at times because in the long run, your true friends will understand and your body and mind will thank you.
3. Do not overcommit to work or extra-curricular activities.
These two things are crucial, when living in this current society because we are constantly striving to push ourselves to work harder. Unfortunately, we must face the fact that we are mere mortals and that it is impossible to work over 50 hours every single week. So, there comes a point when you need to figure out what is VITAL to continue and what NEEDS to be dropped. If not, I guarantee you will continue to feel empty and unfulfilled because this life was NOT meant to solely be work. You will also find that work becomes more rewarding, once you stop stretching yourself so thin.
4. Find solitude in each day.
This is so very important and it cannot be ignored. I think as humans, we find our center in solitude and if we continue to ignore this necessity, we become unbalanced. It is hard to find this solitude in the chaos of our busy lives, but choosing to make time to figure ourselves out should become a priority. When we are alone, our vision becomes clearer and our senses become keener. In these quite moments you will find who you truly are and what truly matters - these things you will find are not material nor tangible, but they are what this beautifully simple life is all about.
