Life can be complicated. We get that. We expect that. Do we sometimes make ‘complicated’ the default though?
What if ‘simple’ was our default? What would life look like if our decisions were made with forethought and rationality?
- Less would be more. We’d carefully think before acquiring more possessions because more stuff means more worry and more complication. Each time we’d ask ‘do I really need this?’
- We’d be more forgiving. Holding on to grudges or bitterness is a sure way to complicate and poison our own thoughts and lives.
- What people thought about us wouldn’t matter. If you spend your life trying to please people you’ll end up pleasing no one, least of all yourself. Consequently we’d spend less money trying to keep up appearances.
- We’d choose to work in a field we have an interest in, not one that we think is a good career choice. Consequently we’d end up doing a better job anyway.
- Our convictions, conscience and beliefs would be our guide. And we’d have the time to figure these out.
- We’d spend more time doing and less time talking. Actions speak louder than words, so if we know our intent we might as well get on with it.
- When we did talk we’d say what we mean and speak the truth. We wouldn’t have to worry about any lies catching us out later.
- We would be married to one person ’till death do us part’. We wouldn’t be looking for a newer model, we’d put the effort into this relationship. No complicated love triangles or broken families.
- Since we shy away from complication we’d enjoy the simpler things in life. Play, art, creating, music, nature, exercise. We’d be able to relax and enjoy these things because we’re not constantly busy and worried.
Simple suddenly seems very easy. Except simple doesn’t just show up, we have to actively and constantly choose her.
A good start would be saying ‘no’ more than ‘yes’, favouring ‘slow and deliberate’ over ‘busy’, choosing ‘time with family’ over ‘working more because I want to buy something’.
Simply choose.
“It seems that perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to remove.”
-Antoine de Saint Exupéry