I believe I pretty much do but after packing up things to move I realize I can do a lot more! And working in retail during Xmas I haven’t even had the urge to buy like I did when I was younger
Speaking in terms of items in my home, I could totally use an overhaul of things no longer used or needed. When speaking of emotionally simplifying things I could use some more core values in relying on myself more than anyone. I need to be more open to the idea of change and let go of anything that doesn’t serve me any purpose.
Well, I don’t know if it starts with “things” for me. The focus of my practice at this stage of my life is to live more simply by gradually (claw marks, folks) letting go of the idea that I can figure anything out. That it’s my job to figure anything out. To let go of the idea that I need to “understand.” I’m at a place where I believe my Higher Power is trying to heal and cultivate the heart/intuition parts of me and teach me not so much to rely on the thinking/judging part. As for stuff – I don’t think Americans — indeed, anyone in the West — really has a clue what it would be like to live simply. I live in a smaller place with fewer things, but there are so many unnecessary things that I rely on, that I would feel unmoored without, that it scares me a little. I’m pretty sure if my charging cords or supply of food storage containers or ability to just go out and buy whatever I wanted (not even needed) suddenly disappeared it would take some adjusting. Thankfully, I’ve had some experiences in life that gave me a little insulation. Really grateful for those.
I continue to release things I don’t need or am not using. I also am working on releasing thoughts and feelings that make me feel bad, and instead focus on the gifts of friendships and family in my life.
I’ve done a fair amount already to simplify how I live in some areas. I’ve downsized a lot of belongings, we’re in a smaller house, I don’t beat myself up over things I’ll get to one of these days.
I can continue to work my way through the boxes of stuff in our garage, decide what to keep and what to toss or set free via Buy Nothing for someone else to use.
I can simplify my online stuff by unsubscribing from the many email newsletters I don’t really get around to reading. Even if I just delete them, they’re inbox clutter I don’t need. I tend to carry this feeling that I want these organizations to know I believe in their work and being in their subscriber count affirms their value, but if I’m not reading I’m not really committing to them anyway.
I can simplify my approach to others by not trying to guess at or attribute feelings or motivations to them and just own my part of conversations.
Barb C, I also really relate to your statement about not trying to guess at or attribute feelings or motivations to others. I could save a lot of energy by doing that! Though easier said than done. Often that guessing occurs when I’m not even with others, when I would ideally like to be “not living in my head but in the moment instead” as Jenifer said
I like what you said, Barb, about simplifying your approach to others
by not trying to guess at or attribute feelings or motivations to them.
I try to read people and often get it wrong.
How much better to just own my part in conversations.
I think to live more simply starts with our perspective, with how we see others and all of nature.
Today’s quote from David Whyte: “Gratitude is not a passive response to something we have been given; gratitude arises from paying attention, from being awake in the presence of everything that lives within and without us.”
“…being awake to everything that lives within and without us.” Awareness…Awareness…Awareness.
I share the link to Richard Rohr’s daily meditation below. It definitely uses Christian terminology but one could substitute essence, being, love, Buddha nature, or Presence for the word Christ. Christ in All and All in Christ is about being conscious, living in the moment…eyes to see and ears to hear so we may be healed.” It was recently that I read the phrase “…when you look at someone else, you are looking at yourself.”
Three years ago we moved to a senior living community. The idea of whittling down our possessions is on going.
When I look at my calendar, I wonder where I can simplify. It seems like there are more medical appointments (stay healthy in this Octogenarian age), more social events (don’t isolate), exercise (move it or lose it), play games (keep the mind alert)…… I am exhausted! So I think I will take a nap (get plenty of rest) OH I forgot, religious services (very important)
You do sound full and busy! I read an article from a TED talk on the 7 kinds of rest we need https://ideas.ted.com/the-7-types-of-rest-that-every-person-needs/. It helped me recognize things I was doing that weren’t actually rest, in that they weren’t different from what I do for work. (Playing games on my phone is still screen time and interacting with technology, for example. I deleted the apps that I used to fill time waiting for appointments.)
Such a good question. To live simply is to realize what is important and necessary to you and what is superfluous.
I live a pretty simple life by most standards, but I do need to strip down my possessions. I feel they are weighing me down. I look forward to eventually stripping down to the bare minimum and living truly simply, as I age.
When I was younger, I would backpack and bike tour. It always felt liberating, having everything you needed to live, in such a transportable package.
For me, to live more simply means I must stay away from lots of “stupid thoughts” that I usually have. Yeah, I know it’s helpful to think carefully before we speak, but it’s better not to like the way I do. I mostly get back to what I said in the morning to someone, carrying things like: “Was I right to say it?” I must let thoughts like that go because I can’t get back to “recorrect” what I said even though it was wrong.
My Ngoc, I was once that person you described not too long ago. Committing to my 2024 yearly zen goal I do with Sean of letting go of improvement makes a huge difference. It teaches me committment which I find helpful in letting go. 1 montra I live by for these situations is “There’s no failure in life. Failure is when we don’t try.” No matter how carefully we pick and choose our words, everyone will say things at the wrong place wrong time every now and then. The best way of correction is to keep moving forward.
When we sold our house this past summer, we donated so much stuff. Kitchen gadgets, furniture, clothing, etc. It felt good to let go of things we didn’t need and were not using, especially knowing that it would possibly help others.
There are still things I’d like to get rid of, both physical and mental “stuff.” I have a donation box started for more things I’ve realized we don’t need, and I am trying to reset my brain to a more peaceful place with less social media, more meditation, more yoga, longer walks with the pups.
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I believe I pretty much do but after packing up things to move I realize I can do a lot more! And working in retail during Xmas I haven’t even had the urge to buy like I did when I was younger
As many have mentioned already, to declutter what is not used or needed, what is collected , mind stuff also.
Speaking in terms of items in my home, I could totally use an overhaul of things no longer used or needed. When speaking of emotionally simplifying things I could use some more core values in relying on myself more than anyone. I need to be more open to the idea of change and let go of anything that doesn’t serve me any purpose.
By letting go of all wants, desires, and expectations!
All of that,
dear Antoinette,
is A LOT to unload! ♥
Well, I don’t know if it starts with “things” for me. The focus of my practice at this stage of my life is to live more simply by gradually (claw marks, folks) letting go of the idea that I can figure anything out. That it’s my job to figure anything out. To let go of the idea that I need to “understand.” I’m at a place where I believe my Higher Power is trying to heal and cultivate the heart/intuition parts of me and teach me not so much to rely on the thinking/judging part. As for stuff – I don’t think Americans — indeed, anyone in the West — really has a clue what it would be like to live simply. I live in a smaller place with fewer things, but there are so many unnecessary things that I rely on, that I would feel unmoored without, that it scares me a little. I’m pretty sure if my charging cords or supply of food storage containers or ability to just go out and buy whatever I wanted (not even needed) suddenly disappeared it would take some adjusting. Thankfully, I’ve had some experiences in life that gave me a little insulation. Really grateful for those.
Beautifully said. Gives me something to ponder.
I continue to release things I don’t need or am not using. I also am working on releasing thoughts and feelings that make me feel bad, and instead focus on the gifts of friendships and family in my life.
Simply said, Linda, but there’s a lot of wisdom here.
Thank you.
I’ve done a fair amount already to simplify how I live in some areas. I’ve downsized a lot of belongings, we’re in a smaller house, I don’t beat myself up over things I’ll get to one of these days.
I can continue to work my way through the boxes of stuff in our garage, decide what to keep and what to toss or set free via Buy Nothing for someone else to use.
I can simplify my online stuff by unsubscribing from the many email newsletters I don’t really get around to reading. Even if I just delete them, they’re inbox clutter I don’t need. I tend to carry this feeling that I want these organizations to know I believe in their work and being in their subscriber count affirms their value, but if I’m not reading I’m not really committing to them anyway.
I can simplify my approach to others by not trying to guess at or attribute feelings or motivations to them and just own my part of conversations.
Barb C, I also really relate to your statement about not trying to guess at or attribute feelings or motivations to others. I could save a lot of energy by doing that! Though easier said than done. Often that guessing occurs when I’m not even with others, when I would ideally like to be “not living in my head but in the moment instead” as Jenifer said
I like what you said, Barb, about simplifying your approach to others
by not trying to guess at or attribute feelings or motivations to them.
I try to read people and often get it wrong.
How much better to just own my part in conversations.
How can I live more simply?
Practice more gratitude.
carol ann
…in a nutshell,
dear carol ann…♥
I think to live more simply starts with our perspective, with how we see others and all of nature.
Today’s quote from David Whyte: “Gratitude is not a passive response to something we have been given; gratitude arises from paying attention, from being awake in the presence of everything that lives within and without us.”
“…being awake to everything that lives within and without us.” Awareness…Awareness…Awareness.
I share the link to Richard Rohr’s daily meditation below. It definitely uses Christian terminology but one could substitute essence, being, love, Buddha nature, or Presence for the word Christ. Christ in All and All in Christ is about being conscious, living in the moment…eyes to see and ears to hear so we may be healed.” It was recently that I read the phrase “…when you look at someone else, you are looking at yourself.”
https://cac.org/daily-meditations/christ-in-all-all-in-christ/
Three years ago we moved to a senior living community. The idea of whittling down our possessions is on going.
When I look at my calendar, I wonder where I can simplify. It seems like there are more medical appointments (stay healthy in this Octogenarian age), more social events (don’t isolate), exercise (move it or lose it), play games (keep the mind alert)…… I am exhausted! So I think I will take a nap (get plenty of rest) OH I forgot, religious services (very important)
I agree, Yram!
Trying to do all the stuff to be my best self, can be exhausting
You do sound full and busy! I read an article from a TED talk on the 7 kinds of rest we need https://ideas.ted.com/the-7-types-of-rest-that-every-person-needs/. It helped me recognize things I was doing that weren’t actually rest, in that they weren’t different from what I do for work. (Playing games on my phone is still screen time and interacting with technology, for example. I deleted the apps that I used to fill time waiting for appointments.)
Thank you!
Such a good question. To live simply is to realize what is important and necessary to you and what is superfluous.
I live a pretty simple life by most standards, but I do need to strip down my possessions. I feel they are weighing me down. I look forward to eventually stripping down to the bare minimum and living truly simply, as I age.
When I was younger, I would backpack and bike tour. It always felt liberating, having everything you needed to live, in such a transportable package.
Thanks, Charlie
For me, to live more simply means I must stay away from lots of “stupid thoughts” that I usually have. Yeah, I know it’s helpful to think carefully before we speak, but it’s better not to like the way I do. I mostly get back to what I said in the morning to someone, carrying things like: “Was I right to say it?” I must let thoughts like that go because I can’t get back to “recorrect” what I said even though it was wrong.
My Ngoc, I was once that person you described not too long ago. Committing to my 2024 yearly zen goal I do with Sean of letting go of improvement makes a huge difference. It teaches me committment which I find helpful in letting go. 1 montra I live by for these situations is “There’s no failure in life. Failure is when we don’t try.” No matter how carefully we pick and choose our words, everyone will say things at the wrong place wrong time every now and then. The best way of correction is to keep moving forward.
Stay the course.
When we sold our house this past summer, we donated so much stuff. Kitchen gadgets, furniture, clothing, etc. It felt good to let go of things we didn’t need and were not using, especially knowing that it would possibly help others.
There are still things I’d like to get rid of, both physical and mental “stuff.” I have a donation box started for more things I’ve realized we don’t need, and I am trying to reset my brain to a more peaceful place with less social media, more meditation, more yoga, longer walks with the pups.
I like what you wrote about resetting your brain to a more peaceful place,
-less social media
-more meditation,
-more yoga, and
-longer walks.
♥️
Not living in my head, but in the moment instead.
Exactly!
What a nice rhyming jingle you have created Jenifer! This will be easy for me to remember and be inspired by.
Right!
Agreed! I love this!