For the past 8 years I have moved several times, both business and personal….feels like a constant rolling stone. Through these moves I have given away lots of stuff, virtually lost lots of stuff and currently I am storing lots of stuff. I have come full circle with the idea that I do get anxious and nervous when there is clutter and then I realize most often I do not know what to do with all this clutter.
I need to digress a tad and let you know where an article comes from that has answered my questions.
I subscribe to a wonderful newspaper that gives you facts, just plain facts, and allows you to decide which way you want to choose all facets of your life, whether they be political, financial, spiritual, mental, physical. The Epoch Times has become my go-to read every morning and especially on Thursday when I can sit down at night with my tea and read the pages that have been delivered versus reading from my phone.
An article caught my eye with the caption….”We may not know exactly waht it is that we desire, but the longing is there.”
As I read the article I found myself grabbing pen and paper and doing exactly what she was led to do….and within the confines of these margins my life started to unwind and it started to make sense. Let me share this article with you. (Unfortunately the link is broke so I have to type out the entire article….here goes….
The ability to devote ourselves to what matters and get rid of distractions is a profound freedom.
There are times when we know we need something. When we need more. We may not know exactly what it is that we desire, but the longing is there. A soul level longing that isn’t easily shaken or ignored.
For years I struggled with this feeling. I wanted more of something, but couldn’t quite understand what it was. It couldn’t have been things, because the more I acquired, the deeper this void felt. It couldn’t have been success, because the more I achieved, the less interest I became.
This is when the hard questions become necessary. I sat down one day with an unrelenting need to write. At the time, writing for pleasure wasn’t something that I did. So when this feeling came over me, I had to oblige.
I started to write about what I wanted for my life. At the very top of my unexpectedly short list I wrote the words “to be happy.” That seemed simple. Could simple be enough?
I had to start somewhere. I had read once that the clutter in our homes operated as a silent stressor. I had such a longstanding relationship with overwhelm that I wasn’t convinced that making space in my home could make a difference. And so I started small.
I cleared out some unused clothes and donated them. I was surprised at how much lighter my closet and my spirit felt from this simple act. Little by little, we went through our home and gave away so many things that we never used before, some of which we never even remembered that we had.
The more we gave away, the more we realized how little we actually needed.
But that longing was still there. I now knew that what I wanted with every fiber of my being was to be happy, and I suspected that simplifying some of our possessions was just the beginning. I wanted to simplify my life.
But what did that mean, exactly: I dreamt of moving slowly and steadily through my days. Of saying ‘no’ with ease. Of being truly present with those that I love. Of being truly honest with myself.
I no longer wanted to live in a constant whirlwind. I no longer wanted to chase accolades. I no longer wanted to give the best of me to things that didn’t really matter. I wanted life to be simple.
Could simple be enough?
I started with the word ‘no’, it was terrifying at first, but I quickly realized that saying ‘no’ to the things that I no longer wanted for myself brought much peace. Soul level peace that far outweighed the discomfort of saying ‘no’
The more I said ”no’ to things that no longer served me, the more I was able to say ‘yes’ to the things that I though were important.
A new appreciation for intention was born, one which has brought with it the gift of presence. Soul level presence that has made me realize just how much we miss when we are distracted by things that don’t matter.
The more I practiced intention in my work, in my relationships, and in my schedule, the more freedom I felt. Soul level freedom. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from expectations. Freedom to slow my pace and quicken my heart.
Years later, I look around and see a life that I had never expected for myself. A life that seems….simpler. And I ask, can simple be enough? Now I know the answer.
Simple isn’t just enough. It’s abundant.
It has brought an abundance of joy. An abundance of happiness. An abundance of space, both in my home and in my calendar.
Simple isn’t just enough. It’s deeper than that, it’s soul level.
It has taken me from soul level longing to soul level peace. Soul level presence. Soul level freedom.
Simple isn’t just enough, It is bountiful.
It breeds contentment. It yields gratitude. It nurtures passion.
Simple isn’t just enough. It is less and it is more. Less expectations and more authenticity. Less distraction and more connection. Less doing and more being. I searched for simplicity, wondering if it could ever be enough, and what I found was a life of abundance.
What is written in this article is what I am working on every day.