David Malloy
Our life is frittered away by detail...Simplify, simplify!
-Henry David Thoreau
After leaving the home we loved and chasing a dream of acreage on the lake in Kenora, Ontario we were given a second chance to return to the very house we left. It was during this time that my husband, David and I began the process of simplifying our lives. We finally began to realize that we were not going to be able to do everything we'd been trying to do. That realization started us down a very different path. We sat down and figured out what we really wanted to do and what was realistic for us to achieve. That process forced us to begin simplifying our lifestyle and allowed us to determine what really mattered and we had the time, energy and resources to accomplish.
Initially we began to assess the outer areas of our life such as our household, finances, careers, social life and how much time was taken up in the routines of our general lifestyle. The first and most significant decision made was to stop buying, selling our home whenever we got it to where we wanted it and moving every two years. We systematically de-cluttered the house and got rid of everything we were not using or wearing. Finding a home for things and creating order was a delightful and liberating experience. The next step was to convert our large garden to hardy perennials and that reduced the amount of maintenance immensely.
Simplifying the outer aspects of life created new opportunities to discover areas of our inner lives that we could simplify as well. By maintaining our outer lives in greater order it was easier to look within and find ways to increase my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being and have more time to do the things we really wanted to do.
Although it wasn't clear at the onset of the process though time I began to develop some clarity about what was occurring. Something I now call inner simplicity. What that means to me is an ability to tune into what is, in my opinion the best of what life has to offer such as the bonds we share with family and friends, the enchantment of nature and the serenity that comes through prayer, meditation and quiet contemplation.
One of the best aspects of inner simplicity is that it creates an appropriate balance between our inner and outer lives and allows us to develop a sense of what is needed to heal and balance different areas of life. It fosters creativity and leads to an ability to meet life's challenges head on.
Living a simpler life with greater inner stillness encourages us to let go of all the hurts, disappointments and traumas that prevent us from living our best lives. Inner simplicity is a process of removing inner conflicts such as worry, resentment, anger, fear, disappointment, judgment and all those other negative mind-sets that interfere with peace and tranquility. Developing the process of inner simplicity is a way of growing and nourishing the soul. It is augmented by spending time in solitude, mediation, enjoying nature, trusting inner knowing, meditating, dancing, listening to inspiring music and releasing mental mind chatter.
Establishing inner simplicity in your life will provide unlimited possibilities for personal growth and give you time to do what you want to do rather than what you think you should do. It will help you to decide how you want to live your life and provide more energy to do it. It also helps clear your head and provides a sense of direction and purpose that is inwardly directed rather than outwardly directed. Living from that place creates untold opportunities to live life in a more genuine, authentic way and that increases appreciation for yourself and improves relationships with others. Removing external and internal clutter and focusing on what really matters opens the way to expand awareness and help you improve the quality of life on every level and give you a new zest for living!
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