The Simple Life: Keeping Priorities

/ March 6, 2013 / Life, Personal Development, Success, Values / Permalink

In my post The Simple Life: Why it Matters, I talked about simplicity (of mind and life) and why it’s good for us.

I come from a very simple background – I grew up without electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, tarmac roads, phones e.t.c.

The Simple Life: Keeping Priorities

Still I am like most people – I have one too many shoe in the closet, I sometimes work a budget to acquire a faster gadget.

But overall I am perturbed by the insane excesses of our world.

After our move to America around two years ago, I was astounded by the comforts and luxuries of the developed world. To be honest, many things that are taken for granted here are luxuries and miracles where I come from.

In replying to a comment in my previous post, I mentioned that one cup of Starbucks coffee (averaging say 4 dollars*) is enough to feed four children, three square meals (in an orphanage that my husband and I support in Kenya)

Keeping  Priorities

To keep life simple, we must ask ourselves some questions

What does simplicity look like to me?

What is the most important thing in my life?

What can’t I live without?

Simplicity will look different to different people. Some of us stumble at  comparison. We have an idea in our heads but are unable to to implement it because our expectations are unreal.

For example, a family with young kids might simplify differently than a single person.

There are principles to follow but ultimately, you know your life and how best to pair down.

A lifestyle that compliments simplicity

Once we decide on a simpler life, I think it’s important to make adjustments and choices that will continue to support and compliment our goals.

Many of us have good intentions but good intentions alone won’t get us where we want to go.

For example, you may decide to cut out your daily cup of Starbucks coffee. Instead of keeping that money in your wallet, you can invest it elsewhere else e.g commit to meet a need somewhere.

It’s easier for a new habit to stick when all alternatives and temptations are removed.

Excess is not health

Multitasking is a myth, you know. You can only be good at a few select things, not everything.

I think the heart of a simpler life is harmony, not juggling.

Keeping too many balls in the air isn’t a sign of success. I think that successful people are actually good at few things, not everything.

So if you have places to go in this life, you can’t carry “everybody and everything”.

Not all clutter looks bad

Some of us believe that all clutter looks like clutter.

So we think “if it’s really bad for me, I’ll see it and do something about it“.

Truth is that some clutter looks really good, even sensible.

For example, am working to build an online business and staying plugged into the online life looks like a sensible idea.

Nonetheless my relationship with God and my husband is priority. It comes before business and ministry.

De-cluttering has meant toning down my online reading and networking. It’s meant more strategy and willingness to do with less.

Any sort of significant pairing down will feel uncomfortable, even painful.

You can’t wait for things and circumstances to “look bad” or make sense before tossing them out.

If what you have now is stopping or hindering your forward progress, you may need to prune it

Courage

We can’t wait for huge encounters to prompt us to turn our lives around .

We can choose to be intentional today.

Tweak our lives and simplify now when we have control. Instead of waiting to have some big life situation to force our hand, down the road.

Don’t wait for a health emergency to force you to slow down, or a wayward child to get your mind back to family, or a spouse asking for divorce to remind you of your vows.

De-cluttering takes courage – an ability to say no to good things, as you reach for better things.

Be the driver of this change – not a hapless participant.

Bottom line, to keep a simpler life, we can continually ask ourselves, “Is this taking me forward or backward? How does this connect to my life goals, my purpose? Is it taking me there or not?”

Question: Once we’ve gotten rid of clutter, how can we stay clutter-free? Please share your thoughts in Comments. 

  • http://www.barbraveling.com/ Barb Raveling

    For me it’s a conscious effort to de-clutter in the first place (still working on going through the house) but in the meantime, just stop buying stuff. Just being conscious about it makes a difference. My goal is to come to the point where it would be really easy to move because we don’t own much. As far as work goes, I think the thing that would help me the most would be to overcome perfectionism – I would so like to be there, but I’m not there yet!

    • http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

      Barb, de-cluttering is also such a process for me..I doubt i’ll ever “arrive” cos i really like ease, speed and convenience (and pretty!), which so often leads to accumulation I like what you say about stopping to buy stuff. That sorts out one end of the clutter equation!

  • http://www.lifeofasteward.com Loren Pinilis

    That question “what can I live without?” hit me like a ton of bricks. That’s such an insightful question to ask ourselves!

    • http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

      True Loren!I think it’s a question we need to ask ourselves continually. It often brings clarity quite fast!

  • http://www.leadtoimpact.com/ Bernard Haynes

    I love what you said about multitasking. I can attest it is a myth. I tried to juggle a hundred balls and it left me frustrated and burned out. I had to cut out a lot of stuff so that I could focus on a couple of things I do well. I am honing down what I do online because I find myself doing too much. It is hard when you can do several things, but it is best to find 1 or 2 that you can do with excellence. Appreciate this post.

    • http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

      Thanks Bernard, am glad you resonate with the thoughts in this post. Frustration and burnout – that has been my experience too. Funny thing is that what we are good at often suffers at the “altar of juggling” . So glad you are seeking and finding harmony. Thank you for coming by and sharing

  • http://theregoi.com/ floyd

    Oooh. I’ve been grappling with this very issue the last four or five years. I’ve put together a pretty complicated lifestyle and in the economic dive found that the things of this world had come to own me. I think I’ve shared that before, but I’m still working through the same things that God has shown me. It’s one of my weaknesses. Thanks for the reminder, Ngina.

    • http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

      I always appreciate hearing your fresh perspective on it Floyd. Honestly one of the things i keep praying about and thinking about is that it’s often easier to simplify when one doesn’t have so much. Not so easy when there’s alot at stake, loads to consider. Thank you for reminding me of this today. And like you mentioned in your last post – the lessons we learn in thin places often sink deeper and prepare us for His greater plan. Thanks so much

  • http://sparkvoice.wordpress.com/ DS

    It’s a constant battle. I think you have to make a family decision to “declutter.” Then it’s helpful to establish some boundaries. Definitely agree with the ability to say no. It’s not easy, but it is necessary.

    • http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

      I agree with you DS, it’s a constant battle. Just today I added something to my closet and I battled and wondered about what to take out. I think that we can never really “arrive”. It’s about continuous choices and the whole family, for everyone that has one, have to be in on it! Thank you for adding this perspective.

      • http://sparkvoice.wordpress.com/ DS

        For additional perspective. Think how many times Jesus said no.

        • http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

          :) #Selah

  • http://www.ryanridgway.com/ Ryan Ridgway

    These are all fantastic points Ngina! As a country, we all need to learn to be more appreciative of what we have. I liked your comment about us doing too much at once. I’ve always mentioned to people – You can be extraordinary at one thing, or good at a few things, but it’s unlikely you’ll be extraordinary in all things. There’s usually someone else out there working harder ;)

    • http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

      Thank you Ryan. And this is a great tweet-able statement! “You can be extraordinary at one thing, or good at a few things, but it’s unlikely you’ll be extraordinary in all things.” So true! We can’t do it all : ) Thanks so much for coming by and adding to the conversation

      • http://www.ryanridgway.com/ Ryan Ridgway

        Hey, anytime Ngina! Keep up with the awesome posts. I follow yourself, Dan, and Kimanzi on Disqus so I’ll be swinging by more often :) Stay Blessed – Ridg

        • http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

          Thanks Ryan!

  • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

    I put effort into having a clutter-free home and life. My wife does a great job about cleaning the house so when I get home from work I don’t stress about the house work. However, at times we have had to deal with the clutter so we can spend quality time together. Great post!

    • http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

      Great way to do it Dan. It’s such a blessing to have a spouse who supports, leads and partners in simple clutter-free living. I know that am so blessed to have a husband who shows the way and leads the way!