It’s hard to imagine a life without electricity, running water, phones, indoor plumbing, tarmac roads e.t.c.
It’s actually possible to get so used to these facilities that they begin feel like basic human needs.
But the truth is, they don’t fall under “basic human needs” category.
We can live without them.
Actually, a good portion of the world lives without them. I grew up without all of them.
Life’s clutter
Most of us have have big dreams for our lives – big places to go, big things to do.
But life’s clutter sometimes gets in the way. Clutter is life’s excesses. Things, relationships, places we think we need but can really do without.
Clutter can range from that machine in our garage to the numerous friends and commitments that keep us busy but unfocused.
Clutter comes when we are unable to differentiate “needs” from “wants”.
Focus
It’s hard to be intentional in life when you have a thousand things vying for your attention.
Simplifying our lives means establishing where we want to go (our purpose and goals) and then shedding off everything else that hinders or slows down progress.
I believe that true success comes from “being less”, not “having more”. “Being less” is a condition and attitude of heart and it shows in the habits we keep, the lifestyle we choose.
I am not saying we avoid comforts and things. Not at all. Considering that we can only give what we have, we need to have something to give.
What I mean is in our quest for more, we must watch out for the health of our hearts.
I can think of two reasons why simplicity is good for you (and there’s more of course, please add your thoughts in comments)
Why simplicity is good for you
– Simplicity takes you further faster. When you are lean (literary and figuratively), you can do more, go further. Leanness means agility, maneuverability, manageability, adaptability. And these are crucial elements to success.
– The more stuff you have, the more things you have to take care of. That means a chunk of your time, energy, focus must go into maintaining things.
In all, simplicity brings focus. And focus yields results.
In trying to live simpler lives, one of the biggest battles we have to win is that of the mind.
By far, society seizes you according to your outward accomplishments and the “stuff” you own. Some of us live by it’s definition – that we are what we own.
Nonetheless, our value does not come from things but from our Creator.
To simplify, we can think on the following;
1. Only you can make you feel better.
A new car, a new house, new wife, even another child will not make you feel better about your life. Stuff can’t make you feel better. Health begins from the inside, not from the outside.
2. Delayed gratification
I am married to a thinker. He likes thinking things through. Unlike yours truly, (me), who dislikes waiting. Hubs doesn’t mind waiting if it means making a more quality decision.
Some of us cruise down the highway of life, waay over the speed limit.
But to live a simpler life, we must develop our ‘wait-er’ – Patience. Waiting gives room for answers to ‘marinate’. Your capacity to enjoy life is increased. You get a better deal out of life. And most of all, you learn self-control.
3. Balancing your life
How you spend your time says a lot about you. Success is a culmination of time spent doing worthwhile productive things.
We only have twenty four hours in a day and so we must prioritize our key roles and responsibilities.
Keeping a balanced life is a life-long pursuit since our lives and priorities keep changing. But at whatever stage, we must strive for it.
Over all, we do well to understand that real wealth is not what lies in our garage or closet but what lies between our ears and in our chest. It’s a mind and heart thing.
Success is never an overnight journey. We don’t have to own it all now. If you cannot afford it, it can wait. If you can afford it but you don’t need it, it doesn’t need to see your front door.
Question – Any thoughts on living the simple life? Can we live on less and still achieve more? Does “clutter” inhibit success in life? Please share your thoughts in Comments.
Also check out the follow-up post The Simple Life: Keeping Priorities
There’s so many things in my life, and yet it seems human nature to always want more. I have a saying in my family, “The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but once you’re over the fence, there’s already another one.”
I think about the things I take for granted, things I think I “need,” but it’s really just a “want,” (i.e. cell phone, Internet, new decorative things for the house, etc). I’m always looking for ways to save money, but even more so, this post was a good reminder to take a step back and learn to simplify life better in all areas of life, not just finances.
I like that saying Hannah! That’s so true. You can never “arrive” when you live a life of comparison. I am in that simplifying boat with you. I’ve found that it’s a life-long thing – you have to keep making choices, it’s not one a one-off decision (wish it was!).
Hi, Ngina. A lot of this sounds like the teachings of Stoicism who teach to enjoy life by wanting the things you already have. I’d recommend taking a look into it and if you need any recommendations on a starter book I always recommend William B. Irvine’s “Guide to the Good Life.”
Vincent, “wanting what you already have” sounds like a great way to live 🙂 I am not familiar with Stoicism and what it teaches. I am influenced and live by the teachings and life of Jesus Christ. Thanks so much for reading.
Hi again. It’s actually just a life philosophy, not a religion. I also follow the Bible. 🙂 I don’t mean to self-promote but I actually wrote an article on the subject if you’d like to give it a read.
“Flexibility and availability” – great points DS. It’s a journey for all of us I think. We need to constantly evaluate our lives and align it accordingly. Thanks so much for reading and sharing
I think balance is so key. I find myself over planning the tasks and goals of the day that when I’m not able to complete all of them I get frustrated. I have to keep a clear perspective and think about my day job, family, spiritual needs, and some practical ways to grow my platform. Balance is huge. Great post!
Dan i feel you on over-planning and scheduling. it’s an epic example of “how to plan to fail”! Balance is so important, otherwise we end up super frustrated and super inefficient. I am glad you are thinking and looking into this area. Thanks so much for reading and sharing
Glad to be apart of the conversation.
I’m really a big fan of simplicity. I think that simplicity can be integrated into every area of your life. For me simplicity helps me to focus on the things that are most important in my life.
Caleb, I agree – it’s hard to concentrate on the important things when there’s “noise” everywhere. Simplicity “surfaces” the most important things and helps us stay focused. Thanks so much
I am married to a “thinker” also. And I want it done yesterday. As I walk around the neighbor we rent in I notice everyone garage is full of “stuff”. One way to de clutter is if I have not used it for a year then I certainly don’t need it. Living over seas has made me acutely aware of how easy to let our life become clutter with “stuff”. When we return to a stateside ministy after living in undeveoped countries everyone wanted to know if we were going to buy a house now. We sold the only house we ever owned years ago when we moved overseas. After much thought and prayer we have decided at 65 we want to use our remaining years in freedom to serve Him fully. It is true the more we own the more time it takes to take care of it. A missionary lady said before internet was available you never knew what dramas was going on at home till the plane brought the mail and by then it was no longer important. Now a missionary can live in the remotest part of the world and due to satilites download facebook. It’s hard to give one self fully to the task of reaching the lost with drama you can do nothing about unfolding on the internet. This is an excellant post…one I think I will share at our bible study. Blessings sister.
Betty I always love reading from you. Your heart and sharing always bless me so so much.
I really hear you about stuff since I come from a developing country myself. I am blown away by the “stuff” that’s in people’s garages, homes and life!
Just this week I was marveling (yet again!) how just one cup of Starbucks coffee can feed four orphans for a day (in an orphanage that my hubby and I support in Kenya). Just mind-blowing thinking about it. (nothing wrong with drinking Starbucks 🙂 just that the math is amazing)
You are and your husband are radicals 🙂 The missions world does turn our hearts upside-down-right-side-up 🙂 Thanks for coming by and sharing. God bless you.
I was thinking of Hebrews 12:1 as I read your post – throw off everything that hinders.
I do think clutter gets in the way of our goals – both physical clutter and mental clutter. The more I get rid of all the stuff that ties me down, the more free I am to do whatever God wants me to do.
The most fun summer of the post-kids segment of our marriage (the last 25 years) was the summer we spent in a sublet apartment in Bozeman, MT with our almost 1 year old and our 4 year old.
Every day my husband would go to his job and the kids and I would pull out the stroller and decide where to walk for the day. It was wonderful. No projects. No house things to do. No belongings things to do. Just fun time enjoying the kids.
I’m in the midst of de-clutter life once again. Trying to get rid of all the things that slow me down. Thanks for an encouraging post!
That’s a great scripture Barb! Thanks for sharing it. A clutter free life is so freeing, isn’t it? Yet it happens to be one the hardest things to do (and maintain). For some reason, life “stuff” (mental and others) just adds up and we wake up one day and wonder where our beloved simplicity disappeared to!
I am praying you find breakthrough and His strength carries you through as you de-clutter.
I think the key to living a simple life is remembering WHY we’re living a simple life. I think it has many benefits for us, such as the ones you’ve mentioned here. But I think an even more powerful motivation is what we can be for other people. By living a simple life, we’re more able to pour out love to others!
Thank you Loren – that’s a powerful reason for living a simple life. It’s not for us, but for others. I agree that it’s a more powerful motivation! And so fulfilling!
Another great post! We try to measure success with our senses; the weakest part of our anatomy. The most powerful things we can ever own is not seen in what we have, but who we are inside that shines through in our actions and is measured across our lifetime.
I’ve managed to knit together a pretty complicated lifestyle over the last twenty years only to find out when the economy tanked that I had become the slave to the things of this world. I am still in the process of shedding that yoke for the one that belongs to my Father. My calling is to be His slave. His glory is revealed in the humility and life He gave for mine… True love is worth more than dumb ole’ stuff…
Floyd, your comments always carry so much weight and wisdom that mostly I just want to add “Selah” as a reply. :). And today I will 🙂 Thank you for adding value.
It’s so interesting because my husband and I decided to rent a studio apartment near his work for during the week because the commute was killing him. I’m fortunate to be able to work from anywhere so we packed up the things we needed and brought them with us. The ironic thing is we realized everything we “need” can actually fit into our small studio apartment and everything else we own is actually excess. So we’re working on changing that…
I felt the same way when I went on a two week vacation. I was perfectly fine with having a small suitcase of clothes and wearing them every day. I came home and emptied half the clothes from my closet!
Way to go Barb! Packed closets drive me crazy honestly. I like being able to pick out clothes with just one glance. But on the other hand,there’s that suitcase filled with “other” clothes that i need to get rid off. or organize. lol
This is so interesting Fawn. Reminds me of my own revelation one and half years ago. We’d just moved countries and when I walked into our very new, very empty apartment, I realized just how much stuff I’d had in Kenya.
I like that you are working on changing things 🙂 it has not been a comfortable experience for me..but all worth the lessons learned.