Ease, Restraint, Spaciousness, Clarity, Taking Care

Simplicity

Paula Brown | 5 January 2022

Simplicity.

Many of us already apply this powerful word to our lives.  Maybe not realizing how powerful it is. 

If I think of the benefits of it:

It saves time,

it invites ease and comfort,

it costs less,

it’s clean,

tidy not messy,

its easily understood and easily repeated. 

Chinese Philosopher Confucious said: 

Life is really simple but we insist on making it complicated.

We usually start the year with plans.

Big Plans.

To-do lists – long ones. 

Dreams, wishes, goals.  So many things.  And that is good.  It means we’re alive and well and seeking change, structure, movement. 

What I want to remind you of is the power of simplicity. Keeping it simple. 

For me, simplicity has become about simply being… leaving the bells and whistles behind and just appreciating things for what they are – in their perfect natural form.   Like a moment. Just sitting and being – allowing whatever needs to arise to arise.

Simplicity is the opposite of overthinking or judging.

Simplicity is noticing our thoughts and judgments, accepting that they are part of us and will be there always. 

Simplicity is about silence.  Listening to nothing and hearing what lies beneath it. 

Simplicity is about getting curious, then letting it go.  Moving on.

Simplicity is mindfully sipping a cup of tea or coffee

Simplicity is meditation – emptying one’s mind, simply sitting and noticing your breath.

Simplicity is uncoupling our minds.  Pausing the cravings, fixations, the needs and desires.

Simplicity is letting go of perfection.

Simplicity is the key to brilliance (Bruce Lee)

How can we bring simplicity into our world?

Simplicity usually starts with creating space. We start with a mindful approach to cleaning out our environment.  Spaciousness and ease should be our number one priority – through creating spaciousness and ease in our home, bedroom or general living environment, we create mental space to do the work that comes next. 

It is my belief that each step to creating simplicity around us, creating spaciousness and ease to be, forms part of our first step.  It's about starting close. In order to reach inside.  To do the inside work, we need simplicity, ease and spaciousness. 

If you’ve not already begun, here’s some great ideas from Marie Kondo to clear your environment and create the space you need to think, do and be.

1. Empty your junk drawer and clean it out.
2. Clean out your bathroom cupboards – all the little bottles with little bits in , the expired medication or creams, etc.
3. If you have a car – take a packet and start on the back seat floor and rear door storage areas – move to the front and then the boot.  If there’s nothing there, just give it a good vacuum.
4. The Kitchen – choose one or all of the other drawers (baby steps no rush),  such as the cutlery drawer or dish cupboards and remove any dishes you’ve not used in the past year.  These can be donated.
5. Clothing: Follow the Marie Kondo process, and dump it all on your bed, then begin putting back the items that make you feel good and that give you a sense of joy.  How to do this?  It takes time but its worth it – hold each item close to you, touch it, feel its texture, the memories, and sense if it brings you joy. If not, donate it! If you can, store items for another season somewhere else so that you can live with a streamlined cupboard. If possible, after this experience, you’ll have enough space to have an empty shelf in your wardrobe.  Aim for this as it is incredibly liberating. (Click here for more on Marie Kondo’s method.)

This first month of the year is an important one to use to clear away physical clutter in your home and office. And it takes small steps to be able to notice a difference and feel the sense of liberation that can invite some of the mental and emotional decluttering that we so desperately need.

Author: Paula Brown