“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.”
~John Maeda, The Laws of Simplicity
Are you feeling the need for a fresh start, wanting to throw out the old and welcome the new? Whether it’s organization of your home, workplace or mindset, decluttering and simplifying life can give us a sense of renewal. Here are some ways to clear the decks for what’s ahead and bring positive change:
Renew Your Environment
Organizing your home is the first place where you can actually feel better emotionally, mentally and physically. Feng Shui expert Denise Linn in her book, Feng Shui for the Soul, says, “Clutter affects the flow of life-force energy throughout your home and it can bring the entire home energy down. It’s easy to feel bogged down and tired in an environment that is bogged down with stuff.” She gives these examples of clutter: any object that is not loved or used, half-finished and never-started projects, anything that has been broken for a long time or has parts missing, unwanted gifts that are kept “in case the person visits,” partially used old make-up, and clothes that don’t fit. A useful phrase when deciding whether or not something is clutter, she says, is: “Use it, love it or get rid of it!”
Worry Less
Do you needlessly worry? When we worry about things we can’t control, it saps us of our energy. For example, a mother may be nervous about her seventeen-year-old son, a new driver, taking friends out to the movies. Although it’s normal and healthy for her to have this feeling, when it becomes all consuming, and she can’t wait until he gets home to be at ease, then it’s interfering with her life. Worrying can immobilize us, dragging us down.
To lessen your worries, make a list of the things or situations you feel angst about, especially those not in your control. This will help channel the fear and identify the real focus of your anxiety. Then you can work at solving the problems objectively, and if these problems are not within your control, let go of them so that you can relax and enjoy life more.
Release Self-sabotaging Beliefs
Making a conscious effort to shift self-sabotaging beliefs to empowering ones, directly affects our happiness. Internationally renowned author and speaker Dr. Wayne Dyer said, “What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds.” We can learn to stretch our minds in a more positive direction and understand that how we have been thinking about ourselves doesn’t have to stay the same. We can create new, more productive and empowering thoughts.
To help change your thoughts from negative to more positive ones, take a sheet of paper and make two columns. In the left column, write down your negative, repetitive thoughts about yourself. For example, one could be, “I’m not good enough.” Then, in the right column, write a more positive statement, like, “I am perfect just the way I am, and I love and accept myself.” Now each time that negative thought comes up, replace it with the positive affirmation, eventually retraining your mind.
End Relationships that Don’t Serve You
We often have people in our life who don’t serve us. In other words, we tolerate behavior from friends and even family that is either abusive or toxic. If someone in your life is hurting your well-being, either by causing emotional or physical harm, then there is no reason or obligation to endure the relationship. Although ending the relationship can be difficult, especially if it’s a family member, it’s important to take care of yourself. This choice can make all the difference in your stress level and quality of life.
Set Your Priorities
Many of us spend years never taking action on our deepest desires, our dreams. We often get pulled in so many directions, between work and family obligations, that we lose sight of what is important to us. Make this year a year of putting what matters most to you at the top of your priority list. Then commit to staying on track with it no matter what obstacles come your way. You will create a more extraordinary life, a life of less regret.
How will you simplify your life? What will you let go of? Write to us below and let us know. We would love to hear from you!
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