Anyone can make today more complicated than it has to be, and most people will. It takes a touch of wisdom to do the opposite.
Our days fill up so fast, and are so frenzied and jammed with drama and distractions, they often seem to be bursting at the seams. And the craziest part of it all is that we get so accustomed to this kind of chaos, we think it’s normal. We go about each day without ever questioning why we feel so darn stressed out.
Angel and I lived this way for many years, until a time came when we were dealt a series of harsh reality checks that forced us to reexamine everything. One of the key lessons we learned through this reexamination is that it’s not terribly hard to make our lives a whole lot simpler and happier, one day at a time… one step at a time.
Today, I encourage you to join us on our daily journey of living a simpler, happier life by following the seven steps I’ve outlined below. Keep in mind, however, that while Angel and I have fully incorporated each of these steps into our daily lives, we did so gradually. I suggest you choose one right now and begin working on it. Then revisit this list when you’re ready to take the next step.
- Identify what’s most important, and eliminate the rest. – This may sound like a drastic measure to some, but it’s really not. Today will quickly fill up with time-wasting activities if you aren’t careful. Thus, you must remember that being productive isn’t just about getting things done – it’s also about leaving things undone. The simplicity and efficiency of today relies heavily on the elimination of non-essential tasks. You must identify what’s most important to you, and then eliminate as much as you possibly can of everything else. [Read more…]