Tag: simplicity

Learn To Excel At Doing Nothing

by Mershon Niesner

Be a curator of your life. Slowly cut things out until you’re left only with what you love, with what’s necessary, with what makes you happy. Leo Babuta, simplicity blogger and author

Was there ever a time in your life when you excelled at doing nothing? Perhaps when you were a youngster building sandcastles or a teen spending hours experimenting with make up? Thinking back to those times might spark some recognition of the slower-paced you. 

The Italians have a phrase il dolce far niente, which literally means “the sweetness of doing nothing.” It means slowing down enough to appreciate and even embrace the simple pleasures of life. 

Coaching question: What would il dolce far niente mean for you now?

Photo by Keegan Houser on Unsplash

KISS

by Mershon Niesner

Live simply so that others may simply live. Mother Teresa

We’ve all heard about the KISS system of living…Keep It Simple, Stupid. We live in a complex, complicated age. Although, people in every age probably had the same thought, “A wheel? Why do you want to complicate our life with a contraption like that!?”

Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame have launched yet another project, Magnolia Journal, a lovely magazine that has their Magnolia Manifesto in each copy. I quote only part of it here, “We believe that newer isn’t always better and that there is something inherently good in hard work. We believe that it’s time for the pendulum of trend to swing back to the basics. We believe in subtle beauty, the kind that doesn’t deteriorate with age or wear.” They go on to talk about the importance of family, life balance, courage to try new things, and learning from our mistakes.

I too believe that “stuff” isn’t what makes life fulfilling. For me, it is family, friends, faith, a sense that we are making a difference…simple things that take a lifetime to cultivate. Sometimes, if there is a hole in our hearts, we try to fill it with stuff…in my experience, this doesn’t work.

Affirmation: I  strive to live simply so others may simply live.

Coaching questions: In what ways are you unnecessarily complicating your life? If you pared down the “stuff” what difference would it make? Are you accumulating stuff in order to fill an empty space in your heart?