Oh! The Simple Things

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."
-- Confucius

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Oh, the simple things in life! Why is it that we have a tendency to make things so much more complicated than need be? We make things more complicated when we are no longer true to ourselves. Things become complicated when we try to keep up with the Jones’, or when we live according to someone else’s standards/definitions. Life becomes complicated when make decisions that are inconsistent with our very being. Shakespeare said it best, "to thine self be true."

Recently, I had what I thought was difficult decision to make. The more I thought about it, the more complicated the decision making process became. I wrestled with the decision for quite some time. Just when I thought I was at a mental/emotional impasse, behold! I had an epiphany. I wrote down my top five values in order of importance. Right there, right then, the right decision was starring me in the face.

When everything was said and done, I made the right decision; right because I was being true to thine self. The decision was consistent with what was most important to me. When you make decisions and live your life according to your values, life becomes simple. It becomes simple because the Jones’ no longer have influence in your life. They have moved and taken up residency somewhere else. Life becomes simple when you don’t allow someone else, the media, or mainstream society to tell you how to act or who to be. Being true to what is really important in your life is liberating; being liberated, life becomes simple.

I find it interesting that life’s most important things can actually be life’s simple things. If you want out of the confusion, chaos and complexity of everyday life, simplicity is right around the corner. It is simple – be true to thine own self and simplicity will follow.

It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD