Life In All Its Complexities

Would it not be nice if life were simple? I often find my head and environment so cluttered that thinking becomes a full time job. I don't mean thinking about my next big idea or how I might change the world today, I mean thinking about getting out of bed in the morning, to what pair of shorts to wear. The problem isn't that these are difficult decisions, the difficulty is that my life is full of so many other more complex decisions that even the simple ones become chores. Making life more simple, unfortunately, requires a great deal of effort. Blocking out the myriad of thoughts and noise that exists both within and around ourselves is hard. For me I know it is so difficult because I want to do so many things. I want to stick my nose in everything and not tomorrow, I want to do it now!

We'll I can't. And unless you possess super powers, neither can you. We need to declutter our worlds. Take out the garbage so to speak. Simplification is the key to achieving all the our dreams. To make a difference we need to focus and put our efforts into one task at a time instead of spreading our mind into the many distractions that exist. I read many great bloggers on this topic and collect many tools and ideas that I think might just help me make the change. However, they become just another wasted expense or waste of time. The problem can't be fixed with these external aids because it is an internal problem. Sure, reading about the problem might help you understand the problem, but it wont help you change it. You have to want to change it. For me, the complexity of life is like an addiction. I am addicted to the clutter, to the noise. It makes me feel normal and I don't know how to kick the habit.

Every day I try a little more to simplify my life. I try to trim my list of things to do, or put off something in favor of something else. One of these days I will break the cycle. and maybe you will too. We have to want it, and then we have to make it so. The 'making it so' part is the key. Everyone says it is a good idea but very few actually do it. You might recognize that this is the exact same thing that separates the brilliant world changers from those who talk about it. Unless you do it, it means little. We are measured by our actions not our intentions. Simplifying your life is one step towards becoming the person who will change the world. If for nothing else than the process it will take to get you there. Take the first step.