A Simple Life

Imagine that you have decided to live a simple life.

In order to experience this new life, you begin by looking at the ways you are spending your time, examining each of your most frequent activities and determining if they are really bringing value. If not, eliminate them or reduce the time you are spending on them. Which time wasters will be the first to go?

Next, you look at your possessions--especially the ones that require a lot of maintenance, or aren't providing enough value to justify the cost of keeping them. Which possessions are you willing to sacrifice?

Now, look at your relationships. Which ones are clearly beneficial, which are harmful, and which are somewhere in between? Which relationships should end? Which relationships are draining your emotional resources, and what can you do about it? Which neglected relationships could use some attention?

Take a deep breath and listen to your body. How high or low are your emotional and physical energy levels right now? Do you often find yourself drained or overly tired at the end of the day? What can you do to increase and maintain higher energy levels? What drains on your energy can and should be eliminated from your life?

Imagine how it would feel to be free of some of the burdens you are now carrying. Can you picture yourself smiling? Can you see yourself focusing only on the most important things? What are those most important things?

Picture yourself with enough time to exercise, relax, eat right, do work you enjoy, invest in your most important relationships, and engage in spiritual renewal. Imagine a world where there is always "enough"--enough time, enough energy, enough love, enough joy, enough money. When you live a simple life, the threshold for "enough" is lower, and you'll find yourself focusing more on what you have than what you don't have.

Picture yourself living and loving your new, simpler life. Picture yourself making changes--beginning today--that will eventually lead you there.