“Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” – Steve Jobs
“Why do you have to go and make things so complicated?” my 12-year-old self sings wild and free. Those words cannot ring more true for me than they do today. Avril Lavigne was my girl back in the day. My goodness, Let Go was the best album in the world (sarcasm). Obviously, I’ve lost track of her since then, but when I listen to Avril Lavigne’s song now, at the age of 28, I can’t help but just laugh at the lyrics pure blunt honesty.
When you think of a simple life, what comes to mind? No bills? No past grudges? No attachments to material possessions or expectations? In actuality, when we think of these things, our life just piles up into complication and becomes even more complex and torturous even with the word “no” put before them. So I will just stop.
Of course, if these things are bogging you down, you have a choice to not let them bog you down. At first, it might not seem that you have a choice. That you are stuck forever in the consumerist capitalist whatever “-ilst” system you live in. And while there is free will to do whatever is supposedly pleasant, there is a choice. It may be bland to stick with the boring simple life route, but it is worth it. Because these “pleasant” things will eventually fade. They will get boring. Things will get lost in the abyss of space and time. But again, you will be continuously reminded of that choice until you make a final decision. Once you make that decision to follow the path of your authentic self, the path you fear the most, the only path that you get the opportunity to experience in life, the magic you can create in this world is so perplexing. While “free will” seems like freedom, it will only lead you to the path that you are meant to be on in life, which is freedom on all levels of your being. Do you get my drift?
So what is a simple life? For me, living a simple life means smiling every day to myself and to the company that I keep. To listen to them and interact with them the best way I can at that moment. It means the ability to write on topics that intrigue the philosophical aspect of life and reading topics that uplift the human race. It means helping others and supporting them. It means being grateful for what I have, even if it may be a little. I have a whole range of things that make my life simple, but I won’t go into them.
“Our state of being is meant to be in elevation and worry free. Our life is meant to be enjoyed like a child enjoys their new life at every moment they are allowed to explore the world.”
Why is it common as we reach adulthood to lose touch of this power? The power to enjoy life simply, and enjoy the simple things in life? Well… as we get older, we get caught in the intricacies of life, of achieving this, of grasping this, graduating from here, of getting high or drunk out of this, of marriage and politics…of ongoing conflicts, arguments, and grudges. All of these have to do with the desire to be accepted, to find purpose, to experiment with our life before it ends. To control our path of life concerning what is “outside” of us.
Yet we were born with this natural ability; to enjoy life simply. Our life is meant to be naturally high without certain substances. We can heal and raise our state of being by ourselves. Our state of being is meant to be in elevation and worry-free. Our life is meant to be enjoyed like a child enjoys their new life at every moment they are allowed to explore the world. Look at the child smile, with curiosity, and see them smile for the simplest things so naturally. As cheesy as it sounds, every day is a brand new day of life. Every day you are reborn. You don’t need psychedelics or depressants to be psychedelic or cool or wide and carefree. You don’t need the latest gadget or item to be happy. I think, they only stress you out more, causing you to spend your money on codependency.
You, yourself, already have the power within you to be happy and free of stress with very little. You know this already; that your natural vibration is meant to be high, not low. Sometimes we will eff it up, and we will get into tough situations, but we are not meant to beat ourselves up about it or worry about them. Learn from it, or laugh at yourself, and keep on moving. See the good in it, forgive, and let go. From then on, make a decision wisely, one step at a time. And this natural vibration—this power, is liberating like no other. It is the power of love. True, unconditional love. The true unconditional love of yourself, of your situation, and the world you live in.
When we enjoy the simplicity of life when we see the picture above and notice the bright orange peel of the tangerine, the wood that made the table, and the single pine on the tree. Again, life doesn’t need a price tag or a law, to be enjoyed.
“Simplicity, is truly the essence of happiness. The simple life is seeing your own self as your best friend. The simple life is enjoying the company of others as they come and go. The simple life is seeing challenges not as punishment, but as learning experiences.”
The most precious touch we can feel is the beat of the child’s heart within all of us. Taking it slow and noticing the air you breathe and share with others, the steps you take along by yourself or with others, even the same natural unconscious actions like blinking. While it is such a simple tendency, we hardly even think about the act of blinking. We never take a moment to notice our blinks. Even for me, as I write this it is difficult to notice my eyelids blink. But my point is, that the moment we are taught to walk, we are taught to depend on the material world to bring us joy. Not on ourselves or the simple natural things in life. We are taught to give more love to others to make others proud (like your family, your nation) while forgetting what deep inside our true needs are. And as we grow into this type of frame of mind, of prestige and success and competition, of only having the best in material things, we may lose our opportunity to explore on our own, to have fun with other human beings who may have even little, yet smile as you do. We also lose the possibility to appreciate the unexpected events that can teach us to learn what actually may be good for us, such as gratitude.
To see what simple things we can find about on our own to expand knowledge and awareness is such an opportunity many are scared to endeavor. We are scared of failure, we are scared of losing things, we are scared of being alone. While I’m not ruling out all things in the material world, for material things can expand our joy and knowledge of life, it must be balanced. So it goes, in all things moderation.
But of course, no one wants to live a life of isolation. We are meant to be social. Nevertheless, when you are willing to take this path, this path of adventure that can leave you in aloneness and on your toes, you will notice that many people will cross your path as well and be by your side regardless. You might lose some friends, but there will be new friends to balance it out. You might lose some things, but there will always be those things to buy again if you truly feel it is necessary or part of who you are. They will resonate back to you in some shape or form. Some people might not like you, but it’ll leave time and space for the people that do. It will leave space for those who are interested in your story, in your experiences, in your authentic self. This is my philosophy, and that’s how the universe works in your favor. And this simple understanding is one enough to be grateful for.
Simplicity is truly the essence of happiness. The simple life is seeing yourself as your best friend. The simple life is enjoying the company of others as they come and go. The simple life is seeing challenges not as punishment, but as learning experiences that continue to keep you alive on this beautiful planet earth and help you grow. The simple life is being true to your true authentic self. The simple life is minimalistic. Can you define this without the influence of others? Have you explored this life, this world in pure solitude bliss? It might sound scary at first since no one wants to be alone. Everyone wants to be normal. I know, I know…we have a solid group of friends, we have family, a job that brings security, a paycheck that can buy a car or pay for a mortgage, I get it. But we do not belong to anything or anyplace or anyone. We don’t have to do anything. In truth, it is our destiny to find out what individual path we must take. And the things that truly resonate, will always stay on the same vibe with you. So it should be up to you and your intuition what you decide to do. Let it take you on a road never traveled before.
Because this post is about living a simple life, I will try to make suggestions for certain complicated life situations:
First off, if you love somebody, just say it to them. If someone loves you, yet you don’t feel that same type of love in return, tell them the truth, appreciate their fervor, thank them for their strength, and then set them free. Do not keep quiet or ignore them. Be free to show you appreciate their love at least and the time you have spent with each other.
Secondly, if you are annoyed with their “antics”, don’t make it complicated by complaining about them or thinking too much about their actions. Take a deep breath in silence and understand why. Try to place yourself in their position. As a result, it will breed a sense of honesty, patience, compassion, and awareness of who you (and all of us) are deep inside: a simple human being, meant to live a simple life. The unique path we are meant to pave ourselves might be challenging, and love might seem heavy at first, but that’s only because we are peeling away what made it complicated in the first place.
Once all the layers of fear have been peeled away, you are independent and free to give, receive, and to love without conditions and expectations. You will feel lighter and boundless. You stop worrying about fitting in, about seeking love outside of yourself. You are okay with yourself, by yourself, and to yourself. You have so much love within yourself, that you share the joy it brings to you with others. With this, you will begin to notice the joy of appreciating life in the present moment without living by all the goods, labels, names, and never-ending “-isms” that have been created to only keep us separated and strangled from reaching our highest potential.
So in the end, may you overcome whatever challenges you are facing and find the strength within so that happiness can resonate and shine through to make life simple. May the high vibe be with you freely (without a price tag) and abundantly, always. And may this message resonate to you simply and effortlessly as well.
All the best.
