Less, Less, More: How to Break Free and Live a Simple Life (Part 3)
Part 3: More Meaning
About a month after I launched Liv Simpl, I found out about the Zen Habits forum. One day, while perusing the forum, I came across a post by a man who was flat-out frustrated with simple living. It went something like this:
I’ve let go of most of my possessions, tried to focus on creating healthy habits and eliminate distractions, but I still feel lost and confused. I feel like simple living isn’t for me because I’m starting to miss my things. I really thought living simple would add meaning to my life, but nothing’s changed much. Am I missing something?
After reading that post, I realized this anonymous man was crying out for help. But, more poignantly, his words were probably echoed by many. How many of us seek the proverbial pot of gold at the end of our simple living journey? We all desire rich, meaningful lives, but simple living should be part of the process of finding meaning, not the solution.
Meaning comes from the heart. It’s something we find when we listen deeply and follow the sound. This may sound cliche’ but we all know it to be true. When we lament about seeking meaning, we’re really longing to be closer to our heart’s calling.
In Part 1, I talked about having less stuff in your life. Part 2 covered how to have less distraction. Now, in Part 3 it’s time to focus on meaning. But what does that mean exactly? It means what you want it to mean. I won’t pretend to tell you what meaning is for you, but I will share some inspiration for finding it.
Listening for Meaning
We do none of this for glory. We dump, we dig, we simplify to find our focus, to focus on what matters. Simple living becomes a path, a moving meditation. Each movement is in an effort to listen.
It’s easy to think that once you clear out the clutter and get rid of distractions you will find the answers. The truth is, that’s just the beginning. You get rid of all of that to make it easier to focus, to find your core. Once you find it, you have to listen.
Listening, however, can be terrifying. But if you want to get closer to your heart’s truth, it’s exactly what you must do.
- Listen to your imaginative child. The one who creates fantastic worlds in which to live.
- Listen to your higher self. The one who dreams big and perseveres.
- Listen to the path. Every road has a story. Your simple living journey is no different.
- Listen to the difficult times; their lessons will teach and inspire you later.
- Listen to the pain of letting go. A new you is being birthed.
Three Ideas for Finding Meaning
But what about practical ideas for hearing your inner voice? Well, there are three tried and true ways that I recommend.
- Travel – It’s no secret: travel is one of the best ways to quiet the noise of the world and get closer to finding meaning in your life. I recently had a conversation with a friend from Barcelona about this. He asked if I advised traveling with debt. My answer? Absolutely. I’m not advocating financial irresponsibility, but as long as you can pay your bills, get out in the world. Frankly, tomorrow is not promised. If you’re passionate about travel and you have the opportunity, go for it. You’ll not only expand your horizons, but you’ll also discover new things about yourself that you didn’t know were there, or possible!
- Volunteer – So what if travel isn’t in the budget, what else can you do to spark a sincere conversation with your heart? Volunteer. Last year I started volunteering in Chicago and, to be honest, I was not prepared for the emotional awakening that it brought. Working with people, giving back to those in need (and learning from them, too) has a way of showing you what’s truly important in life. If you’re not sure what organization you’d like to volunteer with, try several different ones. Volunteer in fields that interest you. It’ll help you figure out if that interest is a passion or a fleeting curiosity.
- Solitude – This is my favorite and it works so well with listening. Learning to spend quiet time with yourself is a sacred art that not many practice. Why not? Whatever your schedule or responsibilities, carve out some time for yourself, whether it’s a nice, quiet bath, a walk, time spent in the park, or just daydreaming after the kids are asleep. Get to know yourself better. You’ll be better and stronger for it.
Finding Your “Hell Yeah!”
How do you know when you’ve found something meaningful? It makes you say “hell yeah!”
Derek Sivers says there is no “yes.” His philosophy is that you should either say “Hell Yeah” or an emphatic “no” to things in your life. In fact, if you aren’t saying hell yeah to life, then you’ve got some changes to make. Take this to heart: You deserve to be ecstatic about the life you live!
Need some inspiration? Here are a few people who took a step closer to living a life that they can say hell yeah! about:
Jonathan Mead
I’ve been reading Jonathan’s blog for a little over six months now. He blogs to remind you that you are meant to create your own life…and he works tirelessly to create online tools and services that help you do just that. Check out his blog Illuminated Mind.
Nate Damm
When I first read about Nate’s walk across America, I was floored. I mean, I love to walk, but to literally walk across the country is something I don’t even conceive of doing. But Nate did. He gave up everything, laced up his shoes and decided to walk from Delaware to California. Now that his walk is over, he’s working on a book and blogging at NateDamm.com
Lisa Nicole Bell
Lisa describes herself as a producer. She’s also a dynamic speaker, filmmaker, blogger, and entrepreneur. She started her first company at 19 and has been blazing trails since. She writes to share inspiration, information and ideas with other passionate thinkers. To learn more visit her blog, Art Meets Commerce.
Tyler Tervooren
I’m fairly new to Tyler’s blog, Advanced Riskology, but I love what it’s about. He’s an adventurer who left a life of security for one of risk and uncertainty–and he’s thriving! He’s also on a quest to do scary things that only 1% of the world have accomplished.
Tools to Help You Find Meaning
On January 31, I’ll release my first guide, The Seven Pillars of Living Simple. In addition to providing guidance to living a simple, meaningful life, it will offer practical, easy to implement formulas for creating change and helping you find your “hell yeah.” Stay tuned for more details!
Also, coming up next month I’ll begin hosting free “virtual hangouts” where the you can meet other people from the LS community, discuss various aspects of simple living and share your strategies for finding meaning. I’m still deciding on the best platform, but I think it’s going to be Google Plus/Hangout. More to come!
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