The Simple Life~~

The older I get, the more I value the beauty of simplicity. Life for me is not about constantly acquiring more, but instead letting go of things that no longer serve me. The pursuit of materialism is a never-ending endeavour. The more you have, the more you want and the more you have to lose.

There is a beauty in appreciating the finer things in life, without needing constant external distraction. I am usually at my most spiritually balanced when I am able to sit in total uninterrupted silence, without the involvement of the mind and without feelings of restlessness or boredom.

If I get impatient with the present moment and let my mind wander towards what I could be doing instead which is ‘more stimulating’, then I know that there is something internally that is not being addressed.

The more external stimulation we seek, the more likely it is that we are trying to run away from ourselves. We should be able to live as animals do, completely at one with our external environment, without any expectations or attachment. This does not mean that we stay passive, apathetic or uninvolved; it simply means that we know when the right time is to take action and when the right time is to surrender and let go. This is how we balance or inner masculine and feminine.

As soon as we start thinking that ‘I will be happier when I’ve got this or that’ then we have already lost. Gratitude is the key. What we appreciate, appreciates. This may sound like just another spiritual platitude, but there is a raw truth embedded within this, which I have discovered to be true through personal experience.

Gratitude is truly the gateway towards happiness. One only needs to look at children in third world countries. Despite living in abject poverty, often struggling to put food or water on the table, living in cramped and unsanitary conditions, rife with disease; they still know how to smile, to sing, to dance, to fill themselves with joy and happiness. We can learn a lot from this.

In the more ‘developed’ western nations, we have been so accustomed to a life of convenience and luxury, that we have forgotten how to strip back to the basics. Our attention span and desire for immediate gratification has rendered us largely incapable of enjoying things which don’t require money, pleasure, instant hits of dopamine or even people.

Even the most seemingly ‘mundane’ tasks (cooking, cleaning, walking, gardening) can be enjoyed when met with total presence and appreciation. By slowing down and bringing awareness to each act, we can bathe in the joy of simply being alive.

Most people see ‘nature’ as a place to go to, perhaps if it’s sunny enough or dry enough or close enough. Labelling nature as if it is something that is separate from us, epitomises our disconnection from both the wider ecosystem and ourselves (the two are intrinsically connected). Where technology was once a temporary escape from the outside world, the outside world has now become an escape from technology. Offline has become the new luxury.

When we step outside the Matrix bubble and immerse ourselves deeply back into the natural world, we can find a raw beauty, humility and peace that is almost impossible to match in the fast-paced, synthetic and superficial city life.

By becoming intimate again with the natural elements and paying attention to the finer details, we will quickly realise that nature provides everything we need. There is so much diversity and complexity in the plant and animal kingdom that we couldn’t possibly get bored if we truly knew how to connect.

Take a walk out in nature by yourself and you will discover that you are not truly alone. Magic is all around us, patiently waiting to be discovered. The world reveals its secrets only to those with the eyes to see and hearts to feel.

Be content with less. Don’t be a slave to your money or possessions. Stop comparing yourself with others. Embrace solitude. Stop striving for perfection. Focus on what is good and not how things can be better. These simple, yet profound lessons will get you further than any amount of material wealth can.~