More is not necessarily better

Somewhere along the way many of us received the message that “more” is better in this life. We should strive to get more, to do more, and be more. While that is fine for some people I firmly believe it is just one way, not “the” way to success and “the good life”.

Each of us has to define our own path in life and often it will not match up to what someone else is doing or believes you should be doing.

What if you chose to slow down, do less, stay where you are indefinitely simply because that is what makes you happier.

Have you ever had the instinct to just sit and do nothing and relax, maybe even staring off into the distance? Have you followed that up with a feeling of guilt because you felt you were wasting time and should be getting some things done? Did you ever have someone catch you in this mode and ask you if everything was “allright” – as if looking out and simply pausing meant something might be “wrong”.

You can let go of the need to fill in time to be “productive” and instead feel the joy in having nothing to do today/this hour, but what your instinct tells you to do. There is always tomorrow or later, you can simply “be” for now.

You can do less and be more.

 

Have you ever felt the pressure to “upgrade” in your life?

You might have been happy in your small home, but felt the next step was to get a bigger house now that you could afford it or had more kids. You might live in a nice area and feel you needed to have a nicer car to match your home – even though you just think of a car as transportation rather than an extension of yourself. You might have been happy with your work or business, but were fielding questions and opinions about growing your business or going after a promotion.

The message is often you need to keep growing and get bigger, earn more, move up a virtual ladder. You can choose to stop where you are and be fulfilled and happy. You may even find a time that is right for you to grow and achieve more. Saying no now does not necessarily mean saying no forever. There is not just one window of time for each of us to achieve or define our dreams.

You can settle into a few favourite things and simplify decision making. We often have too many choices now – huge supermarket aisles filled with variety, bigger wardrobes we add to every season, Internet searches to add endless variations on anything we want to buy or do or read.

You can know and have less and appreciate and use more.

Each of us has a different point to reach that equals satisfaction. It is okay to be satisfied with what you have and not strive for more all the time. There is a level of peace that comes with being okay with everything just as it is. You let go of so much striving and a focus on what is not yet. You gain time, energy, connections, clarity and contentedness. You can say no to opportunities and requests. You can say no to whatever does not work for you – even if it works for every other person you know.

 

 

 

Where have you been happier with less? Have you ever thought you were giving up something and found you gained in the end?

 

Find your simple,

Deb

 

Image credit: by flickr user jbtaylor

Tagged as: letting go, values