S
implicity is the result of successfully eliminating from your
life that which tends to complicate it. Whether it is in the
food you eat, the clothes you wear, or the way you keep
your house; living simply has enormous benefits on your
state of health and wellbeing. Because clutter serves to
confuse, and hoarding harbours envy, relying on material things
for happiness is sure to keep you from experiencing maximum
enjoyment out of life. Marie Kondo, author of The Life Changing
Magic of Tidying Up, believes getting rid of physical items that do
not bring joy to your life is paramount for living happily ever after.
We all know how good it feels to finally clean out an overstuffed
closet or ditch the piles of magazines growing cobwebs in the
corners of our bedroom. This instantly gratifying feeling of getting rid
of old, stagnant, useless items indeed sparks joy, as Kondo suggests.
Your house is no different than your mind. In fact, clutter in
your life reflects the clutter in your head. You may spend hours
simplifying your sock drawer by tossing the unmatched pairs, but
unless your mind is clear, your life will not be so simple.
Practice the following meditation to get rid of all that robs you of
joy. Clear out the stacks of regret collecting dust in the corners of
your mind. Sweep away negativity. Dump the trash talk from your
anxious thoughts. Do a little tidying up of your brain and create
space for happiness to take residence.Do it now
Do this meditation first thing in the morning. Refrain from listening
to the radio, reading the news, or watching television until you’ve
completed the following practice.
Begin in a comfortable position. Bring your attention to the
thoughts coursing through your brain. When a thought comes in,
label it, and file it. For example, perhaps you are thinking about
what to bring to a dinner party next week. Label it as “not yet
needed” and file it away. If thoughts do not bring you joy, such as
thoughts of remorse or pessimism, delete them. Continue until
your mind contains only thoughts that instil peace and clarity.
The art of simplification is its own reward. When simplicity
occurs both in your house and in your mind, the space created
can only be flooded with all the joys money cannot buy. May
your existence be stuffed full of immeasurable and non-
materialistic pleasures.Jill Lawson is a writer and yoga teacher enjoying life on the island of
Maui in Hawaii ( jilllawson.net)meditation of the month: om mind