Living Simply
by L. Kay Smith
For me Living Simply is a function of gratitude. Gratitude for what I have and Gratitude for what I don’t have. When I appreciate what I have I don’t need more, and if I don’t’ need more than I am not in a constant state of upheaval looking for more, for what I have is enough. This moment is enough. This place is enough. Feeling enough, allows me to accept what I have and what I don’t have. It keeps me from comparisons of myself to others. It allows me to remember I am enough. We are all enough.
Finding contentment in the everyday of life, allows me full expression of myself, allowing myself to feel the light breeze of a day, a ray of sunshine, the beautiful deep hue of a flower, the perfection in a blade of grass, laughter with a friend. This is Living Simply, our relationship to the world around us. Our appreciation of simply living…embracing and surrendering to the moment we are in.
This isn’t necessarily a function of how much money you have in the bank, although money in the bank can bring with it a level of safety and contentment. It depends on your perspective. Are you coming from enough, or not enough? If you are coming from a perspective of not enough than no matter how much you have in the bank, it will never be enough, and you will never find a place of contentment with it. Because it is not a function of how much you have, it is a function of how much you perceive you have. It is your perception.
Having said this let me publish a brief disclaimer, I am not advocating an unrealistic approach to finances, and there are some general rules to follow. Financial policies and plans are meant to establish sound finances and peace of mind.
When I build peace of mind into my daily living, I am grateful for the day. And when we are grateful for the day, we touch everyone around us with our gratitude. Living gratefully is living simply. So, how do you build gratitude, well with use. You have to choose it.
With recent economic events there is opportunity; opportunity for living simply. Opportunity for embracing simple pleasures and placing our focus on the joys we have. It is an art form to live simply without clutter and noise.
As a coach I often ask clients to tell me what they value in their own life, so we may align their finances with their life values. What do you value in your own life? Is it your possessions? Or is it your relationships with yourself, your higher power, your dear ones, your friends? It is tangible or intangible?
We can get so caught up in the mirage of life, we forget we are actually living one. And then we lose sight of the simple pleasure of being healthy and alive. What are your simple pleasures? When was the last time you enjoyed them?
Give yourself the gift of life and enjoy a simple moment of pleasure today! Breathe in the goodness of your life and just be with it.
(c) Copyright Loreine Smith published with permission by New Moon Sisters Inc.
