My Favorite Simple Living Principle
Over the years, I’ve discovered many simple living principles. Some of my favorites include
- Gratitude
- Generosity
- Intentionality
- Community
- Releasing consumerism
When my family chose to simplify our lives, we did so because our excess possessions had become a burden and our day-to-day routines were not working for our family in the stage of life we were in (with young children). We intentionally let go of what wasn't working in search of less stress and more joy. While these principles (and many others) were not things we specifically set out to achieve, they have undoubtedly been a welcome benefit of simplifying.We are still very much on our simplicity journey. We view simplifying as an ongoing process, a way of living in which we incorporate the above plus many other simple living principles into our lives. There is one simple living principle that has become my favorite over the years.It is the principle of white space.
Clear. Open. Room. To. Breathe.
Where the mind can rest.
Space between the things we USE and the activities we LOVE.
The key to incorporating this into your life is to ALLOW THE VOID TO REMAIN EMPTY. Every space does not have to be filled.We’ve discovered that in our search for freedom, space is what we’ve craved. In hindsight, I now realize that this is what has brought me peace throughout my life.Clear surfaces.Time between commitments.Space to create.Space to recharge.And space to just absorb the symphony of life around me.For it’s in this space that I’m provided with the opportunity to see what matters most. The people in the room. The things that bring a smile to my face. And the activities that fill me with joy.I talk about this principle a lot when I work with clients and present to groups. And although it’s sometimes initially met with resistance since we’ve been led to believe that we need to fill every void, I find that it ends up being a favorite principle throughout the simplifying process.In a previous post, I shared a simple way to start simplifying, which I encourage you consider. Then once you’ve started doing that, I invite you to sit with the concept of white space and consider these 5 questions:
- Is there white space in your home?
- Is there white space in your days?
- Where could a bit of white space bring you peace?
- Where might you leave an empty shelf in your home?
- How could 10 minutes of white space in your day bring you joy?
Once you have some ideas, take action and create that white space. Then savor the openness and resist the urge to fill it.I’d love to hear how this experiment works for you. Send me an email and let me know or leave a comment and share with others!Wishing you simplicity and joy,Lisa