DR PUSHPA CHATURVEDI shares simple, easy-to-do tips to live a simple, joyful life
Our incessant drive for happiness and fame through external, worldly means can be described by a vivid but rather unflattering phrase — the most stupid way of living. This way only complicates life and reflects how empty we are within.
This way neither benefits the individual nor his family or society, at large. On the contrary, it’s a liability, draining the individual physically, emotionally and spiritually. It confuses the mind, and eventually robs the victim of peace and happiness.
Why does this happen? The reason is really simple. True joy is not found in possessing worldly, material things but in giving freely to others, rather than selfish, personal acquisitions.
Be simple and think of simple but beautiful things. In fact, the concept of simple living and high thinking is the basic teaching of all religions. Simplicity, indeed, is the real way to happiness.
Simple living helps us to focus the mind on inner spiritual wealth and to shun desires and material pursuits. Then the mind stays uncluttered, as we learn to seek nothing more than essentials to live a healthy, happy and satisfied life.
By decluttering our lives, we set ourselves free and empower the Self. This creates a good, happy feeling. You must have noticed when you clean the space around you, you feel mentally and emotionally so much better. It brings in the much needed positive energy of balance and peace into all areas of life.
So, what all should we do to simplify our life?
There are no set principles, for it depends on each individual and what is really making his life complicated.
1. It could be the clutter in the mind of desires, the tendency to compare ourselves to others, jealousy or ego.
2. It could be the materialistic clutter in the house, which we keep on collecting to satisfy our ego and feeling of superiority.
3 Or it may even be a messy, unhealthy strained relationship which take aways our peace and happiness.
Modern life runs at such a fast pace that we all find ourselves with too much going on in our mind. We get caught up in ‘contaminated thinking,’ full of worries, fears anxieties and doubts. All this obscures our innate soul capacity for confidence, clarity, resilience and self-belief.
How then does one stop the contaminated negative thinking?
Build a clear and calm mind to help to stop the contaminated thoughts. To access this, firstly, we must practice total acceptance. Let go of any resistance and any expectations. Practice being with what is. By practicing total acceptance you develop absolute clarity and insight on how to respond to life.
In addition, practice mindfulness and meditation, which will go a long way in calming the mind. When we achieve calmness and stillness, we will reach a point when we experience confidence, calmness and clarity.
For most people, even starting the materialistic declutter process is overwhelming.
Emotions and sentiments come in the way of discarding things. At times one can’t decide if one will need the discarded things in the coming days.
But at the end of the day, it only makes sense to keep the things that actually serve a purpose, for example, in your home. With the clutter gone, you will be able to really appreciate what you have, and rarely do you miss what you got rid of. By discarding items you no longer use, you’re more likely to focus on the present than live in the past. Remember the present is all that is.
Tidying up our messy relationships is also an important part of making our life simple and mentally healthy. Stay away from negative people. Healthy relationships are not found easily, but can be built by commitment and willingness to accommodate each other’s needs.
Set and respect boundaries, listen more, talk less. Don’t try to control others. Express your feelings in a healthy way, shun anger and understand that hurt is the creation of your own thoughts.
You don’t have to win all battles — sometimes bowing out gracefully is victory.
I am sharing a few verses on the beauty of simplicity:
Simple Living is the only way to true happiness
You live a peaceful life, full of spirituality, and divine bliss!
There is peace, purity and beauty in simplicity
Those living a life of simplicity are indeed lucky
You struggle to possess each and everything
Later you realize you are not happy with anything
Simplicity is not about living in paucity or deprivation
It’s about living without embellishment
Which is ultimate sophistication
For best things in life are not ‘things’
They are divine simple ways of living
Remember ‘Less is more’ as more-ness only complicates
Confuses, compares, distracts and makes us heavy weights
Seek quality, eliminate clutter to protect your peace
More, drains away energy, emotion and robs your ease
What you focus on grows
Focus on simple living to the core
Don’t fall into the trap of others
Who tell you that you should have more
All Paintings by Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi
Featured Image: Less is more. Simple joyful village life.
Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi, a paediatrician with over 50 years’ experience, is an educationist and researcher, with over 100 research publications, mainly on social paediatrics in renowned medical journals. Ex-Professor and Head of Department of Paediatrics, MGIMS Sevagram, Wardha, she is a thinker, writer, poet, artist and a spiritual blogger with over 500 blogs to her credit. Dr Chaturvedi is also a keen traveller, music and nature lover.