How To Manifest A Simple Happy Life – The Power Of Streamlined Needs And Wants

“Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say let your affairs be as one, two, three and to a hundred or a thousand… We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without.” ~Henry David Thoreau

Written by Kevin Tyler Smith. You can follow me on Twitter or Facebook

Believe it or not, living a simple life can lead to more benefits and a happier disposition compared to trying too much to reach the usual lofty goals. The paradigm shift is that in life, you have to value simplicity enough to appreciate the small things.

You will discover that a life within and not beyond your means will open doors to an existence of joy and purity congruent to your higher awareness of self.

Everything around you will begin to unfold revealing a world in which you might not be accustomed thus giving you a clear awareness and appreciation of what is truly important.

Simplification is a learned habit through practice. Adopting this philosophy is easy but will take a little diligence to unwire how we as humans are hard wired by society to exist. Rest assured, you can manifest simplicity in your life without having to compromise your health, loved ones and personal happiness.

Here are some tips on how you can begin.

What is Simplicity?

Simplicity is being able to recognize or appreciate the simplest joys in life, may it be living in a small house, driving an old car or just talking to a loved one over the phone. You have to think and feel the very essence of the activity and focus on the simplest aspect to truly realize the worth of a certain person, thing or event.

For example:

• If you’re talking with someone, focus on the uniqueness of their voice and pour your heart into listening to their every word. Become their audience.
• If you’re at a movie theatre, immerse yourself into your cozy surroundings. Enjoy the comfort of your seat and the vivid colors, sound and creativity of the movie.
• If you are drinking tea, observe the warmth and taste of the tea. Feel the smoothness of the cup.

When you want to unwind or de-stress, there is no need to spend thousands of dollars going halfway around the world just to take a vacation. You may find that hanging out in your own room with a good book and a warm bed will suffice you just as much.

“The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest” ~Thomas More

Here are some of my favorite ways to escape and go on vacation. I focus on total immersion in the experience:

• Listen to my favorite music with my headphones
• Watch a good movie
• Solitude
• Read a good book – in solitude
• Look through a magazine
• Go for a walk
• Look out my window and daydream
• De-clutter and re-organize
• Look at old photos
• Sing
• Writing

Having Enough

Once you train yourself to be content with just having enough, anything beyond that will be a surplus to you. By osmosis, you will develop a giving and generous attitude which will benefit you at work, in the home and in other endeavors. For example, if you eat just enough to feel full, you will find that you can diet very easily if embarking on a fitness program or get to avoid the pitfalls of having excess weight or high cholesterol levels. You can avoid the risks and dangers that come with over indulgence.

Training Yourself

To learn the value of simplicity, think about your most basic needs like food, shelter, sleep and clothes. These are the only things you truly need in life to survive. You will also need some other things like security, friends, family and a sense of achievement. Think in terms of having these people or things in the barest sense. This means having just enough friends to guide you through and to motivate you during times of need or buying clothes that are sufficient to keep you warm and protected against the elements.

There is truly no sense in paying more or having more than what you truly need. You will find that maintaining these will only stress you more or cost you, especially monetarily, in the long run. If you have a very large house and live alone, you will have to spend much of your time cleaning and maintaining it. The bills are also going to multiply. If you have too many friends, you will find that you have to spend more time, money and effort to keep all of them close. Staying simple will give you your much needed time and eliminate stress accordingly.

When Making Goals

Being simple does not mean not having goals in life. You still need to set goals but the process of getting there needs to stay simple. If you want that promotion, work honestly and at your own pace. Do not overexert yourself nonstop trying to grab one promotion after the next. Be content in your current position and do everything with passion and zest. You will find that opportunities will just open up as you are doing this.

To get a foundational perspective on living a simple life, a good place to start is a book written by Joshua Becker.  This is a chronicle of lessons learned by Joshua and his family of four living in Vermont. This book is for the encouragement of those who just want to learn more about living simple:

Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles To Help Anyone Declutter Their Home And Life

Embrace a life of simplification starting today to manifest a deeper joy.

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*photo credit: Yuri van der Meer