Janine L. Moore. Author. Career Counselor. Workshop Facilitator. Janine shows how Simplicity can move you closer to your dreams. Visit her website: www.WorkOnYourOwnTerms.com to download her Free eBook: Create Career Joy! It will help get you started on your ideal work path. |
The True Value of Voluntary Simplicity
Although the voluntary simplicity movement has been around for some time, many people underestimate its true value. Simplicity is about making conscious choices. It is not about a life of deprivation. It can be the most direct path to live your dreams.
Ponder this quote from Hans Hoffman:
The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.
3 benefits to choosing ‘the simple life’
1] Lowers stress brought on by clutter
Are your closets over-flowing? Living with clutter can produce anxiety. It makes it hard to relax. Our eyes and brain get over-stimulated. Ever gone into a crowded shopping mall and left with nothing because you were overwhelmed by the number of choices? Having fewer choices can instill calm.
Deciding what to wear becomes much more relaxing when all you have in your closet are items that fit, that you love, and enjoy wearing. Sell or donate anything you currently own that doesn’t match this prescription. You can follow a similar process with every room in your house. Keep only what you use and enjoy.
2] Lowers expenses and saves money
We live in a consumer society that is always calling on us to: Buy! Buy! Buy! We keep being fed the line that if we want to keep growing the economy, we’d better go shopping. In the next breath, we’re told consumer debt is at an all-time high and we’ll never be able to retire or live our dreams.
Following the previous tip – buying only what you need, love and will use, can really cut down on impulse buying and advertiser manipulation. Your friends won’t shun you because you’re not buying the latest ‘hot item.’ If they do, they’re not your real friends anyway. Buying less can preserve your money for what you really want.
3] Helps to focus on priorities
Simple living is about making deliberate choices. It means taking yourself off autopilot so you can consciously choose how you want to live. Observe the number of people who live a zombie-like existence. They’re going through the motions of their day without realizing they have a choice in everything they do. Ride a subway train during rush hour and you’ll see a lot of this. Is this their priority?
How you define simple living will differ from me. It will be based on your values and priorities. It is about answering the call of what’s truly important to you – instead of what’s urgent. The difference? Does a ringing phone at mealtime seem urgent? Is conversation over dinner more important? You decide. Your priorities are what fuel your fire – what you are passionate about – what you long for. Answer your calling and then spend and save in a manner that serves your soul. No distractions.
Copyright © 2014 Janine L. Moore
Like this article and want to re-post it? I’d be honored! Please include the information below. Thank-you.
Janine explores these issues further in her book, Work On Your Own Terms in midlife & beyond. She has been a Career Counselor for more than 20 years and loves to help Boomer women get truly excited about their work! It drives her crazy when she sees people sending out endless Resumes and Cover Letters for jobs they won’t enjoy.
Although the voluntary simplicity movement has been around for some time, many people underestimate its true value. Simplicity is about making conscious choices. It is not about a life of deprivation. It can be the most direct path to live your dreams.
Ponder this quote from Hans Hoffman:
The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.
3 benefits to choosing ‘the simple life’
1] Lowers stress brought on by clutter
Are your closets over-flowing? Living with clutter can produce anxiety. It makes it hard to relax. Our eyes and brain get over-stimulated. Ever gone into a crowded shopping mall and left with nothing because you were overwhelmed by the number of choices? Having fewer choices can instill calm.
Deciding what to wear becomes much more relaxing when all you have in your closet are items that fit, that you love, and enjoy wearing. Sell or donate anything you currently own that doesn’t match this prescription. You can follow a similar process with every room in your house. Keep only what you use and enjoy.
2] Lowers expenses and saves money
We live in a consumer society that is always calling on us to: Buy! Buy! Buy! We keep being fed the line that if we want to keep growing the economy, we’d better go shopping. In the next breath, we’re told consumer debt is at an all-time high and we’ll never be able to retire or live our dreams.
Following the previous tip – buying only what you need, love and will use, can really cut down on impulse buying and advertiser manipulation. Your friends won’t shun you because you’re not buying the latest ‘hot item.’ If they do, they’re not your real friends anyway. Buying less can preserve your money for what you really want.
3] Helps to focus on priorities
Simple living is about making deliberate choices. It means taking yourself off autopilot so you can consciously choose how you want to live. Observe the number of people who live a zombie-like existence. They’re going through the motions of their day without realizing they have a choice in everything they do. Ride a subway train during rush hour and you’ll see a lot of this. Is this their priority?
How you define simple living will differ from me. It will be based on your values and priorities. It is about answering the call of what’s truly important to you – instead of what’s urgent. The difference? Does a ringing phone at mealtime seem urgent? Is conversation over dinner more important? You decide. Your priorities are what fuel your fire – what you are passionate about – what you long for. Answer your calling and then spend and save in a manner that serves your soul. No distractions.
Copyright © 2014 Janine L. Moore
Like this article and want to re-post it? I’d be honored! Please include the information below. Thank-you.
Janine explores these issues further in her book, Work On Your Own Terms in midlife & beyond. She has been a Career Counselor for more than 20 years and loves to help Boomer women get truly excited about their work! It drives her crazy when she sees people sending out endless Resumes and Cover Letters for jobs they won’t enjoy.