Word of the year: Simplify

2021 is my year to simplify. 

I have been reading Deepak Chopra’s Book of Secrets, and he suggests that the world around you reflects the world within you. If you are surrounded by mess, quite likely this reflects a psychological disposition. 

Mess =

• Over committing

• Inner disorder

• Ignoring mundane details

• Fear of meeting obligations

My word of the year was selected because we were away for three weeks over the Christmas holidays. When we returned home the house looked like a bomb hit it because we left in such a rush. I realised just how much stuff we had. So many things were accumulating on all flat surfaces… yikes. 

My relaxed holiday mind was suddenly bombarded with mental overload. Because everything that was left out, was left out for a reason. Because I use visual cues as reminders. Returning home meant I was accosted by piles of energy that had been waiting to be dealt with. Looking around at my piles of stuff was simply exhausting.

Did you know that studies have shown that decluttering assists with creating a fresh clean start. According to Lifehack decluttering can:

• Lower stress

• Increase peace of mind

• Increase productivity

• Improve sleep

• Improve our lives

^{The Magic of Tidying Up}

Since this realisation I have been compelled to clean up and put things away. And I have realised through this process that having a tidy space is helpful for zen stitching. It is hard to feel zen when you look around and see piles of energy which are the equivalent of a ‘to do’ list. 

The beginning of the year is a time when we all make resolutions to improve ourselves and our environments. And I'm sure many of you are familiar with Marie Kondo and her book and netflix series ‘The Magic of Tidying Up’. 

I love her philosophy of keeping things only if they ‘spark joy’, and finding new homes for the things you no longer need.

But have you heard of the Marie Kondo effect that is also negatively impacting the environment? So many of us (particularly during Covid) have cleaned out our homes - donating things to second hand and good will stores. Whilst our intentions are good, it has actually led to a problem. According to the Wall Street Journal, a lot of this stuff isn't recycled, it is just thrown away because.

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Second hand stores have been inundated with mass quantities of dirty, worn-out clothes, ugly trinkets and unsellable appliances.

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And, whilst cleaning up is cathartic, it doesn't actually address the root of the cause: Our need or desire to purchase things in the first place. From an early age our desires are manipulated by fashion and big companies who want to sell their latest products. 

It's not until we understand that buying more doesn't equal happiness. Buying more just adds to our problems of overconsumption of Stuff. Once we gain control over our desires can we gain control over the stuff in our life.

^{Let your intuition guide you. You are what you’ve been looking for.}

Instead of being manipulated by big companies telling us we need the latest thing, we need to ask ourselves:

• Do I really need this?

• Or am I buying this to fill a hole in my life? 

*Tip - be compassionate with yourself. Realise that you are enough and that you don't need to buy something to make yourself feel better

Because, when we simplify, it's easy to amplify.

It's a Spiritual Law, the way things work.

Less is more.

What's one thing you are doing that you're ready to let go, or one way you can simplify?