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A Work in Progress

© Mari Brodersen

"Why Can't I Simplify My Life, Once and for All?"

"I've tried to simplify my life, but somehow it's gotten all cluttered up again."

"I tried doing what my friend (or a book) suggested, but I can't seem to to get my life on a simpler track."

"I can't stay simplified."

Many of us are motivated to simplify our lives and often often reach a point where we can allow ourselves to think, At last! I'm living simply. Things go along pretty well, but then something happens . . . We wake up one morning and discover that our lives are not as simple as we thought they were, or we seemed to have slipped back into a non-simplified mode.

Why We Simplify in the First Place

This is a quick revisiting of reasons for simplifying our lives. See my February 14, 2001, article Questions for the Journey for more details.

Some of us find ourselves in a situation where we are forced to simplify in order to survive. Illness, retirement, or losing a job can cause us to look for ways to reduce expenses - which will indeed simplify our lives.

Others, who have plenty of money, choose to simplify because we have become disillusioned with chasing after things. We know that something is missing from our too-busy lives. We may want to spend more time with our families, to explore our creative interests, or to get rid of the clutter we have acquired over the years.

Some of us simplify our lives because we want to live off the land and become self-sufficient. Or we just want to "walk lightly" on the earth.

Yet others of us feel that we have been living in a way that is not true to our values. We have become disillusioned with a consumer society's "shoulds" and "oughts," and we have begun to discover our own set of values which make more sense to us.

All these reasons, and many more, are valid ones for seeking to live more simply. Speaking of which: What are your reasons for wanting to simplify? Are they compatible with, and reflect, your own goals and priorities? What on earth does "simple living" mean to you?

Once we have answered honestly these questions, we can decide how to begin the process of learning to live according to our values.

Life's Surprises

Scenario: We've managed to arrange our lives so that they reflect what is truly important to us. Things go well . . . for a while. Perhaps we make a planned change in our lives, such as graduating college or having a baby. These changes rearrange our priorities and values, and we need to find a new equilibrium for livng simply.