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Questions For the Journey

© Mari Brodersen

We have discussed kairos time briefly. Perhaps some of you are thinking, "But what does it all mean? What does kairos time have to do with living simply?" In this article, I will attempt to answer these questions.

We most often engage in the gentle flow of kairos time when we do something that we truly enjoy, something that seems to spring naturally from our hearts. An artist's work will take her or him into kairos time. A well-written book carries many of us into kairos time. The activity per se does not matter. The major ingredient is the activity's importance and meaning to the person performing it.

When we do something that "speaks" to us and flows from our hearts, and consequently allows us to momentarily live in kairos time, we are true to our innermost Selves. And being true to Self is where living simply begins.

Those of us who desire to live simply want our lives to reflect what we most value. We wish to be faithful to our innermost Selves, for that is where true serenity and centeredness reside. In order for us to make a conscious decision to live simply, we must first know our Selves and our true priorities (not those that may have been imposed upon us by others). The next step of our journey begins with the question, "What matters most to me?"

This question does not require a quick answer. To the contrary, it may involve a great deal of thought, and the answer may be unique to you. "What matters most to me?" What takes you into kairos time? What nurtures your soul? What brings you joy, nourishes your body, makes you feel balanced?

Another closely related question is: "What are my goals for my life?" When you are 90 years old and looking back over your life, what would you like to say you did with your life? How do you want others to remember you?

Once you have answered these questions, there will be more: "How much time and energy do I now devote to the things that I truly value? How much do I devote to meeting my goals?" Your answers may surprise you!

Those answers bring a profound question in their wake. "How can I align my life more closely with my values and goals?" The key here is balance. Living simply should not be an excuse to quit your job or leave your family. Rather it is an awareness of your life's "big picture" and where imbalances occur. Even more, it brings a willingness to create the life you want.

The copyright of the article Questions For the Journey in Living Simply is owned by Mari Brodersen. Permission to republish Questions For the Journey in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.