People's lives are too jam-packed with projects, goals,
ideas, coulds, shoulds, have to's, commitment, concerns and
obligations. Who can truly live with all we have to do? Enter the
Simplification process.
In this lesson, you will be simplifying 10 aspects of your life,
like it or not. You probably already know which items you're going
to cut out, streamline or simplify, but first look at the list below
for some ideas.
Key Points
1. We are naturally drawn to keep ourselves and our lives
complicated and busy. This occurs for several reasons:
We were raised with the mentality that working hard is the
solution to success.
· The mind (our ego) needs something to do so it directs us to do
stuff or create situations that keep it in business.
· If you watch television, drink caffeine, smoke or have an
adrenaline addiction, your body cannot let itself rest and keeps you
moving, whether you want to or not.
2. Much of the media or our own sub-culture has affected us more
than we know. What we want, how we live and what's most important is
in our memes (ideas, head) which function and replicate/mutate just
like our genes do. We end up not being the person running/creating
our lives, yet we don't realize this until we simplify.
3. The simplification process threatens us in many ways. You may
experience physical and emotional symptoms of withdrawal (like any
other addict) as you slow down and simplify your life. Just
remember, boredom is usually the gateway to peace.
Ask Yourself..
1. Why is my life so busy? Why have I chosen to do so much?
2. What am I building with my current lifestyle? Is there a
future to it? Is that future costing me my present?
3. What am I missing out on about myself because of my current
lifestyle?
Benefits of Simplifying Your Life
1. You will get back in touch with you and your values, feelings
and soul that simply were not available when you were so busy.
2. You will start to make different types of choices than those
you made "on the run."
3. You will begin to practice extreme self-care because you see
and feel the costs of not doing so.
4. You will not tolerate others who's lives are not their own.
Coaching Tips
1. It's helpful to understand that your life is perfect right
now, even if it is too busy or not even your life. Really. It may
not be what you want, but it is perfect and every aspect of your
life is well coordinated to serve you.
2. When you start to simplify your life, expect a reaction from
your "systems." Things will start to break, you will get confused,
opportunities and people will disappear, your somewhat predictable
life will start zig zagging, you may get headaches and perhaps get a
cold (this is your body/cells reacting to the change of style and
pace), your priorities will change, you'll wonder who you are and
what you're doing. Then it gets better.
3. You can select the pace at which you want to simplify your
life. You can do this overnight by tossing out 50% of your projects,
or you can phase out commitments, shoulds, goals and tasks over a
six-month period. We recommend that you take dramatic simplification
steps just to tell yourself and others that this is the track that
you are now on. If you do this process gradually, you may never
create momentum.
4. We do what we do because we have nothing better to do. When
you find something better to do, you will naturally stop wasting
your time. So, you may want to work on Values, Buff, or some of the
higher-end lessons which will give you better things to do, thus
"forcing" a simplification of your life more quickly.
Your job now is to permanently cut out 3 projects, tasks,
responsibilities, shoulds, coulds, wants, goals, habits or routines
that are not necessary. By not necessary, things that are being done
"in order to" get something else (like volunteering in order to get
business), things you used to enjoy (but have outgrown) and things
that you don't think your life should be without although you've
made it this far just fine (spouse, Mercedes, published author, size
8/32 inch waist).
I suggest that you pick the goals and projects that you say you
are most committed to/can't live without. These are often the energy
suckers that hold you back in your life.
This lesson was an exert from the Personal Foundation program
For more information about this concept and many more you may be
interested in the original work of Personal Foundation that can be
found in his book "The Portable Coach"
