“Keep only those things that speak to your heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service—then let them go.”
— Marie Kondo, author, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Life’s Great Balancing Act
For years, the American dream was epitomized by more, bigger, better, and faster. No longer. Quality of life is more important. Masses of us are looking for a slice of life that’s simpler, easier, happier, and more straightforward—a return to a simple, authentic and honest life. As one of the most influential movements of our day, voluntary simplicity can be a radical act in these consumer-driven, materialistic times. It encourages us to slow down, pay attention, reduce clutter, and find our natural rhythm in a speed-crazed world. With this, we experience a greater sense of life fulfillment—leading to reduced stress, enhanced wellbeing, improved relationships, heightened creativity, a stronger sense of purpose, and increased financial freedom.
Webster’s Dictionary states that simplicity is “the state of being simple, not complex, uncomplicated…” It’s that, of course, and so much more. It’s about identifying what truly matters to us, creating a life of meaning, and living our values.
Voluntary simplicity is not about deprivation, but rather about living with intention, about spiritual/personal growth, ecological awareness, lessening consumption habits, cultivating community, and creating balance—to live more fulfilling lives and contribute to a more sustainable world. All so liberating!
In essence, the goal isn’t to simply live with less, but to unburden oneself and create space for the things that truly matter in our lives.
A simpler lifestyle might look slightly different for each of us, but the common thread is we have a clear idea of what’s important and the confidence to remove the distractions and clear the clutter obscuring it.
The Evolution of Simple Living
Popularized by Thoreau as a robust movement in the late 1800s, it’s arguably been around since 300BC when Greek philosopher Epicurus advocated simple, moderate living.
More than a century after Thoreau, hippie counterculture brought a voluntary simplicity vibe to the 1960s and early ’70s, with its rejection of material goods and embrace of communal living and back-to-the-land movement. John Lennon was urging fans to “imagine no possessions,” in his song “Imagine.”
Duane Elgin’s 1980s book with current version titled Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich informed new generations and solidified this movements raison d’etre—emphasizing the conscious choice to reduce consumption and refocusing on non-material sources of satisfaction.
Then came Marie Kondo’s NYT bestseller, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, a powerful addition to the voluntary simplicity canon—urging readers to purge possessions weighing them down, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Her advice: “Keep only those things that speak to your heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service—then let them go.”
Simply Living, Living Simply
Zen teacher Leo Babauta says, “Simplicity boils down to two steps: Identify the essential, eliminate the rest.” A simpler lifestyle might look slightly different for each of us, but the common thread is we have a clear idea of what’s important and the confidence to remove the distractions and clear the clutter obscuring it. This “clutter” can take various forms, including physical possessions, dead-end relationships, too many commitments, and even negative thought patterns. By focusing on the essential, we can gain more time, energy, and money to pursue what truly brings us joy.
Choosing Less, Living More: A Guide to Voluntary Simplicity
Develop a Spiritual Practice. Cultivating mindfulness, which is the spiritual practice of being present in the moment, is key. As we become more present, we slow down and create space for practices such as meditation, prayer, journalling, and bathing in nature.
Consciousness is the birthplace of change. This heightened awareness allows us to appreciate the beauty of everyday experiences over possessions and cultivate gratitude for what we have. Meditation is the prime training method to become more mindful, thus respond consciously to every facet of our lives, rather than mindlessly reacting.
Mindful, simple living fosters generosity and compassion. When not consumed by our own needs and desires, we’re more likely to be attuned to the needs of others and act with kindness and empathy. Mindfulness allows us to reclaim time and invest in what truly matters—our health, relationships, and passions.
Let nature be a balm for your soul. Caring for and spending time in nature is a powerful way to connect with something larger than oneself and experience a sense of awe and wonder. Go into a natural setting at least once a week or more (every day is even better), away from crowds, traffic, dense city environments.
Take a walk. Make it a moving meditation. In taking to the neighborhood, road, forest, or shore, we’re limited, at least temporarily, to the simple and comforting contact with what’s immediately around us, what’s real and true. You might think of walking as the repopulating of your soul with images from real life instead of those taken from magazines, the internet, or TV.
Be well rested. Our chronically sleep-deprived society is an enormous problem, greatly impacting every aspect of our lives. Sleep is indispensable for the experience of “enoughness” in our lives. It’s the basis for clear awareness during waking hours and determines more than any other factor the overall quality of our days. We can only make the most life affirming choices when well rested.
Connect with like-minded people/communities who want to simplify their lives. Form a simplicity circle, or any kind of circle or club for that matter, that supports engaging yet simple activities.
Set boundaries and practice saying no. I’m fond of saying, “Describe what kind of life you want (to live) and then say no to everything that isn’t that.” Say no to things that don’t bring you inner peace and fulfillment, whether more things, social commitments, career responsibilities, etc.
Consider consumption habits. By simplifying our lives, we break free from the cycle of consumerism and materialism—which for many is an addiction. This liberation allows us to focus on what truly matters, such as spiritual development, personal growth, relationships, creative endeavors, service to humanity, and more.
When making a purchase ask yourself, is this a “need” or a “want?” Ask yourself why you’re buying it. Remember that the more stuff we have, the more energy it takes to maintain. And the lower our bank balance too! Inventory material possessions and recycle or discard as needed. Don’t let any material thing come into your home/environment unless you absolutely love it and want to keep for the rest of your life or until it’s beyond repair.
Think about energy consumption to lower eco-footprint. Consider smaller, sustainably built homes. Live in a home with only those rooms that you/family members use every day. Drive less. Consider a home and workplace no more than 30 minutes from each other. Consider the 5 R’s of sustainability: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and then recycle.
Think about how you consume media. Switch your smartphone off, or place out of sight unless you have need for it to be on. Go on a news fast regularly. Watch TV consciously to enjoy a specific program or for a set period of time to unwind. Enjoy documentaries that engage and enlighten. Rediscover the joy of reading. Choose personal development, inspirational/spiritual books or memoirs of people you admire. Read books that explore societal issues.
Prepare your own meals and eat real food. Knowing what we eat is like knowing where our life comes from. What’s more simple, more important or life-sustaining than the sacred act of preparing our own food? This is such a simple, intimate, hands-on ritual for considering the meaning and value of our lives. Grow some of your food. Even if you live in an apartment, use the balcony to grow some lettuce, strawberries, or herbs. How does a dried-up old seed turn into food? It’s pretty magical.
And remember. Be patient. Give yourself grace. Living simply isn’t accomplished in a few weeks, or even a few months. It can take an initial period of a few years to make the basic changes (that will stick) toward a life of simplicity. Small gradual steps are common, while refinements and adjustments are ongoing. And that’s okay! Gradually educating ourselves, shifting our beliefs and aligning our lives with our values will initiate the changes to get into a true voluntary simplicity groove.
