A few months ago, I read a brilliant post by Emily Freeman which resonated with me—and it might do the same for you. She challenged her readers:
“I’ve had to ask myself the question again — Are you willing to do less and be more? Not just on the outside, but within?”
Before you answer the question, I’m not leading the witness like you think I am. I don’t expect you to jump right in and provide the noble answer.
Take some time to think about the question she asked herself. The question, that in some capacity, I seem to be asking myself every day. And maybe it’s the question that deep down you’ve been thinking about as well.
The More of Less in the Movies
For those of you who’ve seen the movie He’s Just Not That Into You, you may recall the scene where Mary (Drew Barrymore) is talking with Anna (Scarlett Johansson) in the supermarket, and confesses she was just dumped:
“And now you just have to go around checking all these different portals just to get rejected by seven different technologies. It’s exhausting.”
I spend a lot of time each day on the internet, answering blog comments, responding to email, following folks on Twitter and updating Facebook.
Aside from the actual time it takes me to do all of this, it’s the psychological impact of social media that is dangerous to my soul. I feel that if I’m not checking things, I might miss something or forget to reply to something.
I’ve always been a contemplative person, and have always loved Thoreau. He was intentional with his efforts, and that is something many of us fail to do.
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
I’m good at doing a lot of things, and I do many of them well. The problem for me, however, is that I can easily fill my schedule with stuff, and at the end of the day feel accomplished. My biggest failure is while I do a lot, I’m not great at just being me.
Experiencing the More of Less
A couple summers ago I spent a week in La Jolla, California and had some time alone. I love nature, so it was easy for me to “be” during those moments.
While my time there was enjoyable, it stayed there, and didn’t follow me home. When I got back, it was rinse and repeat all over again. Wake up, do work, read things, code themes, make calls, etc — where’s the just “be” in there?
Today I’d like to issue you a challenge, and it’s the same one I’m issuing myself. Let’s live deliberately and ask ourselves the question that Emily did:
“Am I (really) doing less, and being more?”
I don’t know what you do to escape reality or where you go to find refuge. But whatever it is, or wherever it is … FIND IT.
Go the beach and listen to the waves crash. Go to the mountains and run them. Turn on that song and listen to it. Pick up that book and read it.
Whatever it is … JUST DO IT.
The More of Less by Joshua Becker
Speaking of doing less and being more, this past week Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist made a very special announcement:
“In less than 6 weeks, my best book ever, The More of Less will be released and available in bookstores all around the country (and eventually the world).”
He also has a special gift for anyone who pre-orders the book: free access to his 12-week Uncluttered Course (an $89 value).
Here are three things he wants you to know about the book:
1. This is the best book I have ever written — and it’s not even close.
2. This is a book about owning less — but it’s more than that.
3. Pre-ordering the book is one of the best things you could ever do for me.
I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to have a preview copy. I can assure you it’s a “must-read” for anyone interested in minimalism or simple living.
Buy it now: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart.
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