Published: Dec 17, 2014

Simplicity: the lack of complexity, the absence of complication, the deficiency of embellishment.

The freedom from difficulty, trouble, and strain. Simplicity is what we all desire in our lives. It’s rather a ‘simple’ quality, but how do we really achieve it?

Well I have your answer in 5 easy steps.

One: Plan Ahead

Be adventurous, but always cautious by having some type of plan. If you do not go after what you want, you will never have it. Whether that is your next trip or your dream career, always imagine yourself 1 year, or even 5 years from now. Goals, dreams, challenges can always be adjusted, but never recreated once today has passed. If you do not take a step forward, you will always remain in the same place. So take a step, start a plan, you will be amazed how much you can accomplish with a simple aspiration.

Two: Live for the Little Things

Live for the 5am sunrise and the 5pm sunsets where you see colors in the sky that you never imagined could occur. Live for the lights in the street, and the darkness on the highway which are so contrasting, yet stimulate you to feel animated. Live for road trips and runs where music is in your ears and wind in your hair because we must be able to feel the world to know we exist.  Live for days where you are surrounded by your favorite people who remind you why it is important to be alive. Live for all the little things, because all these things combine to create one miraculous expedition.

Three: Remember Where You Came From

One of the most important things in life is to always remember where you started. Because that place, those memories, those people are who created you and made you the unique person you are. Never be ashamed of your story, because it is your own inspiration. The expert was once a beginner, the pro an amateur. Where you came from is just as significant as where you will go and also helps you know where you belong.

Four: Take a Deep Breath

We are all human, we do make mistakes, forget things, and simply mess up. Humans also must breathe to survive. So take a step back, take a deep breath, and always remember everything will work out with good, honest effort. Pressure also causes us to live with more complexity, and this can be diminished by remembering that the grass is not always greener on the other side; it is greener where you water it.

Five: Be Honest and Humble

Finally, honesty and humility are absolutely essential in a simple life. No matter how big your house is, how fancy your car, or perfect your grades, they do not define a meaningful life. It is about being real, being honest, being humble, and being able to share ourselves openly and freely with others. It is only then, when you are yourself, and the people you surround yourself with are themselves, that you have achieved simplicity.

Your plan may only be successful with honesty and humility in a way that allows yourself to breathe, be yourself, and enjoy every little thing your life has to offer. Head towards simplicity, you just may never look back.

-Happiness in Handfulls