Quite some time ago, I read a quote (I can’t remember who it was from) stated “Live a simple; focused; honest and happy life”.  This has stuck in my mind over the years, especially as I get older and find that life can get more complicated; distracting; and unhappy.   I don’t know about you, yet in my opinion we all have ‘those day’s’ where we feel like we can’t get everything on our plate done; we are pulled like taffy, distracted by many different needs and wants; we may feel we have to be dishonest to move ahead and resolve pressing matters; and in turn we ask ourselves, ‘Am I happy with that which I have accomplished?’.

So, let’s  break it down, SIMPLE – FOCUSED – HONEST – HAPPY:

SIMPLE – This is where it all begins.   Ask yourself, is your life clear, uncomplicated and manageable?  I many times feel that in my pursuit of simplifying my life I’m finding it’s becoming more complicated!  There are quite a few forums and posts out there on this topic, and in a nutshell, I have found that there are three core ways to make your life more simple:

1) De-Junk – Get rid of stuff you haven’t used and/or won’t use in the future.  As crazy as it sounds, this is actually something that for me has been quite difficult as I have a hard time letting go of my favorite t-shirts; mugs; and even old shoes that I’ve had for years!  Start with your wardrobe closet, then go from there.

2) Get Organized –  Make a ‘To-Do’ list of things that you feel you need to get done, don’t worry if this list gets long, the first step is to take it out of your mind and put on paper so you can then Plan Out how to accomplish your tasks. De-Junking the task items by priority is something you will find will help with your path to simplification.   It’s ok to say ‘No’ to things as you decide for yourself, can I manage this new task, to-do, and/or assignment?

3) UnPlug – That’s right, turn that phone off; go into the mountains where there is no cell phone coverage, no distractions; lock yourself in your room.  Do whatever you need to do to by like Winnie the Pooh and sit and Think in your ‘Thinking  Spot’.   As you sit and meditate, you will receive inspiration on what to do to improve yourself and your life.

I really like this article from wikihow on 4 Ways to Simplify,  Simplify-Your-Life. Remember, just keep it ‘simple’!

FOCUSED – This area is an area that can seem daunting.   Deciding what to ‘aim’ your attention at can be difficult.   For myself, I have learned over the years that if I break things down to what matters most to me, I can then focus my energy, time, and talents on the things that will give me the most return on my investment.   For example, I list out my most priority items which for me include Family > Work > Church > Play.   I then decide, what’s my objective which each priority?  Then I make goals and tasks to achieve those objectives.   Decide what’s important to you, then you will get inspiration on how to fulfill your mission on what’s important to you.

HONEST – Know that you will be tempted to make dishonest choices, cut corners, cheat, lie, etc.  You will have opportunities to chose wrong over right.  I have found  the the biblical golden rule of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matt. 7:12); being sincere in your actions; truthful; candid; and trustworthy will give you the most peace and happiness in this life.   Besides, the more dishonest you are, the more unfocused and complicated your life becomes, and that defeats the purpose of living a simple life.

HAPPY – This is what we all want in our lives, right!?   Well, it should be, yet at the same time let’s be honest, it’s probably the most difficult thing to tell someone to do, ‘Just be Happy’.  I use to say, ‘Happiness is an illusion’.   Yes, that’s right, I said that, and my wife use to hate it when she heard those words come from my mouth.   Again, there are great articles out there that dive deep on how to ‘Be Happy’.   For me, I focus on three things:

1) PMA – Positive Mental Attitude.   It’s amazing how we can either focus our thoughts on the negative parts and aspects of our lives or we can focus on the positive parts and aspects of our lives.   Being optimistic vs. pessimistic is so much more rewarding.   When you find yourself worried, negative, down on yourself, try this exercise:  Write all your thoughts and feelings on a piece of paper; fold that piece of paper in half; fold it in half again; then either stick that paper in a shredder, crumple it up and throw it away, or just take it outside and light it on fire!  All these thoughts you are having are not what you are, we all are divine beings, on this earth to live a divine purpose and life.   If you have serious struggles with PMA and are really hard on yourself, get some help, there are free anonymous hotlines you can turn to:

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is: 1-800-273-8255

The Crisis Center Hotline is: 775-784-8090 or text ANSWER to 839863

2) Gratitude – Have an attitude of gratitude!  Be grateful for what you have been given.  Some fun exercises for this is to start writing in a personal journal, listing the things you are grateful for.   How about writing a ‘Thank You’ note to a friend, family member for something they have recently done for you.   You can also smile to the next person you interact with and give them a warm ‘Thank You’ for just being who they are.   I can go on and on this subject.  Just remember, being grateful brings happiness.

3) Socialize – Ok, you introverts out there, you’re not going to like what I have to say here… Interacting with others brings happiness!   Theres something to be said about staying close to friends and family.   We are all here to help each other with our burdens as well as support each other with our successes.   Deepen your existing family relationships; make new friends; and the next time you want to text, Instagram, tweet, message someone, think of how much better it would be to have a phone and or in person meaningful conversation.  Studies have shown that people who openly share their positive feelings with others have greater connection than people who don’t share. The next time you experience something awesome, go start a conversation about it with a friend or family member. It’ll bring you closer together and make you both happier.  : )

There you have it, hopefully you have gained some insight on how to “Live a simple; focused; honest and happy life”.  Happiness is real, it’s not an illusion.   We all have the ability to attain it in this life and the life to come!