ESSENTIALISM is a lifestyle based on the idea of living in the moment like lifestyle director salaries, not worrying about what you can’t control, and following your true path. It is all about living in harmony with nature and sustainable consumption. There is one problem; most people find it hard to live for today without turning into an instagram-happy person who does not have time for meaning or pleasure.
1. Work towards making a meaningful life
This is a journey of discovery, patience and perseverance. Perfection is not required and we should be patient with ourselves, learn from mistakes and move on.
It is not just about working, learning new skills or doing sports, but finding out what makes us truly happy. It is about creating moments of meaning for ourselves. It is about being happy with who we are, feeling secure in terms of our identity and knowing that we can give freely without being attached to receiving something back in return. We need to take the first step towards making this happen; do some soul searching and identify what you love doing besides the tasks you are already fulfilling as part of your daily routine.
2. Every morning, read a book and reflect on what you have learnt
We need to take the time to figure out how we want to live our life. We should start by reading at least one book per month. It is important to choose books that offer us real value. One of my favorites is “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” by Greg McKeown because it helps me to focus on what is important in my life. It has helped me become a more productive person who lives a happier life in tune with the natural cycle of the earth, and myself.
3. Do less and feel more happy
We spend too much time doing things we do not like or just are not happy doing them. The best way to make a change is to see it as a positive change rather than a decision that will cause us to feel unhappy. We will feel less deprived, happier and more fulfilled.
4. Plan your non-negotiable needs
Buy less. Always try and buy the cheapest items because they are made to last long and most importantly, you won’t get teased by friends or family if they find out that you bought something inexpensive. We need to be conscious of how much we spend on things. The best solution is making a list of all the things you have been meaning to do but have not got around doing them yet and make sure you do it before your next birthday so that you can appreciate it more easily!
5. Make your health a priority
It is important to be attentive and responsive to our bodies’ needs. Perhaps you need to get more sleep or live in a better environment.
6. Do not compare yourself to other people
We all have different struggles that we need to deal with on a daily basis, one of the easiest ways to be happy is by not putting undue pressure on ourselves to be someone else. We are unique so it is pointless comparing ourselves with others because we will always find someone better than us or worse than us or similar despite having different lives and living in different parts of the world.
7. Start saving
It is important to stop being a parasite and start being a giver. Start saving. The more you save the better, it is a habit that you need to get into if you want to be happy. Saving money will allow us to live a more fulfilled life because we will have the power over our own destiny and we are no longer depending on other people or things for our happiness.
8. Be grateful
We should see the good in everything and be conscious of the things that bring us joy and peace of mind such as nature, good friends, positive experiences and passions.
9. Eat mindfully
It is important to have a positive outlook towards food and the way we ingest it. We should feel comfortable around the tables within our kitchen and be conscious of the foods we are eating. Being mindful means being conscious of what we are putting in our bodies.
10. Live purely by intuition
Learn to trust your intuition and listen to it. Intuition is a good sign when something happens or someone says something that sparks our interest or reminds us of something that has been said before, so pay attention to these signs!
11. Create time to reflect
It is important to take the time to contemplate on what has happened, what needs to happen and what we have learnt from it. It is also important to write things down so that they do not escape our minds. I personally find that Eden Garden’s organic tea helps a lot in boosting my mental clarity and creativity.
12. Look inwards for your answers
External problems can only be solved if we first face them, look at them directly because until then they will remain unresolved. We need to stop being afraid and start being courageous by looking at all the things we are not happy about and start taking action in solving these issues using our skills and knowledge.
Summary:
Being happy is not just a fleeting moment. It is a journey of constant discovery, appreciation and fulfillment. It all starts with asking yourself what you feel, rather than what others want you to feel.
If I were to summarize this post it would be about living with purpose and balance in an unconventional way. Do not get frustrated if you are not achieving your goals immediately as growth happens over time. Don’t compare yourself to others because we all have different strengths and weaknesses that we need to build on in order to be who we want to be.