The catch-22 of wanting more in my life is that to add, something must be subtracted. Crafting a beautiful life is a zero-sum game. Contrary to how I was raised, I cannot do it all or have it all. It’s been a hard lesson to learn in adulthood, and setting down what no longer serves me is some of the hardest work I’ve ever done.
There is so much consuming my days and time that I would love to let go of. If only they were a balloon and I could open my fist, let go of the strings, and watch them drift away over the horizon. However, much of what consumes my time, emotions, and thoughts is not so easy to let go of, and I have a great deal of work ahead of me. But armed with my why and all the things I want MORE of in this one precious, brutiful life, it’s motivating to start loosening the grip.
Here’s a pseudo-organized list of all the things I want LESS of in life. Much of which exhausts my current day-to-day at levels I’m far too embarrassed to admit. Please note that I’ll continue to add to this list as I work through the process of minimizing and embracing simple living.
Social And Emotional
Less overwhelm, stress, fighting, and panic attacks.
Less hatred (often stemming from reading the news lately and not understanding the hatred others have for certain populations in our country).
Less chaotic energy.
Less tears.
Less time spent mulling over decisions.
Less waffling and coasting through life.
Less hiding from things that scare me when I’m truly interested in them.
Less time doing things that I think I “should” do.
Connection
Less opting out of family functions because “I don’t have time.”
Less “no” responses to social opportunities.
Less shutting down when things get hard.
Home Life
Less clutter.
Less time spent tidying and cleaning every day.
Less trash and trips to the dump, which also costs us money.
Less consumption: of items, media, and things that don’t serve us.
Less time spent indoors.
Less debt and stress about income and money.
Less time spent on projects and tasks that don’t serve our family or have meaning to us.
Less clutter from “just in case” items in our attic and basement.
Less over-scheduling and fewer activities that we don’t really want to do.
Less store-bought gifts and items in general.
Less screen time and reliance on technology.
Sustainability
Less replacing instead of repairing.
Less toxic chemicals and ingredients.
Less shopping from Amazon or convenience places with alot of packaging or a high carbon footprint.
Health And Wellness
Less processed food with ingredients I don’t know or understand.
Less restlessness and trouble sleeping.
Less procrastinating on making those appointments: mammograms, dentist, eye care, physicals, skin cancer screenings, etc.
Less attitude about how “I can’t work out” or “I don’t have time.”
Work And Career
Less believing I can’t do or achieve something.
Less of a focus on revenue, and the market for the work I do is shrinking.
Less fear of trying new things within my work.
Less busy work that feels like work but is actually procrastination.
Less hustle.
It’s funny to me how the list of what I want more of in life is much longer than the list I want less of in life. I can’t help but wonder if it’s because I’m having trouble seeing the things I want or need to let go of? Or is it that there aren’t that many of them, but the ones that are there are all-consuming? Hmm…time will tell. Regardless, stay tuned as I continue this journey. View all of the articles about my simple living journey.
Pssst…Now it’s your turn. Tell me all the things you want to let go of in order to have the room in your life for the things you want more of. Be it of a physical or intangible nature, it all counts.
