“If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.” ― Albert Einstein
Does this mean the key to success is as simple as keeping it simple? Well I can tell you that without simplicity, things will be harder than they need to be. Here are 7 points that you can apply to your life, in the search to making living that much simpler, while at the same time it will reflect a bigger impact to your life.
1. Wake Up Earlier
Here is a challenge for you. It isn’t that hard really that hard… but basically instead of waking up and rushing to work scattered and stressed, make the time to take your time… However long you’ll need. I personally get up and enjoy a massive and healthy breakfast, I read/review my blog and then make my way comfortably without rush and prepare for my day. Seems pretty simple to me…
2. Smaller Goals, More Manageable Tasks
Sometimes we have the right intentions with the biggest dreams or plans, but having these so big, we lose focus on the required. What I recommend is to narrow down your life into important factors and focus on these. As you grow you can expand the focus pool and as a bi-product so will your success.
3. It’s Okay To Say No
It is great to be able to say yes to new life opportunities, new experiences, falling in love, new challenges and so on. But this doesn’t mean you should. It is more than okay and also very smart to learn to say no when necessary. Say no to mediocre relationships, opportunities that will sway you from your current one, say no to pleasing when all it is doing is draining you, say no to giving into temptations of bad habits or old ways. You get the point. Sometimes no will be the very simple thing you have been missing.
4. Just Breathe
We are in a world surrounded by chaos and surrounded by 7 billion people who all have their own storms and fires to manage. It is easy to start crashing into one another and things tend to come out-of-order. Therefore, it is very important to just breathe and focus. Literally take 3 seconds to breathe in via your nose, then 3 seconds to release this via your mouth. It is easy to spend your time jumping from A to B, but before you start the chase again, take a moment, breathe, sit alone and think it through.
5. There Is A Bigger Picture – You’re Actually Quite Small
This is very simple. In any decision you’re making, ask yourself if it will matter in 5 years from now. There is no point stressing and finding yourself lost over something which will have changed or not even be relevant sooner than you know.
6. Communicate With Brevity
Communication even in the smallest of instances can change everything. Maybe you left things unsaid, or you’re too scared to speak up, but really these are simple things which are usually hindered or suppressed by our own complex emotions, issues and pride. Less is more in this fast paced world. Make what you are trying to say small and packaged, so those on the receiving end will catch it before they miss the point or value altogether.
7. Find Beauty In A World That Ain’t All That Pretty
Christopher Aiff said:
“The decision to be positive is not one that disregards or belittles the sadness that exists. It is rather a conscious choice to focus on the good and to cultivate happiness–genuine happiness. Happiness is not a limited resource. And when we devote our energy and time to trivial matters, and choose to stress over things that ultimately are insignificant. From that point, we perpetuate our own sadness, and we lose sight of the things that really make us happy and rationalize our way out of doing amazing things.”