• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Self Help Daily

Inspirational and Self Help Blog with a Save the World Complex...

  • Home
    • Tour Self Help Daily
    • Self Help Daily’s Archives
    • Privacy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Contact
  • Inspirational Quotes
  • Self Help
    • Positive Thought
    • Health
    • Mental Fitness
    • Relationships
    • Self Growth
    • How to Be Happy
  • Book Reviews
You are here: Home / Self Help / General / Simply Put, Life Could be Easier

Simply Put, Life Could be Easier

December 15, 2010 by Joi 10 Comments

Book links are usually affiliate links. This means I earn a small percentage when you click through and buy the book. This costs you nothing extra - it simply allows me to keep my cats in the lifestyle they're accustomed to.

Right off the bat, let me admit that I have a flair for the dramatic. My favorite actors, actresses, athletes, and.. well.. people in general.. then to be those who flirt with eccentricity. Birds of a feather and all that, I guess.  I’m drawn to those who live life out loud and dance to their own music, whether or not anyone else hears it.

I’m also ridiculously fond of outrageous Starbucks drinks and exotic, fancy food and desserts.  Loud jewelry? Bold colors? Crazy movies?  Yes. Yes. Yes.

So when I advocate simplicity, I’m not advocating letting anything or anyone drain the fun out of life or cause its color to fade.  Far from it! I’d fight the hounds of hell to keep all the zest and color life wants to serve me.

Actually, when you stop to think about it, we can appreciate life more thoroughly if we simplify a lot of the things we do – beginning with our thoughts.

There’s a well-meaning, ambitious generation living right now that’s convinced we have to see everything, go everywhere, and do everything there is to do.  Bigger, bolder, brighter.  “Enough” is as elusive as perfect meatloaf at your in-laws.    Many seem to be looking for just the thing to make them happy or successful and, sadly, many of them equate money with each of these destinations.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Money doesn’t buy happiness – never has, never will.  There are just as many unhappy rich people as there are unhappy poor people.  Many times the only difference is they trade troubles.  Poor Pete may worry about the rent while putting in 10 hour workdays while Richie Rich may worry about the effects his crumbling marriage will have on the kids…. wherever they are.

I’m not saying these are concrete troubles, so don’t e-mail me any nastiness. I’m simply using an example – everyone has problems, everyone has worries, and everyone has a certain level of stress.  What’s more, everyone has a fence – you know, the one where the greenery of the grass is up for comparison.  I read a quote once that said something like this: “If we put our troubles in a heap along with everyone else, when we saw the troubles THEY had, we’d quickly run to retrieve our own.” I think there’s a lot of truth to that.  A lot.

I hear from many, many people through Self Help Daily and Out of Bounds and I’ve noticed something : People need to practice the art of simplicity more.  It’s nearly a lost art. Everyone wants to do too much, feel too much, and go too far. Contentment is a beautiful thing, but you have to let it find you – you can’t chase it down.

You’ll simply scare it off.

When I think of keeping things simple, I think of the acronym KISS – or Keep It Simple, Stupid.  I’m not reverting back to first grade, I didn’t come up with this acronym.

In praise of simplicity, let’s look at a few examples, a few people, places, and things that KISS really good.

  • Generally speaking, the best burger in town can be found at one of those amazing drive-ins or diners where they simply make burgers. They take buns, they cook the ground beef, they throw on fresh lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and mayo and make you and your taste buds all kinds of happy.
  • George Strait.  The man has never tried to  be louder than the songs he sings. He doesn’t try to upstage the lyrics or the music.  He sings the songs and has a loyal fan base most only dream about. No drama, no extremes, no foolishness.  Just great music again and again.
  • State Parks provide history, beauty, and relaxation – all without the clicks, whistles, and razzmatazz of outrageously priced attractions.  The scenery cannot be beaten and gracing state parks provides support for your state’s park and recreation system.  It’s all good.  It’s all simply perfect.
  • This one will probably go right past you if you aren’t a blogger, but bare with me.  The Thesis Theme for WordPress is what most would call a “simple” theme. Unless you customize it, yourself, there are no sliding, gliding pictures or multiple small images beckoning your attention.  There is this:  Content. What you write and whatever image you choose to accompany what you write.  Simple.  Many bloggers are clamoring for a more glitzy blogs these days.  I’ll be honest, I use a few other themes on a few of my other blogs – simply because I like for as many of my blogs to look as different as possible (I have to keep from boring my cat. Her attention span’s shorter than Little Jimmie Dicken’s shadow.). However, I can unequivocally say this:  When it comes to affiliate sales (on applicable blogs), Thesis blogs outperform the rest so heavily that I’m often tempted to go 100 percent Thesis.   My Thesis-based sites simply blow the others out of the water.  Heck, it’s not even close.
  • Rachael Ray has made, like, a  gazillion dollars simply by being likable and cooking. That’s it. She doesn’t try to be controversial or say things that’ll draw attention to herself.  She simply cooks, shares her recipes, and smiles a great deal.  Simple.

Simplicity is a beautiful thing, no matter how you dice it.

If you suspect that you’ve been trying to do too many things lately, chase too many dreams, wear too many hats – you get the idea – do yourself a favor and step back.  What things are absolutely necessary? What things are just creating clatter and discord in your world?  What things could you let go and never miss again?  What matters most in your life?

If you can create a simpler life and a quieter world, your body, mind, and soul will run over one another trying to thank you first.  My money’s on the soul – He travels lighter.

Filed Under: General, Health, Positive Thought, Spiritual Tagged With: Positive Thought, simplicity, simplify your life

Previous Post: « Do It or Age Quickly by JB Berns
Next Post: The 20 Best Quotes About Curiosity »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Andrew @ Blogging Guide says

    December 16, 2010 at 5:17 am

    I like your quote – “If we put our troubles in a heap along with everyone else, when we saw the troubles THEY had, we’d quickly run to retrieve our own.” No one in this world has no problem of their own and what’s more, you would not be given a problem that you cannot solve. The problem fits you and you can overcome it.

  2. Wanna be Successful? says

    December 17, 2010 at 3:16 pm

    Hi and thank you for your post

    Simplicity for me was an interestig discovery in terms of personal beliefs.
    Whan you believe that everything is complicated and hard (duh!),
    your brain goes into a negative-scarcity state, that’s very unproductive, then there comes procrastination and you keep yourself back ( aspecially when you are a newbie )

    But just try and believe everything comes easy and is easy to accomplish ( money, relationship, achievement ), and everything just comes clear to you and you enter a peaceful state of acceptance.

    Personally I’m a big advocate of belief and thinking improvement for success, and this dilemma was a BIG revelation for me

    So, live and think in ease.

    S.C.

  3. Webdesign,Usability,SEO says

    December 24, 2010 at 4:10 am

    Thank you for the article and beautiful it contains useful information and rare

  4. Matt says

    December 27, 2010 at 2:41 pm

    We used KISS in the Army a lot. I think I’ve forgotten how to KISS from time to time. I’m trying to run a business and start a blog that has nothing to do with the business. I just need to focus on the simple things. Thanks!

  5. Panama City Beach Rentals says

    December 28, 2010 at 1:05 am

    nice post, looks really good!

  6. Samantha Dermot says

    January 6, 2011 at 6:30 am

    No one needs to create noise in order for them to be discovered by others. They can just simply do their best on certain field in order for them to gain respect from others. From there, success will come along.

  7. adnes says

    January 11, 2011 at 4:43 am

    I know what you mean is an the bottom are keep simple in life what every life bring you, you know what is your limitation where you put yourself right….

  8. Vista bay rehab says

    January 12, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    KISS-Keep It Simple – The idea rules. I use the these techniques when I had to pass real busy times and its a simple solution without harming my health. thanks for showing the idea light. its really helpful.

  9. Iyabo says

    May 12, 2016 at 6:41 am

    Thanks for sharing. This was so spot on. Most of the technologies reigning now are simple. Nothing grandiose. Even Google as a search engine, when it came on, was simple. It made search simple. Compared to its major competitor back in those days. I like that you say money doesn’t buy happiness. That’s as true as any fact can be. It’s time we all went back to the drawing board to get our priorities right. And, then simplify our lives based on those priorities. That is the only time we’ll be happy and feel fulfilled.

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention KISS, or Keep It Simple Stupid: In Praise of Simplicity in Life -- Topsy.com says:
    December 15, 2010 at 4:52 pm

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Joi Sigers and Ezra Gardener, Stan Carter Jr.. Stan Carter Jr. said: Simply Put, Life Could be Easier – KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid http://bit.ly/h8VIc9 […]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Self Help Blog

Cat on Pine Mountain , Kentucky

Welcome to Self Help Daily, a blog devoted to helping you get the most from life by getting the most from yourself!

Read the story behind the picture above in How to Live in the Moment.

Positive Affirmation Cards


Positive Affirmation Cards (Amazon)

Contact Joi

My name is Joi (“Joy”)! I am the animal lover behind Self Help Daily.

To contact me, please do so through e-mail (joitsigers @ gmail.com). Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you! ~ Joi

Self Help Blog Updates

  • Becoming A Nutritionist: 4 Key Things To Consider
  • 7 Things To Start Today That Your Future Self Will Thank You For
  • 10 Surprising Ways to Improve WorkPerformance
  • 4 Powerful Self Development Tools To Transform Your Life
  • Christian Book Review: Before Amen by Max Lucado
  • Fixing Your Underbite: A Practical Guide
  • Five Ways That You May Be Affecting Your Brain Health Without Realizing It
  • Create a Zen Room in Your Home (Perfect for Creating a Home Sweet Haven)

Featured Quote Graphics

Don't Quit Quote Graphic

Dr. Seuss Quote About Being Who You Are

Booker T. Washington Quote About Hate

Wayne Dyer Quote About Karma

Quote About Habits

Footer

Inspirational Quotes

  • Abraham Lincoln Quotes
  • Billy Graham Quotes
  • Booker T. Washington Quotes
  • Dale Carnegie Quotes
  • Maya Angelou Quotes
  • Mark Twain Quotes
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes
  • Norman Vincent Peale Quotes

More Inspirational Quotes

❖ Self Help Daily Updates



Overcoming Empty Nest Syndrome

One of the questions I hear the most from my readers is, "How can I cope with empty nest syndrome?" I'll try to deal with this sensitive subject as often as possible. If you have any suggestions, I hope you'll contribute to the conversations!

  • Coping With Empty Nest Syndrome
  • Don't Just Cope in an Empty Nest, Thrive!
  • How to Be Happy in an Empty Nest
  • Overcoming Empty Nest Syndrome
Copyright Self Help Daily 2021