Continuing on with my simplicity post…

In addition to simplifying my environment, I find that I have to simplify my mind as well. You can be in an empty room, but if your mind is cluttered, you will not find peace. Alternatively, a simplified mind remains calm in the most disquieting of circumstances.

This is not an easy task and it is certainly not a ‘one-time-only.’ It’s a daily, sometimes hourly decision.

I recently read a quote that I find both interesting and somewhat amusing. It is this:

“No thought is worth thinking about.”

I think that on a primal level it makes sense and I like it, but I find that in order for me to fully process it, I have to think about it. Kind of defeats the meaning of the quote, don’t you agree? Maybe we can say one of these:

  • No thought is worth obsessing over
  • No thought is worth worrying about
  • No thought is worth becoming upset/angry over

I think all of those are implied in the original quote, but I had to think about the quote to come up with them….

So, how to simplify the mind? Allow me to suggest three words:

  • Awareness
  • Judgement
  • Compassion

Awareness: We are so conditioned to react – someone says something that evokes a feeling in us and we react. It’s such a human trait. Awareness teaches us to stop, breathe and process. Trust me, it’s not only good for ourselves, but it often defuses a situation.

Judgement: I find that the less I judge others, the more peaceful I am. This does not mean that I have to like what others do, or even keep these people as part of my life, but I know that it expends a lot of my energy critiquing others and then assigning feelings to their actions. Don’t judge – observe – let go.

Compassion: I barely know why I do the things I do, how can I ever understand why someone else does something? Showing compassion allows me to accept others and love them as they are. Whether they are in my life or not, when I react with compassion, I am able to let things go a lot easier.

I know that these are all words, and I am far from living them, but I do know that the few times that I have practiced this, it has brought me great peace – AND THAT ADDS MUCH NEEDED SIMPLICITY to my mind.