simplicity: paring back to essentials for life and soul

How do you define simplicity? My definition includes: receptivity to creation, a natural state, clear and uncomplicated, without artifice. In spiritual terms it could look like absorbing and living out the basic fundamentals of faith.

It can involve living with purity of heart, humility, gratitude, contentment, sufficiency, being intentional, and trusting God for everything.

“And I learned what is obvious to a child. That life is simply a collection of little lives, each lived one day at a time. That each day should be spent finding beauty in flowers and poetry and talking to animals.That a day spent with dreaming and sunsets and refreshing breezes cannot be bettered.” ― Nicholas Sparks

“For in his wisdom, God designed that all the world’s wisdom would be insufficient to lead people to the discovery of himself. He took great delight in baffling the wisdom of the world by using the simplicity of preaching the story of the cross in order to save those who believe it.” 1 Corinthians 1: 21 TPT

“If you will stay close to nature, to its simplicity, to the small things hardly noticeable, those things can unexpectedly become great and immeasurable.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to A Young Poet

How mindfulness and minimalism fit well with simplicity

Mindfulness emphasises thankfulness, being in and savouring the moment. Minimalism focuses on having a simpler, more ethical lifestyle with less. In paring back to essentials we learn what we value most. This book is a great guide to help you start your journey of more with less.

Hands up if you thought my decluttering journey had ground to a halt. You are right, my friend. I haven’t written about it for months or been well enough to recommence the process with sufficient energy and grit. Though I am still decluttering in infrequent dribs and drabs.

“A simple life is not seeing how little we can get by with—that’s poverty—but how efficiently we can put first things first. When you’re clear about your purpose and your priorities, you can painlessly discard whatever does not support these, whether it’s clutter in your cabinets or commitments on your calendar.” ― Victoria Moran, Lit From Within: Tending Your Soul For Lifelong Beauty

“Simplicity is ultimately a matter of focus.” ― Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

“A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life.” – Proverbs 13:7 (MSG)

Simplifying with words and dependency on God

I haven’t lost the desire to simplify my life and pare it down to the essentials. Though I’m a long way off being a minimalist, its ethos strongly appeals to me. And I’ve found that writing micropoetry helps me to express my thoughts with fewer words.

“Some of the greatest poetry is revealing to the reader the beauty in something that was so simple you had taken it for granted.” ― Neil deGrasse Tyson

There is soul simplicity to be found in depending on God, rather than relying on ourselves. Because it’s knowing our beloved state before God that paves the way to having an uncluttered mind and heart.

“You don’t need my cleverness. You don’t even require that I have myself together. What you desire in my life to perform your utmost is simply my dependence, as well as recognizing that my weakness is a welcoming of your power.” ― Mary DeMuth, Jesus Every Day: A Journey Through the Bible in One Year

The kind of simple life God desires us to have

“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.” – Micah 6:8 (MSG)

“While the impostor draws his identity from past achievements and the adulation of others, the true self claims identity in its belovedness. We encounter God in the ordinariness of life: not in the search for spiritual highs and extraordinary, mystical experiences but in our simple presence in life.” ― Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging

Does any of this resonate with you? How do you see simplicity? I’d love you to share in the comments below.