Clarity and Simplicity: BFFs

 
     We have chosen and created clutter and congestion, which in turn breeds confusion. By creating these three C's in our lives, we have created them in our hearts. By admitting this we free ourselves. By doing this we empower ourselves to play a role in its recreation. We need to remember we have free will and we are in control of our actions- no matter what. Clutter, congestion, and confusion have become an accepted part of most people's lives. It does not have to be that way. We are not victims.


"You are worried about so many things, but only one thing is necessary." (Luke 10:41)

     Simplify your life. Simplify. Simplify! Simplicity is the way to clarity. Give the path of simplicity a chance in your life. We yearn for simplicity, but our lives have a habit of getting out of control, overwhelmed, and overcrowded. We complicate our lives for four main reasons:

• We don't know what we really want
• We don't have a clear sense of the purpose of our lives
• We are scared of missing out on something
• We want to be distracted from the real challenges of the inner life

     Do you know what you want? I find that most people do not. If someone asks, "What do you want in a spouse?" We may answer, "Well, I do not want someone who is overly serious" or "I do not want a person who cannot understand or appreciate my sarcasm." We often answer questions in the negative. Getting clear about what we want is critical to simplifying our lives. People who know what they want-- answer in the positive: "I am looking for someone who can be serious, but can be funny too" or "I am looking for someone who will understand and appreciate my humor."

     We should have a clear sense of our core values. If your purpose is to become the-best-version-of-yourself, who God created you to be then you will strive to do so. This purpose gives us the goal, the dream, the big picture. One of my core values is honesty. That being the case, in all situations I strive to tell the truth. It is a core value, and core values do not change. Then we have critical success factors.

     If one of your strategic objectives is to... get into shape, then your critical success factor in this area may be to work out regularly and eat foods that fuel your body more efficiently. We should allow a deep sense of purpose and conviction to guide our actions and passions. We should know what factors are most likely to guarantee our successes. We need to focus on those factors.

     Isn't it time we got clear about who we are and what the strategic anchors in our lives are? Remember, a strategic anchor is something you determine is critical to your success, something you want to be always true about you. You should NOT make a list of ten but of two or three. Don't overwhelm yourself even more (#chuckle). Together, these two or three anchors should be able to get you through any situation.

     Get clear about who you are and who you are not, about what you do and do not do. The sooner you get clear about these things, the sooner your life will simplify and flourish. This way, you will not inwardly feel as if you are contradicting yourself. Learn to say no. When we tell ourselves, "I must say yes" we are deceiving ourselves. By getting clear about what we deeply desire and about what our purpose and values are, we become clear about when to say yes and when to say no. By saying yes to one thing- you are saying no to another and vice versa. Seek your role. Being perfectly yourself means doing only the things meant for you.

     How many of us know someone who is dating another just because they like having someone to be with? They know that person is not the right one for them, but they do not want to be alone. Chances are that while they are spending time with this person, they are missing dozens of chances to meet their soulmate. When you know what you are looking for, you will realize that some dates would be a waste of both people's time and energy.

 

     Clarity and simplicity are best friends. Life becomes much simpler as you begin to develop a sense of who you are, what you want, what your values are, and what role you play in the wonderful adventure we call life!

     How will you develop this clarity? By simplifying life, stripping away all that is unnecessary, and all that brings the three C's. From that simplicity will emerge all that you are and all that you truly desire for the right reasons. Allow simplicity to direct your life, and permit a measure of silence and solitude to have their proper place in the course of your daily activities. We should aspire to have clarity and simplicity.

     Is there a question that you need to answer? Is there a choice that you need to make? Is there an opportunity that you need to pursue or turn your back on? Is there a relationship that you need to throw yourself into or walk away from? What is clouding your judgment?

     One way to get clarity is by nakedly examining your motives. Motives provide a window through which we can observe our decisions more closely. ("What about indecision?" you may ask. No. Indecision is a decision. You are deciding not to act). Sometimes it may be difficult to establish clarity about what you believe is the right thing to do in a certain situation. At these times, motives can be powerful indicators. Our motives reveal a lot about us: what drives us, what we are afraid of, whose opinions impact our decision making, and what we consider important.

Now, what people do and what people say- that's interesting. But why people do it- that's even more intriguing.

     We desperately need simplicity in our schedules. We need to balance school, prayer, family time, friend time, alone time, eating, exercise, etc. For me, I pray some in the mornings. Every day, though, I pray more often throughout the day. I pray the Angelus, sometimes Divine Mercy, and do a TON of small thanks and praise to God. Simple things (#pununintended). I do school in the morning, so I have the rest of the day to read and walk. Sometimes, if my sister works in the evening, I will do things with her in the mornings then work on my school when she leaves. Most of the time, I will do extra so if something comes up- I'll be free.

     Many times, we crowd our schedules with things that seem necessary but are not. Maybe it is time you make a not-to-do list! Richard Foster's Celebration of Self-Discipline has this quote: Learn to enjoy things without having to own them. Wow! I reeeeaaaally like that! One of the most powerful ways to simplify our lives is the money and material area.

   

     Things and money have value only inasmuch as we use them to help us become the-best-version-of-ourselves and to help others realize their full potential. The moment they distract us from this, they become our masters and we become their slaves.

PHEW!

How does this picture make you feel? Content? Relaxed? Or does this make you feel anxious? It makes me feel anxious.

     We have covered a lot of ground, and perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed at how overwhelmed you are. Maybe you feel overwhelmed by how much simplifying you have realized that you could really do. I do not know about you, but I like resolutions that are practical, manageable, and measurable. I am a very neat female. Everything I own has its place. When things around me are messy, it brings stress and I cannot concentrate on certain things (like math, ugh! lol). Sometimes tidying up my environment even more brings me clarity. So, once or twice a year I do a big dejunking. It is a process of material liberation. This is actually the first step I suggest in your quest for simplicity and clarity.

     Clutter brings confusion. What areas of your physical world are congested? What areas of your spiritual world are congested? Last, but not least, what areas of your emotional world are congested? If you only have one or two areas you need to clean, that is great! No worries. You do not need to have all of these areas congested in order to qualify for trying to de-congest your life (#chuckle).

     Simplicity is one of the enduring principles of happiness. We yearn for simplicity. The more we are willing to simplify, the more the clouds of confusion will lift, the more clearly we will see ourselves the way God sees us, the more we will see His vision for our lives, and the freer we will be.

     Of course, it is wise to ask for grace so we can acheive a simple life. We will need an abundance of patience (well, at least I will...lol :). Speaking of patience... Fr. David Miller, the pastor of St. Dorothy's in Lincolnton, said something in one of his homilies that really struck home for me. Here it is: Show much patience because the truth is complex and beyond us.

Oh! Words of the wise! Albert Einstein said if we do not understand something, it does not mean it is not true...It means we are ignorant. More words of the wise :)

Clarity lyrics - David Dunn

Though it does not exactly relate to clarity...I have a poem for you guys!

Stars

They are whispering stories;

Laughing gaily at life.

Dressed in silver, bedecked in diamonds,

They emerge quietly in the night.

Some, more obvious than others,

Because of their stunning smiles,

Get an abundance of attention.

To them, it makes their life worthwhile.

Others stand quietly by,

Patiently shining on.

They may not be as pretty,

But that brings mystery and awe.

As the sun awakens,

When darkness fades into light.

They go to a party elsewhere;

Because the sun makes them blind.

They laugh, talk, and dance-

A new dance every night.

Because only when it is dark,

They can live, shine, and thrive.