Simplicity, Serenity And Solitude

There’s no disputing that regular exercise and a wholesome diet are essential ingredients for being radiantly healthy and living a balanced, vibrant life. However, I believe there are other equally important elements that are often overlooked. In the pursuit of our physical goals, we often neglect the importance of nurturing the emotional and spiritual sides of our being from which true happiness peace and fulfillment emanate. And to nurture the emotional and spiritual side, there are three words that top of my list. The three S’s: simplification, serenity and solitude.

Simplification

Simplify! What a wonderful word and a powerful process this wood represents. I have discovered great joy in simplifying all areas of my life. This includes my thoughts, what I say, how I choose to spend my time, how I arrange my closets – everything.
To simplify is so freeing. For example, you can have a fantastic collection of art objects in your home, but if you have too many, then appreciating each piece fully is difficult.

Henry David Thoreau says: “An honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes and lump the rest. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity. I say, let your affairs be as two or three and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million, count half-a-dozen and keep your affairs on your thumbnail.”

What can you do to simplify your life right now, today? Well, you could start with cleaning out one of your closets, some cupboards or your garage. Perhaps you could keep that up for 15 minutes each day until you have finished with your entire home. As a result of this exercise, you will find yourself easily and naturally beginning to simplify other areas of your life.

Serenity

I have noticed that along with the process of simplification comes a desire to slow down and let go of the habit of always being in a hurry and having so much to do. There’s much wisdom in the saying, “Stop and smell the roses.”

Everyone at some time has experienced the feeling of being overwhelmed by life, feeling as if the world is spinning a little too fast. Whether your life is too complicated on the outside or on the inside, a good way to start the process of simplification is by fostering serenity. Simplicity, serenity and peace already exist and any of us can experience them whenever we choose. I believe doing so is an essential part of expressing our highest self. Where peace and simplicity are embraced, there is neither anxiety nor complication.

Solitude

Everyone has felt the need to escape, to find a secluded place to be alone with their thoughts for a few minutes, hours or days. Aloneness is different from loneliness. This idea is expressed beautifully by Paul Tillich in his book Courage To Be, “Our language has wisely sensed the two sides of being alone. It has created the word loneliness to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word solitude to express the glory of being alone.”

Our natural inclination is to seek simple answers about this complicated world and our complicated lives by withdrawing for a while, an instinct perhaps as old as time. Monasticism, the ultimate expression of simplicity and withdrawal, has been recognized as a practice of renewal for millennia. But spiritual renewal and simplification are hardly the exclusive providence of religion. Thoreau’s two-year excursion to Walden Pond “to front only the essential facts of life” is perhaps the most famous example of a secular retreat. In solitude, we discover that the world is made of beauty, simplicity and order.

One of our biggest threats to meaningful solitude is TV. It fills up our time and prevents us from having quality time with ourselves. It also bombards us with the agenda and values of the TV programmer and advertisers. Further, it discourages us from looking inward and enjoying the peace of our own company.

Some friends who live alone and who should have no trouble carving out time to be alone instead frequently (and sometimes compulsively) find ways to fill their days with noise and activity; radio, TV, telephone talking, socializing, etc. Living alone doesn’t have to be lonely. In fact, it can be deeply rewarding and enriching to your life. I have personally found that spending time in solitude enhances all my relationships. As a result of embracing solitude and finding peace in my own company, I can meet others as a strong, whole and complete being instead of looking to others to fill my emptiness or make me feel complete.

We would all be better off if we embraced some solitude in our lives – time alone that can be used thoughtfully to benefit mind and soul. Spending time in solitude is also an important element of self-discovery and growth. It provides the opportunity to identify your most cherished goals and develop ways of achieving them. Regular respites of reflection contribute to a sense of inner peace and truly make you feel more in control of your life.

The choice is yours

How can you simplify your life in order to fulfill your purpose more easily? In the end, it comes down to choice. Once you become aware that you are choosing everything, you can take over you own life and live it the way your inner self knows how to live it. You can choose to let go of clutter and complexity in favor of serenity, peace and the beauty of life.

©Susan Smith Jones, MS, PhD

Susan Smith Jones, PhD has authored hundreds of magazine articles and 15 books, including her latest, “Unleash the Power of NatureFoods: 50 Revitalizing Foods & Lifestyle Choices”. For autographed copies, call (800) 253-6383 x2 , 9-5 mountain time or visit www.susansmithjones.com.