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Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication

Author:
Mindfulness

Beautiful words by Leonardo DaVinci: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” His sculptures indeed appear to have just shaken off the stone to stepped out of it. Nothing reminds us of the endless hard working hours it obviously took him to make them. He taught us that excellence, which seems to come into existence effortlessly, does claim our full attention. Producing a masterpiece, or anything of value, can only come forth with our focus, determination and discipline, which requires a pure and simple way of being.

PROCESS

Simplifying our life has a different meaning and a different value for every person. For me, it means eliminating the non-essential, replacing chaos and disorder for harmony and balance. Creating a life that allows me to focus on my priorities and do the things I love doing most and give me satisfaction. By letting go of all that doesn’t add value to my life, I allow myself to give priority to the unfolding of my higher purpose.

DANCING-IN-THE-LIGHT1Obtaining simplicity isn’t always a simple process. It’s a journey, rather than a destination, and often with two steps forward and one backwards. Such as the cha-cha-cha, a moving process as part of the dance of life, a flow of joy, refinement and determination.

A process that creates room to connect with our inner voice, the master of our life.

“Simple doesn’t mean unintelligent, it is the height of spiritual sophistication.” ~ Elizabeth Peru

DECLUTTERING

By simplifying our life, we create space for beauty and integrity to emerge. We discover this by creating spaciousness, and by reorganising and decluttering our lives.

Starting with our home, workspace and cluttered area’s, such as wardrobes, cupboards, drawers, the attic, the basement and shed. It is advisable to do this at least once a year and bring the unnecessary, yet useable stuff, to the recycle shops and dispense the useless. Also, frequently purge and reorganise your digital life; your files, folders, photo’s and email account, as they tend to stack up easily and become overwhelming at times. Less clutter, more quality!

DESK-OBJECTS

Another important area to declutter is an unhealthy lifestyle, habits that harm your health and well-being. Next to food intake, it’s wise to consider releasing blocked emotions, which have a negative effect on your health. We simplify our life by taking responsibility for the unfolding of our life; stop blaming others for the way we feel, giving up the need to be right and to control every step of our journey. Distinguish to whom and what you give your energy and time to. Practicing discernment supports you to simplify your life and maintain healthy relationships. By eliminating the unnecessary, the necessary becomes visible; the emerging of a masterpiece, your masterpiece!!

“The ability to Simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”
~ Hans Homann

MINDFULNESS & PRESENT MOMENT

By practicing mindfulness, we become conscious of the present moment, a place with no past and no future, just ‘now’. As a consequence, we become at peace with ourselves and open to what comes our way, without judgment or fear. Our attention will not be drawn into the drama’s created by our thoughts or mirrored by others. The quality of our life improves, affecting our health, sleep and relationships. We then realise that we have access to an infinite field of solutions for the challenges we face. We only need to listen and learn how to receive them, in peace and quietness.

simple-flowerOften solutions and creative inspirations arise in moments when we don’t pay attention to our thinking, feel at ease and are in harmony with where we are.

Meditation or conscious breathing can bring us into this state of mindfulness, as does physical exercise or a walk in nature. Listening to a singing bird or watching the beauty of a blooming flower may be exactly what we need. As I mentioned in my previous blog, cats and pets in general, have this quality too! These are just a few examples to practice mindfulness and become aware of the present moment.

“Our life is frittered away by detail.
Simplify, Simplify . . .” ~ Henry David Thoreau

ALIGNING WITH SOUL

Mindfulness gives us an excellent opportunity to simplify and create a meaningful life, with inner peace. If we are connected with ourselves, we simultaneously are aligned with the soul of the Universe, guiding us through every step of the way. If you act from a place of trust and inner knowing, you lose the need to make life complicated, with unnecessary stuff and redundant information that is 24/7 trying to reach us. Most importantly, you lose the fear to manifest the life that is waiting for you to be lived. We become more authentic and start loving ourselves for who we truly are, with more joy and satisfaction. Simple and truthfully!

After all, by simplifying our life, the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

Creator of Practical Life Guide. A practical guide for living a meaningful life with joy and purpose.


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  • Frances

    Aaaah, Sis – this resonated with me SO strongly . . .

    So Beautiful, Wonderful, Enlightening, Centring. You’ve expressed perfectly what I’ve always ‘felt’, yet haven’t been able to express/clarify in the way you have. You’ve both ‘spoken’ for me, AND helped me to see more clearly . . .

    THANK YOU! 🙂

    Love and Gratitude –
    Frances

    • Monique

      Thank You Frances, for your heartfelt comment! However, I’m not surprised at all that you resonate so well with the subject… as much as I do.. and I’m sure many more. Maturity and ageing make us realise that living in simplicity brings us the peace we long for.
      Much Love and Gratitude back to you Beautiful Sis _/|\_

  • Catherine Depino

    Excellent article, Monique. It’s particularly relevant to me because I’m marketing a book on Mindfulness for kids after turning down an offer I didn’t think was fair. I loved the part about animals being mindful. I’ve seen this many times and believe that they are great role models who can teach how to live authentically. Keep writing, Monique. Your words are wise and insightful.

    • Monique

      Thank you, Catherine, for your beautiful comment and encouragement! It means a lot to me to hear this from you, as a writer!! Good luck with the marketing of your Mindfulness book, it is should be published! I believe, mindfulness can’t be taught early enough. It enriches the way of perceiving and experiencing life.
      Blessings to you dear Catherine!! _/|\_ Namaste

  • Karen

    Beautiful, Monique, such a wonderful blog and I echo Catherine….keep writing! You share so much of such value and bring great joy!

    Thank you dear friend, As always a delight to read your blogs which I love. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​♡

    • Monique

      Aaaah, thank you Karen dear, for your delightful encouragement. It helps to know that my blogs are appreciated and valued!! Feeling grateful!
      Much Love to you, and Namaste _/|\_

  • Gabriela

    “Obtaining simplicity isn’t always a simple process. It’s a journey, rather than a destination, and often with two steps forward and one backwards. Such as the cha-cha-cha, a moving process as part of the dance of life, a flow of joy, refinement and determination.”

    …with a smile on my face i must admit that this paragraph alone is enough to convince me to keep dancing the cha cha cha ! it embodies both sides …the hard work , sometimes with not “instant gratification” …and the joy of a beautiful dance ! I cannot but agree with your , once again , insightful advice , as you well know … a more simplified life is a much healthier life which allows us to be more attuned to who we really are …and keep life more under “control” …i mean that in the positive sense of the word !
    So thank you , dear Friend for setting this into the right perspective , once again …very helpful ! 🙂
    Loving hugs and Blessing to you <3

    • Monique

      Yes, keep dancing my friend, I know that’s where your heart and passion lies.
      It encourages me to revitalise and enjoy life’s ‘challenging’ processes. It makes them more appreciable and flowing, don’t you think Gabriela?
      For sure, simplification allows us to keep our life more synoptic, which causes inner peace. Like you’ve said, when we are more attuned to ourselves, we are better able to guide our life, with focus and clearness. ツ
      Thank you for your beautiful and loving words, dear friend. I know you’ve attained so much wisdom in your life, that my blogs are ‘simply’ reminders of what you already know.
      Loving Blessings to you, and a big hug ♡

      • Gabriela

        In Spite of my “life experience” , which is always a very relative reality , I’m so grateful to have you in my life , my dear, wise Monique ! you’re translating for me all I may have learned and know already , but never have been able to look at in such clear , focused way ! More blessings to you <3

        • Monique

          You are so very kind Gabriela!! One of the reasons we’ve crossed path with each other is clearly to enhance each others life!! Thank you dear and much Love to you ♡

  • Rit

    Dank je,lieve Monique voor je duidelijke uitleg!
    Het is zeker waar: we moeten de ballast die we niet meer nodig hebben,kunnen overboord gooien om op een eenvoudige manier te geraken,waar we willen.
    Niet zo gemakkelijk,want vooral onaangename herinneringen blijven me vooral ‘s nachts achtervolgen met chronisch slaaptekort als gevolg. En het zijn dikwijls 1 stap vooruit,2 achteruit…met wat geluk 2 vooruit,1 achteruit. Ballast van zovele jaren,zelfs foto’s zoals je aanhaalt,worden onoverzichtelijk en veel te groot,waardoor de essentie,het mooie moeilijk zichtbaar wordt en je door de bomen het bos niet meer ziet.
    In mijn huishouden ben ik daar nu mee bezig: rommelen en al de overtolligheden,ook kleding weg… wat het geheel overzichtelijk maakt. De weg is nog lang,en als ik eens wat beter moest slapen zou dit mooi inzicht van jou vlugger resultaat hebben!
    Dank je … hopen dat het me lukt!
    Warme knuf! (((❤️))) ❤️

    • Monique

      Lieve Rit,
      Bedankt voor het delen van je persoonlijke ervaring, die momenteel een uitdaging voor je is. Het positieve van jouw verhaal is dat je er goed van bewust bent wat je wilt veranderen en waar het hapert. Je bent zeer zeker op de goede weg!! Hoe meer je onderneemt in overeenstemming met je hart, hoe meer balans er in je leven zal komen. Je zult er je krachtiger door gaan voelen en vrediger, wat je nachtrust ook ten goede komt. Het is een krachtige manier om een visieuze cirkel te doorbreken!

      ‘s Nachts wakker liggen kan ook een teken zijn dat onze ziel met ons wilt communiceren, omdat we dan ontvankeljker zijn en beter in staat om naar onze innerlijke stem te luistern…. en daar gevolg aan kunnen geven gedurende de dag.

      Lieve Rit, ik wens je heel veel Liefde, Licht en Kracht toe, om de veranderingen in je leven to te passen die je datgene zullen geven wat jou gelukkig maakt!! YOU CAN DO IT!!

      Warme Omhelzing ( ( ( (❤️ ) ) ) )

  • Monalisa Joshi

    Hello Monique I am apologetic for the delayed reply, somehow my server is causing lot of trouble these days. I am very grateful to you that you brought forth this topic as I am myself a believer of this that simplicity is what makes us authentic and more appealing. I seen more and more people nowadays running in the rat race of making money with so hard lifestyle that gives them so less time for themselves and their children. I have done this myself whenever I suffered chaos at home I used to become so disturbed that I would go out and try to look for peace by any mean but now I have realized this, that peacefulness and happiness both comes from inside and only we can gift this to ourselves by following the simple rules and that is to be simple in thinking, if we won’t think anything complicated then our lives won’t be complicated either. So yes three cheers to simple living, simple thinking and simply being in the moment. Love you SiStar for always bringing such inspiring and uplifting great articles and yes not to forget you elaborate on the necessary details so well <3 good writing, keep the spirit going 🙂

    • Monique

      Monalisa dear,
      Thank you for your comment, which is never too late. Please never feel you have to reply, just go as it feels good to you! I know you are a busy woman and mother!! Precisely as you’ve written about the busyness we can experience in our lives, we need to simplify, in order to give it quality… especially for the people and activities we love!! If we feel peaceful inside, we will attract this equal energy, by just simply ‘being in the moment’.
      That is what I wish for you too SiStar! You and your family will benefit!
      Thank you once again for your generous words of appreciation Monalisa. It feels good to hear this from my colleague writer!! ツ
      Love and Peaceful Blessings to you and yours ♡

  • Monalisa Joshi

    Thank you dearest Monique for understanding and I must tell you that I actually love reading your blogs and since I consider this place to be like another home alike my blogging space where I can visit any time so I will come at my comfort and read your blogs and share my views 🙂 much love beloved Sistar <3

    • Monique

      Sounds wonderful to me Monalisa, to come visit whenever it feels good to you!! Nevertheless, it’s always the right time, for you and me! I take it as a compliment that you do so and I applause your strength and ability to discern what is best for you!!
      Much Love to you precious SiStar!! ♡

  • Michelle

    Great read, thank you.

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"Throughout my life I've worked through many life processes with the assistance of spiritual teachers, authors and guru's. However, the real change occurred when applying this knowledge into my daily life, directed with the wisdom of my heart and soul".Read More>>

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