Choosing the Simply Beautiful Life

1. Choosing the Simply Beautiful Life

2. Letting go of non-essentials so that you can joyfully embrace what’s most important to you—that’s what it means to live a “simply beautiful” life.

3. Choosing simplicity involves clearing away clutter that detracts from the true purpose and beauty of your life. It means taking a fresh look at what you really value, and making sure you’re spending your time, energy and money to support your cherished goals.

4. Living Your Values • Think about your values, dreams and life goals. List the 5 most important things you want to do with your life from this point on. • 2. Pretend you’ll suddenly die in three months. List the most important things you want to do with your remaining time. • 3. Are your two lists in harmony? Of all the things you listed, put a star by the 3 most important. • What new steps toward your dreams and key goals do you want to begin taking?

5. Yearning for BalanceNATIONAL SURVEY RESULTS • 66 percent of Americans wanted to spend more time with family and friends. • 56 percent called for a less hectic, more relaxed approach to life. • 80 percent agreed that most of us buy and consume far more than we need. • 30 percent had voluntarily downshifted to a simpler lifestyle

6. Wake-Up Calls Examples: Surviving a plane crash with minor injuries, or being revived from cardiac arrest after a near-death experience. The result is always the same: A reminder that our life is precious, that we no longer have time for pettiness, that we have much to give, and the time for doing what is important is now.

7. Need or Greed? • The average American uses far more than his or her share of our planet’s resources. • We generate more trash—by a long shot—than any other citizens of the world. • The United States ranks first in billionaires andnumber one in children and elderly living in poverty. • We rank number one in big homes andnumber one in homelessness.

8. Clearing Away Clutter How much clutter is there in your drawers, closets, attic, basement, garage, and living areas that is taking up space and is seldom or never used? What specific, creative suggestions can you offer for getting rid of old clutter and preventing new clutter?

9. Making Fresh Starts Another kind of clutter gets in the way of a simply beautiful life— old hurts and resentments. • What suggestions can you offer for working through and releasing old emotional clutter? • What role can forgiveness play in freeing one from past hurts and resentments? • What are the benefits of forgiveness?

10. Universal Shopping List • Do I really need this? Is there anything I can use instead? • Will this item bring enjoyment and beauty into my life? • Is the cost of the item worth the time it takes to earn the money to buy it? • Could I buy it used? Borrow it? Rent it? Share the purchase with someone else? • How will this purchase affect the environment?

11. Intuition SimplifiesDecision Making • Honor your gut feelings and other signals from your body-mind. • Heed your conscience—“the still, small voice within.” • Pay attention to the feelings, thoughts and pictures that “pop” into your awareness. • Exercise discriminationandcourage in following through on your inner guidance.

12. The Time Eater: Television • Briefly discuss the pros and cons of TV. • ? ? ? How much is enough ? ? ? Try this:Limit your TV watching to 7 or less hours a week. Based on typical American television viewing habits, you’ll gain at least700 hours of free time each year.

13. Drowsy America • Millions are seriously sleep-deprived. • About half of us don’t get enough sleep. What problems are caused by sleepiness and lack of alertness? What are some suggestions for solving the problem of inadequate rest?

14. Do What You Love When you follow your true passion, you are: • More cheerful • More inwardly satisfied • Physically healthier • Able to give more to others • More energized

15. Support Yourself When we start to make positive changes in our lives, we often run into resistance. • Start a Simply Beautiful Journal. • Get together with like-minded friends. • Enjoy inspirational reading. • Arrange periods of quiet time. • Know when to say “no.” • Spend time with nature. Ways to Support Yourself

16. Surround Yourself with Beauty Pay more attention to what enchants you. As you dwell on beauty, you attract its healing qualities into your inner and outer worlds. § § § What are some creative ways of adding more touches of beauty to our lives? § § § Beauty delights the heart and nourishes our souls.

17. Pause and Enjoy Tune into and enjoy the countless wonders with which life constantly surrounds us. Remember: The past is a memory, the future a dream. But right now—this moment— is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.

18. A Grateful Heart Heartfelt thankfulness is a simple practice, one that awakens us to the goodness of life and reminds us that we are awash in a sea of blessings.

19. To be content with what we have at this moment, to bloom now where we are planted —this is the wisdom of gratitude, this is the very foundation of a simply beautiful life.