Simplify...Slow...Savor

Simplify

The thought of less is more has been put strongly on my heart over the course of the last few months. I have been caught up in doing too much and the feeling of being spread too thin. How many of you does that resonate with?

I am taking steps to streamline my life. To simplify. To live a life of less is more.

I am changing my schedule so I can get more rest. I am de-cluttering my house to the bare essentials to simplify my life and have less stuff.

I am doing more of what I love; writing, speaking, reading and mentoring.

My focus in life is moving from success to significance.

Enjoying life more from a simplicity standpoint.

Not filling up my days as much. Creating margin.

Enjoying the simple pleasures in life like a hot cup of coffee coupled with time reading the Bible and meditating.

How much better would our lives be if we took a less is more approach?

It happens in baby steps. Here is a great resource that I just got done reading called Power of Less by Leo Babauta.

Slow

We live in a fast paced world, there is no denying it. It’s easy to get caught up in a worldly pace. One thing I have been intentional about in my life that goes along with simplicity is slowing down.

Just stopping to take some deep breaths. To enjoy moonlit walks with my dog and stopping to reflect on God’s beauty.

To drive slowly, to eat slowly (definitely a work in progress for me) and to be totally present to my surroundings.

To drink in the goodness of life even when things don’t seem to be going my way. To notice a beautiful sunset even when the chips are down. God is still there with us.

What if we all just slowed down a bit? What calming presence would that have in our own lives and the lives around us?

Savor

Life goes by in a blink of an eye. My fifty-third birthday is fast approaching. I want to savor the moments in life that seem ordinary. That isn’t always easy to do.

I believe all three of these ideas go hand in hand.

When we simplify our lives we will slow down. When we slow down we will savor the moments more.

I was driving home the other evening after a particularly challenging day. I was driving west towards the mountains and the most spectacular sunset lifted my spirit immediately. 

The sunset told me that God is good all of the time even if our circumstances in life aren’t always good. I savored that sunset and smiled through my tears.

What if we savored the ordinary moments in our lives? Even the ones that seem like frustrations at the time.

I want to lift your spirit today by encouraging you to simplify your life. Whatever that looks like for you.

Slow down and smell the roses. We are missing some extraordinary things in ordinary moments.

Savor life. Life is too short not to live a life that makes you feel fully alive.

Live an inspired life of purpose by doing what you love.

Move from success to significance.

Troy Ismir

Spiritual Warrior Coach

Troyismir.com

Founder and Creator of Barbells & Brothers