“Voluntary simplicity means going fewer places in one day rather than more, seeing less so I can see more, doing less so I can do more, acquiring less so I can have more.” Jon Kabat-Zinn
Thank you Shamash Alidina for reminding me of this quote from Jon Kabat-Zinn (a key player in bringing mindfulness into the mainstream) and the accompanying simplicity mindful meditation. A great reminder that in a world of excess we can get wrapped up in the ‘having’ and ‘doing’ and forget about the beauty within and around us.
This quote conveys many learnings into a simple statement that can act as a great reminder to us in a busy day. We are often rushing from one thing to ‘do’ to the next, ticking off from our virtual list whether it is making one more phone call or running one more errand. We are driven to live our lives to the full without stopping to appreciate the wonder already around us. This quote reminds me not just to slow down and appreciate the moment but also to use my brain wisely.
There are so many messages and prompts in this quote below are some of my reflections:
..going fewer places in one day, seeing less so I can have more…
I remember when I was on a business trip to an exotic location with a younger colleague who, in our spare time, wanted to get as many landmark photos as possible to post on Instagram. In fact, he was felt the pressure to do as many sites as possible. The important thing was that he had been there and taken a photo even though it meant there was no time to experience each of the sites and all that they had to offer.
We decided to split up and I selected the top 2-3 sites to visit on the trip which allowed me to have the pleasure of really experiencing them, to learn about them and soak up the atmosphere all which helped to create lasting memories.
This reminded me that the mind has different modes of operating which different functions through which our experiences are processed. The ‘doing mind’ and the ‘being mind’. The doing mode experience focuses on action until it is accomplished such as achieving as many photos as possible. The being mode is the ability to shift perspective to connect directly with the world around you and your internal experience.
…seeing less so I can see more…
Even if you slow down and do fewer things you can still be focused on the ‘doing’ and so we can often look at something but do not really take in the details as our mind is busy thinking of something else. Thinking is a feature of the ‘doing mind’ such as thinking about what needs to be done or worrying about what we have done or not done. We are distracted and so take in only a few details or we see what we want to see that align with the thoughts and feelings going on in our heads. This is one reason why two people who see the same thing can describe them very differently. Quietening the mind and learning to ‘be’ will enable you to clear the mind and focus your attention so you can see more detail.
…doing less so I can do more …
We are taught if we want more in our lives, we need to do more and so our lives become a list of dos and we spend our lives juggling and learning to multitask. How many of us check our phone whilst talking to someone or checking social media while speaking on the phone or watching the telly. Multitasking has been found to increase the generation of cortisol (stress hormone) and adrenaline (fight or flight hormone) which can lead to burn out and mental fog. Our brains are not designed to multitask, what actually happens is that our brain switches very quickly from one task to the other. Our attentional capacity – the space in our brain required to perform a task is limited, so as we multitask the information in our attentional space required to support each task has to switch. Combining tasks that makes use of the wider resources of the subconscious mind can enable more effective multitasking but the real nirvana is to get into the flow state. Flow state or ‘getting into the zone’ is a highly productive state when attention is on one activity alone and both internal and external distractions are removed. An example for me is a long distant plane journey with headphones, no internet and no sense of time which has enabled me to achieve the flow state and complete highly complex tasks. Recall a time when you have been really productive, you have lost track of time and felt exhilarated with what you have achieved. The flow state enables you to achieve high performance whilst in a calm and less chaotic state which is better for your overall wellbeing.
… acquiring less so you can have more…
This is wonderful statement to pause and reflect on in a world where acquisition of material things is so sought after. It reminds me to appreciate what we have before we acquire more. Research has found that the anticipation of buying something special or going away on holiday can generate the same pleasure responses as the real thing. The looking forward and the planning can therefore all add to the experience. Acquiring less and enjoying the anticipation of each purchase and then enjoying the purchase before looking to the next one, can provide greater pleasure than a number of purchases.
Overall, the quote reminds me to be in the moment, fully to experience life as we live it and to lead a mindful life. To finish another beautiful quote from Paulo Coelho the author of the Alchemist and many more books.
‘The Simple things are also the most extraordinary things and only the wise can see them.’
Paulo Coelho
