LEARNING TO LIVE SIMPLY

How are you handling the deluge of information regarding the recession? Is it making you wild with fear of the unknown, and leading to high levels of stress and anxiety? If your answer is yes, then let me assure you, you are not alone! This is an area of concern I hear in many coaching sessions with clients, and in conversations with friends, and colleagues.

So what do we do with the unknown? How can we manage the fear, stress and anxiety? If you have been keeping up with my newsletters, or have been a coaching client you know by now that I am an advocate for three life-changing concepts. It begins with the BE part of our lives.

1. Raise your awareness and be mindful of what God is up to.
2. Change your mindset, and it will change our behavior and the results that we experience.
3. What we do NOW will affect our future.

You may already have a good grasp on these three concepts and are able to say, "it is what it is." You are letting God give you comfort in what your life, finances and career are in this moment. You have surrendered your need to control and are living in the flow, not the fight or flight. You have come to a place of internal peace. So what else might you need?

You know me well enough by now that I always like to throw out other thoughts to ponder. There is another realm that exists to these BE concepts. It is true, when we get in a state of flow in our Spirit, Mind and Body, we experience more of God's peace and clarity. However, reality is still present. Those pesky things like: coming up with the money to pay our mortgage, dealing with our fading retirement, and bringing in extra income have not gone away. In addition, we are constantly weighing things like: taking care of our body by eating healthy foods when the cost seems too high, or how to enjoy life without spending much money, and the list goes on.

That brings us to the DO part of our lives. What do you think about the concept, "Learning to Live Simply?" How many people know how to thread a needle and mend their clothes, grow and store their own food, use what they already own for a different purpose, be creative in entertaining, create and live on a budget, or start a business or a side job to create extra income. I think it's time to come together and share our ideas about what we are doing to Live Simply. Teach those who are willing to learn, and be willing to learn from each other.

Here is an idea... Below are a few suggestions of things that I do or have learned from others to "Live Simply." In turn, you have the opportunity to share with us what you are doing to "Live Simply." If we look at this time in our economy and our lives as an opportunity to help and serve each other, we will be better for it and will be able to brave the storms in a unified force.

By the way, this doesn't have to be rocket science, hence the idea Living Simply. Think of it as expanding our reality and enjoying life in a full and different way.

1. Divert your energy and attention from your fading retirement/savings to something that you can contribute to the world: volunteer, go on a mission trip, write a book, or start a business that will help others...

2. Need extra income? Make a list of all your skills. How can you turn those skills into a side business? Think creatively, for instance I have a cosmetology degree I haven't used in a few years, so I started up a traveling hair and nails service. Maybe you are good at clerical work. Who do you know that is super busy and may need an "on call assistant?" Ask them! Are you great at scrap booking? How many people have you heard say they want one but don't have the time or energy to create it themselves? Have you built something that is beautiful and functional? Who do you know that might want to buy one or three or a hundred.

3. Grow a garden. Don't feel stuck if you are in an apartment or rental. Make a box garden or keep your plants in pots. Grow enough vegetables to freeze or can to last throughout the year. I have also done this with fruit trees/vines. Get your kids involved. It's a chance to spend time with them and you are teaching a lost art to a future generation. If you don't have the know how or space to grow a garden, ask for help or share a space with someone. If you don't like the idea of a garden, buy food at a bulk supply store or shop at farmers markets, freeze or can for future use.

4. Mend your clothes. If you don't know how ask someone who does and teach your kids while your at it.

5. Instead of buying new, re-use your furniture for a different purpose. By doing this you have something original that not everyone else has. My sister-in-law is amazing at this. She had an old beat up piano, ripped the top off and turned it into a beautiful shelving unit to hold her antique plates.

Now it's your turn. Thanks in advance for sharing your ideas.