Is less really more?

Too many colours blind the eye.

Too many tones deafen the ear.

Too many flavours dull the taste.

Too many thoughts weaken the mind.

Too many desires wither the heart.

The Master observes the world

but trusts his inner vision.

He allows things to come and go.

His heart is as open as the sky

-Tao te ching, ch 12.

The idea of giving things up and going without is something most of us push against. After all;

I've earned it. I worked hard enough for it, it's convenient, I'd just rather not wait when I can have it now. 

In the west most of us have a better standard of living than the kings of the middle ages and millenia past, Minus perhaps the notoriety and power. OK maybe your castle is a bit smaller but we all have more than anyone could need and often just a click away. The variety of food in the supermarket, the choice of clothes, leisure activities, careers, holiday destinations… how many of the old kings managed to get away to Mexico, Thailand or Australia for a few weeks?

The technological and sociological advancement of the last century have given us so much freedom, along with overwhelming possibilities that sometimes  can feel more like a burden than an advantage. 

You might be wondering, what does having so much have to do with giving things up? The truth is everything. The more we have the more we want, the more we collect, hord and indulge in. Until the thing we started with that gave us that glimpse of joy we are chasing is discarded as worthless. We enter somewhere along the way into a pattern of consumerism that is literally woven through our 21st century lifestyle. We are targeted from infancy by the laser scope of a precision marketing machine. Fair game. 

We would do well at this point to remember some basic truths. Our value as people is not in what we own, how we look or what countries we have visited. All these things are available to us. We can buy them and that's not to say that they are bad. The question I ask myself is; but how much is too much?

Let me put it another way, how can I enjoy the things I have, the simple things in life and avoid trying to fill my time with distraction or chasing a feeling I'm told I should feel when I go on that holiday or  buy that car.

It's difficult to untangle ourselves from the only system we know. It's not far away from the idea of turning off the matrix to find what's real. Can we turn off the TV? Stop looking at the internet news ticker? reduce the amount of music we listen too. Most of us would agree that to much of anything can have a negative impact on us. Imagine though if that anything is everything. All of this audible, visual, emotional, simulation we receive At a certain point becomes a distraction to our own lives. We chose a form of consuming voyeurism, choosing rather to watch than to act, our lives seem out of our control. Things seem to happen to us and we don't like it so we seek relief in distraction and the circle perpetuates all manner of addictive behaviors, whatever the drug. The name of the game is escape. 

It's time to stop running and take a look around. Don't you want to become the master you are meant to be? The master of your own life and able to appreciate what you have. 

Spend time by yourself, leave the devices behind and start by being alone. This might be difficult at first, our first instinct is always to return to safety. 

During this time maybe 30 minutes to an hour, note down what thoughts go through your mind just observe them as you would a car driving past. They are what they are. 

Ask yourself the important questions, what you really want out of life? 

This pactised on a regular basis mindfulness has been proven to lower stress and help individuals learn about themselves, to allow the mind to become quite. You're also creating space for you. You're important, your psyche, your body needs breaks. 

Take time in the morning before work or school to do this. Combine it with yoga or stretching if you like that's what I do. Make it a habit. 

Start being creative again, if you had a hobby you used to do try taking it up again instead of couching in front of the TV. We are creative beings and this is often the first step in finding a life purpose. Rather than using things made by others we start making our own. Cooking, sowing or gardening are great examples of skills we can learn to encourage that creation spirit. Focusing our attention on tasks helps keep the mind sharp, and following a process from start to finish… well! that's what life's all about. 

Work on your relationships, give those around you who care and support you more time. Share your journey with them. And don't be afraid to leave the relationships that don't help you be better. Everyone has to find their own way and letting some people go is better for you and them. 

The more we observe our lives and gradually start making changes that help ourselves grow and to find our own path. As we find out what things a most important. The more we realise we don't need so much. The spaces we had filled with distraction become the spaces in us we start living in. Passion for life grows along with natural talent and vibrancy. We notice how our mind and body reacts to certain situations more and we start tuning into ourselves and the world around us. Now we are growing and we start driving our lives, we move away from the rat race of consuming and make our own way through the world. 

That's the goal at least, it's a process that's never done. A lifetime occupation. But it's very rewarding. Open your heart to life and you will fly. Don't stay in comfort just because it's comfortable you have so much potential. The possibilities are yours forthe taking.