I tend to overthink things. I don’t know if that comes to me naturally or if it was instilled in me as a child through well-meaning adults. Doesn’t matter. What is, is.
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I’d been pondering my tendency to overthink when I happened to see this Cary Grant quote. It seemed like the perfect mantra to adopt during my favorite season of the year. Why not think less? Keep life simple. Occupy myself more with doing.
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Later while surfing the net, I stumbled upon this Paulo Coelho quote, which reinforced my newfound desire to live simply. I mean, who doesn’t want to find the extraordinary things? I can do that. I’ll be wise.
So it is with the foregoing in mind that I’ve decided to groove on simplicity for the next few months. I don’t know exactly what that means, but I figure if the Universe has gone out of its way to make sure that I get this “simplify” message, then the message is important. Hallelujah, eh? Make it so.
THE SPECTACLED BEAN 
When we eliminate the extraneous, we are left with the essential. Enjoy!
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nrhatch, true. Of course, the difficulty is deciding what is the extraneous! 😉
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This simple stuff is hard
Does the 3 box method work with habits/thoughts/ideas too? You know: stuff to keep, stuff to give away, stuff to keep for one more season-to see-if-it-comes-back-in style-but-it-won’t-so-you-might-as-well-toss-it-now-so it’s-really-a-2-box-method.
HA! More simple already.
(and it is a great idea that I’m working on, too…but you can’t tell from this comment…)
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philmouse, you make me laugh! The 3 box method might be the way I need to go when contemplating how to simplify my life this autumn. Especially, if I adopt your revised 3 box method [aka the 2 box method]. Will let you know how this all works out as I find out along the way.
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This is how I’ve been attempting to live. I’ve been a lot happier since I started.
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Jennifer, it’s encouraging to learn that by simplifying you’re happier. I’m not sure where this idea is going to take me, but the time is right for me to try.
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I love the idea of keeping everything simple and I am in the process of decluttering before renovating. Sometimes it seems more complicated before we reach that point of simple bliss. I am on board of the 3 box method I think it could simplify things 🙂
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belle, I’ve always said that you have to embrace complexity before you can get to simplicity. Maybe that is what I’m really trying to do here. Deal with the complexity now so that I can live more simply later. Or maybe I’m overthinking it again!
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Hah! Me too. I guess maybe the best answer just is to go with the flow. If you saw my day planner you would know I am terrible at it. lol.
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belle, I’ll try to plan less, decide more and go with the flow this fall. Although like you, my Franklin planner would suggest this whole “simplify” message is a pipe dream!
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Hah! We can keep trying that’s the fun part!
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I love that Cary Grant quote. That’s how my husband approaches life, and as an over-thinker myself, I admire his ability to do that. Your post has encouraged me to try to simply things, too. We’ll see how long it lasts…
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Carrie, I know! I want to be less burdened by my own propensity to plan and fret, but to do so seems like craziness. Which is a burden. [Somehow whenever I talk about simplifying I back myself into a corner, don’t I?]
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🙂
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Plans never work out for me. I’m so glad they don’t. I wouldn’t have met MTM. Or written books. Or taken trips. As a recovered planner, I say letting go can be done. Good luck!!
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Andra, you make a good case for letting go of plans. Obviously it’s worked out great for you. I’ll try to follow your lead this autumn and see where it takes me!
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Excellent words to live by. My uncle taught me by his actions, the simple things are the best. I try to remember that while I over-plan my life!
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robin, doesn’t it seem like it should be simpler to live a simple life than it is?! I’m going to give it a good try– at least for one season.
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My problem is my personality. I’m an over thinker! Of course I know what I should do, but when it comes down to it, I follow my normal patterns. I like simplicity, yet I don’t like feeling like I’m missing the complexities of life either. I’ve had to become excellent at seizing the moments though. Cancer will do that to you.
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Margaret, when it comes to my personal daily life I’m as mellow as the day is long. But once I add people to the mix, I tend to start over-thinking/complicate what I’m [we’re] doing. I suppose part of it is the personality trait that comes with being an only child [oldest sibling] who doesn’t want to disappoint her parents [other people]. Seems like I should be beyond that kind of behavior by now, doesn’t it? 😉
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I absolutely love each of your boxes. Cary Grant’s philosophy is right on, Paulo’s quote is something I want to start living, and Hallelujah is one of my most favorite songs! Now that will be the worm in my head all day! Good luck with not over thinking your life:)
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Beth, glad that you liked the quotes. I found it interesting that they appeared before me in the order that they did. Now all I have to do is heed their advice. No problem, right?
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Sounds like a good idea, one I could certainly try adopting as well.
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Catherine, I’m trying to simplify without overthinking it, but so far it’s only by thinking about it that I can simplify. This is not as easy as it sounds! 🙂
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