Keep Things Simple
Keep Things Simple
Remember: Simple, doesn’t mean easy. Some of the simplest things to do are often the most difficult. The following are some simple things to do to keep you motivated and living the easy life.
Don’t expect too much
Not everything will ever go your way. Something will always seem like its missing. The moment your emotions get a grip on you, you start to create huge assumptions. And then you lose. Expect the worst, the best, and at the same time, nothing at all.
Don’t criticize
Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the same advantages that you’ve had. It’s easy to criticize, but much harder to realize that the reason why you’re criticizing is probably out of fear or jealousy or just because you’re bored.
Be present
Live in that moment. Be aware of everything that you’re doing, feeling, and telling yourself. Learn to fight through it. Learn to stop making excuses every time your body feels discomfort. Learn to do this with everything that you do.
Be kind
It’s simple. If no one likes you, you probably won’t get too far in life.
Tell yourself a different story
There was a quote from Mad Men said by the leading character, Don Draper:
If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.
This goes for what you say to others and what you say to yourself. It’s that simple.
Redefine everything in your life
Chances are, you’ve been told the same lies I've been told about what success and power represent to defining what a good life is. We have been conditioned to believe that the material positions for success like a nice car, the house on the hill, a well-paying job, 6-pack abs, or whatever luxury item that is waved in front of our face defines success. Those things are not a success. They can be, but they don’t have to be. The American Dream may not work for you, but it may work for someone else.
Hugh Macleod’s said this: Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.
Redefine what success means to you. Redefine what life means to you. Redefine all the lies that were instilled in you to keep you a safe consumer, destined to follow someone else’s dream. Once you know what you truly want, go and earn it.
Ask why
Ask yourself why you do the things that you do. If you have trouble coming up with a meaningful reason, then chances are you shouldn’t do it. Be very clear on why you do what you do, and if there’s a true purpose behind it, ask yourself how you can do it better. Sometimes the best questions aren’t the ones we ask others, but the ones we ask ourselves. With honesty and care.
Do you
Stop focusing and worrying about how other people live their life. Life becomes a whole lot better when you learn to shut out the outside noise and focus on the sound going on in your mind.
A key point to bear in mind: The value of attentiveness varies in proportion to its object. You’re better off not giving the small things more time than they deserve. — Marcus Aurelius
Looking to master some productivity, here are easy productivity tips
Don’t watch T.V (or at least, minimize your intake of entertainment drastically).
Identify all the distractions in your life, and without a magic wand, eliminate them. Have trouble eliminating them? I know why: Fear.
Ask yourself why you log onto Instagram, Facebook or Twitter a 100 times a day.
Focus on the things that help you grow as a person — learning, reading, gaining experience, doing your work.
Exercise your craft daily, whatever it may be. No days off.
Lao Tzu said it best:
"Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to."
Life can be truly joyfully and simple. Let’s try to keep it that way.
Written by Paul Jun
Source: Motivated Mastery