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Why Less Is Powerful?


 Why Less is Powerful?  The first chapter of Leo Babauta's book, "The Power of Less.  The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential."  I bought this book without knowing that subconsciously I was hoping for a magic pill or a specific how to list in simplifying by overly stuffed and packed life.  No magic pill included.  

The world view and philosophy behind the work does not match my own.  Knowing that allows me to read the book for the tools and strategies that I can pull from it and apply to my life.  I will share these great strategies with you.  But not yet.

But for true simplicity-I have to have the mind of Christ.  To know Him.  To endeavor with every ounce of my being to follow his example.  The example He has given of dying to self.  Of how He sees and does and is.  

To BECOME Less.

True simplicity and contentment can not be found.  It is given.  It is not manufactured.  It was purchased.  My being is not a bookshelf where pieces of myself are as individuals books pulled down and then put away.  My entire being has to be surrendered.  All in.  Or rather All Out. 

This is the Cry of My Heart.  To live fully and simply.  To be in total surrender and submission and yet bold and courageous in what God calls me to be and do.  

1.  First step to Less:   I have to get my head on straight:
  •  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. .Col. 3:1-25
  • For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phil. 1:21 ESV
  • Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 1John 2:6 ESV
  • I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV
  • So simplicity begins with abiding in Christ.  Putting myself aside.  Lifting Him up.  Living in and for Him.

2.   Second step to Less:  Stopping the Madness.  Prioritize.

  • What it is important?  Essential?
  • We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy. 'We buy things we do not want to impress people we do not like.' ...It is time to awaken to the fact that conformity to a sick society is to be sick.”― Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
 
3.  Third step to Less:  Choose the Essential.  Set Limits!
  • Babauta's book gives two principle points to simple productivity.  1.  "By setting limitations we must choose the essential." 2. "In choosing the essential we create great impact with minimal resources and maximize time and energy."
  • What area of my life do I need to set limits?  
  • Which area first? What areas seem overloaded? 


4.  Fourth step to MY Less:  Weekend Job.
  • De-Junk.  
    • Clean off and deal with all paperwork on table and dresser.
    • File all paperwork either in cabinet or trash.
    • Clean out vehicle.
    • Clean off desk at work.
    • Unsubscribe to newsletters that I never read and plug up my email.
    • Check email 3 times a day ONLY.
    • Facebook and Blog 2 times a day. 
    • Mail needed items waiting to be done.

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