Simple Is As Simple Does
When in doubt, do what makes sense to you
"Don't worry about what you can't do; focus instead on what you can do... And then do it."
— Billy Graham —
Why Don’t We Want to Be Simple?
Why do we complicate everything, including and most importantly, our lives?
Is this the human condition? In our quest for simplicity, do we end up securing the exact opposite?
Indeed, sometimes life just gets out of our hands, and we are unable to make it as simple as we would like.
It’s life’s sure way of showing us the value of something, so we realise its importance enough to desire it.
Why Keep It Simple?
One of the biggest advantages of keeping it simple is that our consumption of everything reduces. This has a significant positive effect on our wealth, and in turn our wellbeing.
The Weight of Expectation
One of the main factors that makes life complicated is living according to other people’s expectations. Satisfying other people, and living our life according to their wishes, likes, and dislikes, shoots down our peace of mind.
Sure, we shouldn’t be living for ourselves all the time. That would be selfish. And doing what other people want, especially our genuine well-wishers, helps us lead a more fulfilled life in many ways, and it also has the benefit of pulling us out of our comfort zone, which is perhaps always a good thing.
So What Is Simple?
Simple is as simple does. We can’t be doing something that is extreme to us, something that just doesn’t align with our energy, because someone else finds it easy. Walking on a tightrope, for example, may be perfectly simple and doable for a tightrope walker, but a downright dangerous prospect for an ordinary person.
Simplicity as Inner Alignment
Simplicity isn’t the absence of difficulty—it’s the presence of alignment. When we’re in tune with what matters to us, life feels simpler, no matter how busy it gets. We think clarity will come from clearing the decks, but often it comes from tuning in.
Simplicity at the Breaking Point
When we find ourselves in a corner, the best way out is often rooted in simplicity. Simplicity opens the door when we face an impasse. In our trials and tribulations, when nothing seems to work, praying seems to be the only option available. Nothing could be simpler, but we’re given to doubting this course of action because it’s so unfussy and unpretentious.
“Keep It Simple, Stupid”
Often the phrase “keep it simple stupid” has come to the rescue of aeronautical engineers, who design the most complex flying machines, but are guided by this dictum, to keep repairs simple, so that their aircraft can function in the field as a practicable asset, and not as a burdensome white elephant.
The Illusion of Complexity
Sometimes we mistake complexity for intelligence. Or for importance. A convoluted plan or a tangled lifestyle can give the illusion of status. But perhaps the truly wise make things look easy, not difficult. Simplicity is not a lack of depth—it’s often the sign of having thought deeply and chosen cleanly.
Do What’s Simple for You
So let’s mostly do what is simple for us, for our own health.