High
maintenance or simplicity? Which lifestyle describes you? Anxiety, worry, and
stress or a calm peace and freedom—your choices make a difference.
June’s Awakening, Day 13
Ten
principles for the outward expression of simplicity:
1. Purchase
items for their usefulness rather than their status. Base your purchases on
practicality, functionality, and need.
2. Reject
anything that may produce a compulsion of excess in your life and keep you in
bondage. This would include any purchases that may enable an obsession or
addiction or anything that is difficult for you to control or say no to. You
may need professional help to assist you in these matters.
3. Develop a
healthy habit of giving things away. Do not accumulate unnecessary things and
do not become too attached to any one thing. Declutter and decrease everything
but essentials.
4. Refuse to
be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry. It will wear out and
rarely do these devices ever save us time. Technology sometimes takes up more
of our time rather than freeing us. You must be wise in these areas.
5. Do not be
obsessed with owning everything. Learn to utilize things by borrowing, sharing,
or having friends help or hire help. Control is an illusion and deceptive. Here
is the general formula to remember: Possessions=Maintenance=Bondage in time and
money.
6. Develop a
deeper appreciation for God’s creation, get closer to nature, and more
agrarian. Having even a small garden is a lot of work, but the benefits can be tremendous
in many respects. Obviously, those who live in rural areas will have a much
easier time accomplishing this.
7. Avoid
buying on credit as much as possible. Spend only what you have and make sure
plans are in place for saving, emergencies, and getting out of debt. Smart
money management is key in controlling stress, worry, and anxiety. You may need
professional help here too.
8. Make
honesty and integrity the distinguishing characteristics of your speech and
actions. Let yes be yes and no be no, without ambiguity or being political.
Keeping your mind clear brings an inner peace.
9. Reject the
purchase of anything that would breed the oppression of others, such as forced
labor or child labor or any unhealthy working conditions. Let your purchases
and support reflect the highest of ethics.
10. Shun
anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God. This could
include possessions, a job, a position or title, status, unhealthy
relationships—anything that vies to take first place in your life besides God.
As you can see, many of these
simplicity principles we can all easily incorporate into our lives. It takes an
attitude adjustment and a heartfelt determination, but benefits can be reaped
not only spiritually, but also mentally, emotionally, and physically. It’s time
to get simple.
Author Web Page Link
No comments:
Post a Comment