"The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts into your mind, but how to get old ones out.
Every mind is a building filled with archaic furniture.
Clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it.
" | Dee Hock | I read many blogs that hold as their premise the concept of decluttering and simplifying your life (and admittedly consider Zen Habits and Unclutterer to be two of the best).
They promote minimal lifestyles rooted in principles of simplicity, productivity, and effectiveness.
They will teach you how to clean up your act, your house, your office, your kitchen, your Facebook friend's list, and just about everything else.
They will teach you about eating healthier, reducing your possessions, and generally narrowing things down to the bare essentials.
I read these blogs because I believe in what they're saying.
I buy what they're selling.
After following many of them for several months, however, I found sometimes myself wanting more...
or better yet...
seeking more.
I can clear out my closet, tidy up my living room, and throw away all the unnecessary papers in my office.
Doing these things can be very helpful, and once completed they bring me great satisfaction.
But, at least in my case, there are times when several days or weeks later, I will find the paperwork building up again.
There are other times when everything on the exterior remains lean, clean, and simple, yet I still feel confused and cluttered on the inside.
My mind is still jumbled.
And that has led me to the following conclusion.
In order to truly be free, to be truly more productive, less stressed, to think clearly, and live simply and creatively, we must be willing to go that extra mile.
Try to look at things in a different way.
We must be willing to look inward, examine our own Self, and take the necessary steps to declutter our minds.
Without doing this, all the other measures you take can inevitably become temporary and finding real peace can be elusive.
Here are six ways to get you thinking about yourself, turning within, and decluttering the one thing that will truly set you free.
1.
Don't think what is, think what you want to be.
Focus on your goals, your dreams, and your passions.
There will always be a disconnect between how things are, and how you would like them to be.
Point your thoughts towards the latter, and you will find that the distance between the two will become less apparent.
2.
Let go of the past.
Don't forget it, but let it go.
What is past is prologue.
3.
Simplify your thought process.
The formula is simple.
Keep good thoughts in, and bad thoughts out.
4.
Do not dwell on the things that you cannot control.
This requires incredible discipline.
And is the hardest of all to accomplish.
But you must try.
If you are involved with something that is out of your control, something you cannot immediately do something about, then get it out of your mind.
Put it aside for a while, and the time will come when you can change it.
5.
Discover your inner Self, and leave it at that.
Sometimes it's OK to just focus on you for a while.
Think about what moves you, what inspires you.
What makes you most comfortable, creative, and productive.
Focus on these things.
Meditate extensively upon them.
You can start small by just dedicating ten minutes a day to really put your mind towards the things you want.
6.
Don't be afraid to be alone.
Solace can be extremely rewarding.
Go to a movie by yourself.
Treat yourself to a solo dinner.
Spend significant time in solitude.
When you do, your mind will wander, and you will begin to understand how your thought process really works.
Having such an understanding is impossible if you are constantly surrounded by other people.
Every mind is a building filled with archaic furniture.
Clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it.
" | Dee Hock | I read many blogs that hold as their premise the concept of decluttering and simplifying your life (and admittedly consider Zen Habits and Unclutterer to be two of the best).
They promote minimal lifestyles rooted in principles of simplicity, productivity, and effectiveness.
They will teach you how to clean up your act, your house, your office, your kitchen, your Facebook friend's list, and just about everything else.
They will teach you about eating healthier, reducing your possessions, and generally narrowing things down to the bare essentials.
I read these blogs because I believe in what they're saying.
I buy what they're selling.
After following many of them for several months, however, I found sometimes myself wanting more...
or better yet...
seeking more.
I can clear out my closet, tidy up my living room, and throw away all the unnecessary papers in my office.
Doing these things can be very helpful, and once completed they bring me great satisfaction.
But, at least in my case, there are times when several days or weeks later, I will find the paperwork building up again.
There are other times when everything on the exterior remains lean, clean, and simple, yet I still feel confused and cluttered on the inside.
My mind is still jumbled.
And that has led me to the following conclusion.
In order to truly be free, to be truly more productive, less stressed, to think clearly, and live simply and creatively, we must be willing to go that extra mile.
Try to look at things in a different way.
We must be willing to look inward, examine our own Self, and take the necessary steps to declutter our minds.
Without doing this, all the other measures you take can inevitably become temporary and finding real peace can be elusive.
Here are six ways to get you thinking about yourself, turning within, and decluttering the one thing that will truly set you free.
1.
Don't think what is, think what you want to be.
Focus on your goals, your dreams, and your passions.
There will always be a disconnect between how things are, and how you would like them to be.
Point your thoughts towards the latter, and you will find that the distance between the two will become less apparent.
2.
Let go of the past.
Don't forget it, but let it go.
What is past is prologue.
3.
Simplify your thought process.
The formula is simple.
Keep good thoughts in, and bad thoughts out.
4.
Do not dwell on the things that you cannot control.
This requires incredible discipline.
And is the hardest of all to accomplish.
But you must try.
If you are involved with something that is out of your control, something you cannot immediately do something about, then get it out of your mind.
Put it aside for a while, and the time will come when you can change it.
5.
Discover your inner Self, and leave it at that.
Sometimes it's OK to just focus on you for a while.
Think about what moves you, what inspires you.
What makes you most comfortable, creative, and productive.
Focus on these things.
Meditate extensively upon them.
You can start small by just dedicating ten minutes a day to really put your mind towards the things you want.
6.
Don't be afraid to be alone.
Solace can be extremely rewarding.
Go to a movie by yourself.
Treat yourself to a solo dinner.
Spend significant time in solitude.
When you do, your mind will wander, and you will begin to understand how your thought process really works.
Having such an understanding is impossible if you are constantly surrounded by other people.