Friday, March 21, 2008

Simplicity

What is simplicity?

According to MERRIAM-WEBSTER ONLINE, there are two entries that I found relevant
a: directness of expression : clarity b: restraint in ornamentation : austerity


If austerity were to refer to the external, tangible, physical stuff, that would be too superficial and does not provide us any insight into how clarity fits in as a synonym.

So, then, it has to be in the mind.
What state of the mind do we refer to as simple.

Let us say, you have been preparing hard for a job interview and now the day is nearing and you need a dress.

You go to the store, browse, select one and go to the check out counter, buy and come home.
Simple, right?

So,then, what would a non-simple mind have you do.

You go to the store, browse, select one, and while standing in the checkout line find this helpful and resourceful lady next to you in line, who tells you that,
for one penny more, you could buy another one of the same dress, 'It is the Penny Sale!'.
The next thing you know, you are driving home reveling in your good fortune and announcing the bargain sale to all your friends and some.

So why is this a non-simple behavior of a mind?
After all, you got such a value for almost nothing.

Because, in this instance, the mind lacks focus and clarity. There is clutter in the mind, in that, it cannot identify the priorities.

So then, Simplicity would equate to Clarity and Focus of the mind.
The clearer and focused you are about your priorities, the simpler you become.

When clarity and focus exist, your being expresses itself in all its glory.

Let Simplicity reign!

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Saturday, March 01, 2008

Coffee anyone....

A friend of mine recently sent this to me. It has a nice analogy that reminds us to focus on what matters most.

Enjoy Life


A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:
"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving

behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, sometimes that is the source of your problems and stress.
What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other's cups.


Now if Life is coffee, then money, position, etc. are the cups.
They are just containers to hold Life, but the quality of Life doesn't change.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

Don't let the cups distract you... Enjoy the coffee instead.


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