How To Live A Simple Life and Attain Serenity

Simplifying life is a goal many strive for. But how can we do that in an increasingly complex and demanding world? Finding balance and harmony can often be overwhelming and complicated. One way to achieve this is by developing a good character and living a Stoic lifestyle led by virtue. Buddy, what has this to do with a simple life? Good question! Stay curious and read on if you're open to new ideas.

TL;DR

• Simplicity is the reduction of complexity.
• To live a simple life, you must reduce your inner and outer complexities.
• Stoicism provides powerful approaches to learning how to manage those complexities.

Understanding Simplicity

So, you want to simplify your life? With the help of Stoicism, you can do that, but before we start, let's come to a common understanding of simplicity. I'll focus on the things related to living a simple life instead of going into all the different aspects of simplicity - just for the sake of simplicity.

What is simplicity?

According to Merriam-Webster, simplicity is the state of being simple, uncomplicated, or uncompounded. It's the directness of expression or thought and freedom from complexity.

In short - simplicity is the reduction of complexity in all areas of life.

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What is a simple life?

Let's bridge the gap to a simple life. A simple life is free of complications, distractions, and commitments that don't bring value. Everything that doesn't align with one's goals is removed.

There are two ways to reduce complexity and live a simple lifestyle:

1. Cultivating a harmonious inner world.
2. Organizing the physical world and your environment for simplicity.

A simple life requires less of your time and mental energy while giving you a greater sense of freedom and peace of mind.

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Cultivating a harmonious inner world

Our minds can be compared to hyperactive monkeys leaping from one tree branch to another with ceaseless energy. Each tree represents a different thought, each branch a new idea. One moment, our monkey mind is on the tree of past memories, pondering stories long past. Then it's jumping to the tree of future anxieties or worries, imagining stories about what could go wrong. Lastly, there's the tree of present distractions, and our inner monkey can't wait to jump off to this one. Oh, a message, a squirrel, a noise… And just like a monkey wouldn't stay on one branch for long, our mind tends to leap from one thought to the next, often without much focus or direction. This constant, uncontrolled jumping contributes to a complex, cluttered, and stressful mental state. Taming this monkey mind, teaching it to pause, focus, and stay on one tree—that of the present—is key to reducing complexity and achieving clarity in our thinking.

If you want to live a simple life, it's crucial to learn how to reduce the complexity of your thoughts. This is where Stoicism can help. It teaches how to find peace and serenity through clear and focused thinking. A Stoic practitioner learns how to cultivate the right mindset to cut out distractions and focus on what is essential - virtue!

Organizing the physical world and your environment for simplicity

The second step is to declutter your physical world. The more you possess, the more you own, the more obligations you have. A big house needs to be cleaned and maintained, and repairs must be paid for. The more cars you have, the more money you spend on gas, insurance, and maintenance. The more social networks you join, the more notifications you receive, which means your attention is scattered in different directions.

And the worst, we all fall into the trap of attaching our happiness and peace of mind to those things. It's important to recognize that our possessions and cravings for external goods are the root cause of this complexity. To liberate us from the stress and anxiety of acquiring, having, and losing them, we have to let go of our attachment to those things.

Fortunately, Stoicism provides strategies for managing external possessions and releasing our attachments to them.

What Simple Living Is Not

There's a common misunderstanding about simple living or a simple lifestyle. Many people equate a simple life with an easy one, but they are not the same. Simple living doesn't remove struggles and obstacles from life. You will still experience setbacks, feel fear or other strong emotions, and you have to work hard. It can be lived with little to no money (and a lot of money, too), but it will require effort and dedication. On the other hand, an easy life is often connected to a life full of pleasures, without stress, challenges, or hard work, and is usually achieved with money.

Living a simple life is within your control; it's about reduction and strongly emphasizes the importance of your behavior. Living an easy life is more about chasing money and attempting to avoid struggles or unpleasant experiences. These are external things, outside of your power, and for Stoics, indifferent.

One last misconception: Simple living is not about homesteading or deprivation. The key is prioritizing the essential over the unimportant instead of losing yourself in insignificant details.

The Benefits of Simplifying Life with Stoicism

"...Epictetus says that, ultimately, the secret of not being 'carried away' by fears and desires is simply to have completely grasped the core of Stoic Ethics. That means being persuaded that the most important thing in the world is our own flourishing and fulfilment (eudaimonia), which comes from achieving virtue." Donald Robertson, Stoicism and the Art of Happiness

The primary goal of simplifying life is to reduce stress. Stoicism's goal is to achieve eudaimonia, a flourishing life where one is able to maintain serenity and peace of mind even amidst chaos.

By decluttering our physical and inner world, we inherently practice the Stoic virtue of temperance or self-discipline. Stoicism teaches us to be content with what we have and not be swayed by external possessions or circumstances. This principle aligns perfectly with the idea of leading a simple life.

Furthermore, taming our desires is one of the core Stoic disciplines, and it's also a major challenge for living a simplified life. The inner calm, which comes from controlling our desires, provides a buffer against the turbulences and temptations of the external world. By removing unnecessary complexities and distractions, we create an environment that fosters peace of mind and eudaimonic joy. Through the practice of Stoicism, we strengthen our character and cultivate a strong mindset needed to resist temptations while living a simple life full of contentment and inner peace. 

5 advantages of living a simple life:

1. Improved overall well-being: You learn to be content with what you have, and your self-worth no longer depends on external factors.
2. Improved focus and clarity: Your attention is no longer scattered in different directions but rather directed toward what matters most to you.
3. Greater appreciation for the present: You learn to focus on what you have and be grateful for it instead of worrying about the future or wishing for something better.
4. More meaningful relationships: You can be more present for your family and friends and build deeper connections with them.
5. Greater sense of freedom: With fewer obligations, commitments, and distractions, you feel lighter and more liberated.

Stoicism and Simplicity 

When you're new to Stoicism, finding which of the various Stoic principles are relevant for simplifying your life can be confusing. To give you a short overview, you'll find five essential principles from Stoicism below (when you already know about Stoicis, feel free to skip this section).

1. Focus on what you can control: There are things within our power and things that are not. Focusing only on what you can control while accepting everything else helps to minimize your stress triggered by external factors. Instead, you'll become like the Stoic archer and do your best to deal with any situation; however, you accept the outcome as the will of fate.
2. Pursue virtue: The core of Stoicism lies in pursuing arete or excellence by cultivating the virtues of wisdom, courage, temperance (or self-discipline), and justice. This will help you develop typical Stoic character traits that will build resilience and support you on your journey of simplicity.
3. Master your desires: Desires and possessions are core tenets of complexity and mental suffering. Stoicism provides a lot of exercises where you'll learn to let go of unnecessary desires. This will increase your self-discipline, allowing you to resist temptations and cravings and stay committed to a life of simplicity.
4. Focus on mastering yourself: A simple life requires self-control and discipline, which is only possible if you focus on mastering yourself. Observe your reactions and practice Stoic mindfulness to develop emotional intelligence and stay in control of your behavior.
5. Questions your thoughts and judgments: A simple life starts with the right mindset. Stoicism helps to challenge your judgments about what you initially believe is good or bad for you to pursue. 

Now, let's come to the exciting part by exploring some Stoic practices that can help you today to simplify your life.

Practical Stoic Exercises for a Simple Lifestyle You Can Do Today

Alright, it's time to dive into some practical Stoic exercises that are going to make your life as easy as pie. Remember, we're aiming for less stress, less clutter, and more eudaimonic joy. Ready to give it a shot?

3 Exercises To Cultivate a Harmonious Inner World

Free your thoughts, clear the clutter, and make room for serenity. Get ready to explore ways to simplify your inner life! 

1. Using Mindfulness against Complexity

"Through not observing what is in the mind of another a man has seldom been seen to be unhappy but those who do not observe the movements of their own minds must necessarily be unhappy." Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.8

Stoic mindfulness, or conscious attention to the present moment, enables us to appreciate what we have and reduces our craving for more. This aligns perfectly with pursuing a simple life where satisfaction stems from what we have rather than what we aspire to possess.

3 mindfulness practices you can do instantly:

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1. Mediation: Find a quiet place, take a few minutes, and practice mindful breathing. Concentrate on your breath instead of any thoughts or emotions that may come up. Accept upcoming thoughts, recognize them, and let them go. This will help you calm down. 
2. Thought observation: Engage in mindful awareness of your thoughts and emotions. What do you think and feel right now? What pops up in your mind? Any desires, feelings, or cravings? Do this for one or two minutes and count how many different thoughts and emotions come up. This will help you to recognize the complexity within.
3. Journaling: Grab a pen and paper or your smartphone and write down your thoughts and feelings. Don't care about grammar or style; simply write everything down as it comes. It doesn't matter if it makes sense later. Just get those things out of your head. This can help you gain clarity about all the different things you may want to reduce later.

2. Gratitude: A Powerful Antagonist to Complexity

"He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not, but rejoices in what he has." Epictetus, Fragments 124

Gratitude is a powerful Stoic practice and tool to simplify your life.

3 gratitude practices that can help:

1. Gratitude journal: Take a few minutes each day to write down three things you are grateful for in a journal.
2. Say thank you: Every day, try to say thank you at least once, either out loud or in your head. It can be to a person directly or simply an expression of gratitude for someone or something in your life.
3. Share gratitude: Find a way to express your appreciation and share your gratitude with others. It can be as simple as writing a thank-you note, helping someone who needs it, or giving a thoughtful gift to someone you appreciate.

Confront Your Desires to Cutting Down Complexity

"Who is your master? He who controls those things which you seek or shun." Epictetus, Enchiridion 2.2

You may be unaware of it, but you constantly judge situations or material goods as good or bad. From this judgment, you form a desire, often leading to stress, suffering, and increased complexity. Usually, we desire things that make us feel good and are opposed to something that feels bad. Those feelings we want to question.

3 ways to challenge your desires:

1. Ask yourself why: Whenever you feel a desire or aversion, ask yourself what's the reason behind it. Why do I want this? Why do I want to avoid this? Why do I believe this is making me happier?
2. Consider the consequences: Think about the potential consequences of your desires. What would happen if I got what I wanted? How difficult will it be to achieve this? How costly and time-consuming will it be? Will it really make me happy? Or the other way: Why can't I let go of something? What will I miss?
3. Take a break: If you feel a strong desire, take some time and do something else that helps you relax. This will create space for thought and help you gain clarity to make wiser decisions.

In the beginning, it might look like this will increase complexity; Indeed, that's a lot of effort, right? But in the end, when you're used to it, it will become easier and feel more natural.

3 Exercises To Organize Your Environment For Simplicity

After clearing the clutter from your mind, it's time to simplify your physical world. Let's dive into some practical exercises that can help reduce the complexity of your material possessions and surroundings.

1. Minimalism: A Gateway to Reducing Complexity

"Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire." Epictetus, Discourses, 4.1

Living with fewer physical belongings helps simplify things and saves you time, money, and energy. It also frees you from the constant need to own and chase after things.

From a Stoic perspective, material possessions are external factors that are not within your control and not essential for a happy life. Minimalism is a way to increase your freedom by controlling your desires and not being attached to too many possessions.

Stoics understand that external things are subject to the universal law of change. Therefore, they are ready to let things go. The less we pursue, the fewer redundant things we own, the more freedom we will find. We can focus on working on our character to find eudaimonia instead of chasing more and more items. We have fewer reasons to worry and are less dependent on external things.

3 ways to practice minimalism right now: 

1. Declutter: Start with sorting out what you already have and only keep the things that bring joy or are necessary for your well-being. Get rid of all those items that don't serve a purpose anymore or that you haven't used for a couple of months. Donate them to charity, give them away as presents, sell them online, or just throw them away.
2. Buy consciously: Conscious consumption is essential for a minimalist lifestyle. Avoid impulse purchases and ask yourself if you really need it. As a rule of thumb, wait at least 30 days to purchase something new. This will give you enough time to find out if you really need new stuff.
3. Create routines: To make minimalism part of your daily life, create routines that help you to maintain it. This could be a monthly decluttering session or the implementation of a "one in, one out" policy - every time you purchase something new, give away an item you already have. This ensures a balance in your belongings and keeps clutter at bay.

Now it's your turn. There are now excuses; in just 15 minutes, you can begin with your new simplified life. 

• Begin with a decluttering session (5 minutes). Go through your house or apartment and look for things you no longer need. Put them in a box and decide what to do with them.
• Next, jot down each item you want to purchase, along with a designated earliest date on which you permit yourself to buy it (5 minutes).
• Lastly, ponder upon possible routines you want to implement, ensuring seamless integration into your lifestyle (5 minutes).

2. Clear Your Vision: Eliminate Temptations

"Just as he who tries to be rid of an old love must avoid every reminder of the person once held dear (for nothing grows again so easily as love), similarly, he who would lay aside his desire for all the things which he used to crave so passionately, must turn away both eyes and ears from the objects which he has abandoned. The emotions soon return to the attack; at every turn they will notice before their eyes an object worth their attention." Seneca, Letters to Lucilius, 69.3-4

Raise your hand if you've ever been victimized by a hot, fresh-out-of-the-oven pastry! Temptations are like that one friend who always convinces you to order dessert, even when you're trying to eat healthier. Temptations lurk at every corner, and we often roll out the red carpet for them. 

"Hey, notification! I wasn't busy or anything. Please, distract me!" You might not say it out loud, but your actions speak for themselves. Then there's the Netflix rabbit hole - one minute, you're watching a documentary on cute turtles, and 3 hours later, you're still stuck to your TV. And who doesn't have that secret candy stash or bottle of wine at home, waiting to be devoured after a stressful day?

Temptations are everywhere! But remember, we're the designers of our environments. It's time to start creating an environment that fosters simplicity by reducing temptations.

3 steps that can help eliminate temptations: 

1. Unsubscribe and delete: Unsubscribe from newsletters that don't bring value into your life and delete apps that only distract you.
2. Digital detox: Schedule a digital detox day each week to control your online consumption. During this day, don't use the internet or tech devices at all.
3. Find your temptations: Brainstorm and list things you are most tempted by - like frequent shopping, Netflix binges, etc. For each one, come up with a plan to reduce the temptation. 

3. Take Charge: Concentrate Your Efforts on What's Within Your Control

"In our own power are the will, and all voluntary actions; out of our power, the body and its parts, property, parents, brothers, children, country; and, in short, all our fellow-beings." Epictetus, Enchiridion 1.22

The simplification of life requires work on yourself. Don't expect that others want to simplify your life or reduce complexity. It's your responsibility and your job to take care of yourself. Accept this truth and figure out what is important to you. Just because everyone else wants a big house doesn't mean you need one too. Just because society expects to have children at a certain age doesn't mean you need children. Once you know what matters to you, concentrate all your effort on those things and let go of everything else.

Knowing what's within our power is essential. We can't control external factors, but how we interpret and respond is something we can. Focus your energy on building a solid character to help you handle anything life throws at you. Don't waste energy on things beyond your power. When you do this, life becomes simpler and easier to manage.

3 ways to help you work on what is within your control:

1. Assess your life: Take a step back and look honestly at your life. Identify one thing that is truly important to you and one that's holding you back from that. Let go of the latter today!
2. Deep dive into the controllable: Think about one aspect of your life you want to simplify. Now, what's within your control? Create a mind map or list to help you identify those things. Take action and start with the one that requires the least effort.
3. Practice Stoic Principles: Becoming a Stoic practitioner and applying the Stoic virtues, as well as Stoic mindfulness and the dichotomy of control, can help you to take charge of your life. As a consequence, your life will become simpler as you focus on inner strength and good character.

Conclusion

No matter how complex life is, embracing a Stoic lifestyle can help you live a fulfilled life with less complexity and stress. Remember, there's a lot within your control to simplify your life - your task is to find what works for you!

So take a deep breath and simplify your life one step at a time, and you will soon find yourself living a life full of eudaimonic joy.

After all, simplicity is freedom!