A lot of people have been talking about simplicity lately (e.g. Get Satisfied, No Impact Man, Enough), and I admit I feel myself drawn to it — as an environmentalist, but also as a person whose mind is often cluttered with depression and whose life is cluttered with the trappings of western living.
I started simplifying my life several years ago, and I do find myself happier for it, but each time I let something go (and to varying degrees), there seems to be an adjustment period where depression slips in.
Now, with the TV gone (for good this time?), I think I’m starting to realize why: Distraction.
Both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Constructive Living teach distraction as a short-term coping mechanism for knocking out the negative thoughts that can lead to depression. Sing a song, talk to a friend, wash the dishes.
My pre-simplicity world came with distractions already in place: go shopping, watch TV, heat a frozen pizza. As I drop each one, two options arise. I can figure out a healthier way to fill the hole, or I can learn to live with the hole.
I think mastery is learning to live with some holes, or it’s learning to slow everything else down so that the spaces get filled in naturally. If only it were that simple.
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One of my favorite phrases that I say aloud - and to friends - and to colleagues…
“Life is easy. Life is simple.”
And then the next step is, “What if it were?” What if it were easy? What would you do then? If you knew that it was supposed to be easy, what would you be doing?
Best to you, Maile - I like this post a lot.
S.
Saying the phrase, asking the questions: sounds like a good experiment for me to try. Thanks for visiting my blog, Senia.