We tend to fill our lives with activity and with 'stuff'. It's supposed to mean we're successful, that we're fully living. The reality is that it usually just leaves us feeling overwhelmed, crowded and with a longing for a simpler, quieter life.

By filling every minute of the day, we find ourselves with no time to be 'quiet', to go within, to find the inner peace that allows us to be creative, productive and free. By having too much stuff, we feel cramped, stifled and burdened. We feel restricted by "too much" of everything and this impedes our ability to do what's truly important to us.

It's not necessary to go down to the bare minimum, but it is essential that we give ourselves room to grow and time to be reflective. And there is a pervasive effect. Simplifying your life in any area gives you more 'space' in all areas. Try it! oops sorrry... Practice it.

You get to choose the pace: 'Fast & Furious' or 'Slow & Easy'. The important thing is to keep working on simplifying your life and finding ways to keep it simple. Let yourself have fun and be creative with this.

To get you started, here are a few ideas to simplify your life. Get prepared for a burst of energy from doing it NOW.

Pick a Corner
Divide your desk or room into sections. Pick one section and start de-cluttering. Try to touch things only once while going through this process. Use 3 boxes or bags. ,marking them as follows: 'Keep', 'Give Away'; and 'Toss'. If it's paper, ask yourself 'If I lost it, could I find it elsewhere?' If the answer is yes, throw it away. Where ever possible, come up with a system that will allow you to maintain the de-cluttered space.

[Another tip: if you find yourself having trouble parting with some items, put them in a box, label the box with a date 6 months from now, store in garage or closet. If you haven't gone into the box by the time the date rolls around, throw it away without opening it.]

"There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth" - Leo Tolstoy