When Did Life Become So Complicated? | Finding Simplicity in a Busy Life

Sometimes I wonder if life actually became more complicated—or if we simply became accustomed to experiencing so much of it at once.

We wake up thinking about what needs to happen later. We answer one message while thinking about another. We eat while looking at a screen. And sometimes, before we’ve even finished one task, our minds are already preparing for the next.

Even during the quieter moments, our minds can remain several steps ahead of where we actually are.

If you find your mind constantly racing ahead, learning how to pause and reset can be a simple way to bring yourself back to the present moment.

And somewhere along the way, something simple can begin to feel almost unfamiliar:

Being fully present for one moment at a time.

That is what I have come to think of as the gift of simplicity.

A Simple Life Doesn’t Have to Mean an Empty Calendar

When we hear the words simple life, we might picture clearing our calendars, simplifying our surroundings, moving somewhere quiet, or creating more space in our lives.

There can certainly be value in simplifying what surrounds us.

But mindful simplicity offers us something more.

It invites us to change how we experience the life we already have.

You can have appointments, responsibilities, family commitments, errands, work, and a long to-do list… and still experience moments of simplicity.

The difference begins with presence.

Enjoy your morning coffee and allow yourself to really taste it.

When you’re talking with someone you care about, be in the conversation.

Step outside, notice the sky, and give yourself a few seconds to actually see it.

As you complete a task, allow yourself to experience that task before mentally moving on to the next three.

Simplicity doesn’t necessarily mean having less to do.

Sometimes it means bringing more presence into what you’re already doing.

Experiencing More of the Life We’re Already Living

One of the interesting things about mindfulness is that it can change how much of life we actually experience.

Think about how many ordinary moments make up a life: the first sip of something warm, sunlight coming through a window, a bird singing somewhere nearby, someone’s laugh, the feeling of fresh air, or a quiet drive home.

These moments quietly invite our attention.

And when we notice them, an ordinary moment can become something more.

We naturally look forward to the big moments in life—our next vacation, celebration, accomplishment, milestone, or a day we’ve been anticipating.

Meanwhile, life is also happening in thousands of small moments.

Mindful presence allows us to experience more of what the moments in our life already contain.

And as we begin experiencing more of those moments, life itself can begin to feel richer, more enjoyable, and more rewarding.

Try This: A Brief Experience of Simplicity

You can experience what I’m talking about right now, exactly where you are.

If it feels comfortable, allow yourself to stop doing anything else for just a moment.

Take one slow, comfortable breath.

And notice.

Feel your body where you are sitting or standing.

Become aware of one sound around you.

Notice something you can see.

Simply experience it.

Notice what you notice.

Take another comfortable breath.

For these few seconds, allow yourself to simply be here.

Present for this breath.

This place.

This moment.

And when you’re ready, simply continue with your day.

That was simplicity.

You were experiencing mindfulness while living your life—busy and all.

For a few moments, you allowed yourself to experience just the moment you were in.

Perhaps Simplicity Is About Making Space

Personal growth often focuses on what we can add to our lives.

A new technique.

A helpful habit.

A morning routine.

An inspiring book.

A meaningful goal.

Another opportunity to grow.

And sometimes, one of the most empowering things we can do is simply make a little more space.

More room to breathe.

More opportunity to notice.

More time experiencing where we are.

More awareness of the life that is already happening.

Simplicity allows growth at our own speed and in our own time and may actually help us experience the growth we’ve already created.

Bringing the Gift of Simplicity Into Your Week

For the next few days, see if you can catch yourself during one ordinary moment each day.

Think of this as an invitation rather than another assignment.

Simply notice when the opportunity appears.

Perhaps you’re holding your morning coffee.

Walking to your car.

Looking out a window.

Talking with someone you love.

Or maybe, as I have found myself doing more often, you simply notice something beautiful in the sky.

When it happens, allow yourself to remain there for just a few extra seconds.

Experience the moment before moving into the next one.

Because perhaps the gift of a simpler life is found in the little moments of the life we’re already living—and in becoming present enough to finally experience them.

---

Continue the Journey

If this idea resonates with you, let’s explore it further in Episode 17 of the Empowering Mindful Moments Podcast, “The Gift of Simplicity.”

In the episode, we look at how mindfulness can help us step away from some of the unnecessary complexity we carry and return to the simple experience of the present moment.

Listen to The Gift of Simplicity and give yourself a few minutes to slow down, notice, and simply be.

A Mindful Moment to Take With You

Affirmation:
I allow myself to experience life one simple moment at a time.

Journal Prompt:
Where has life begun to feel unnecessarily complicated and what might change if I brought my attention back to just this moment?