simplify

Simplify. Sounds simple enough. And yet it can be the most complicated thing to accomplish.

Something I have learned this year is how freeing simplifying can be. And most importantly how necessary it is in order to have God more in your life.  The things that seem to matter don't really matter at all. The things that filled my day, that held so much importance to me, wouldn't happen and made it seem as if the world was caving in and I was falling apart. Letting go of the world can help you live in the world without being weighed down by the world. 

There was once this crazy idea in my head that the less I do the more I fail. All these expectations mostly put up by me.  There will always be the influence of others whether I try to or not let them affect me. I am surrounded by people. A lot of them.  All with different lives and different expectations they have of their own.  The key is to live my life in a way that those other influences don't affect me negatively.  I believe there is so much good that comes from others.  I don't believe any of us were truly meant to walk our entire life alone.  We are in it together.  And when we work together to lift each other up then we have found a way to win.  

Being forced to simplify this past year has been one of the biggest blessings I have seen come from this trial.  At first it was painful.  More painful then I'd like to admit.  Call it pride, but there is something that just plain hurts when you watch yourself not fill all your expectations you've had for yourself. Especially knowing they used to be very reachable. But as more and more time went by I found myself finding a deeper meaning to my life then filling it with things that used to feel important.  Not that those things were bad.  But those things could probably be filled with better things.  

I found that it's okay to simplify. It's more then okay. It's much needed. And instead of feeling like more is less, I have truly come to understand the meaning of less is more.  I'm working at it everyday to find ways to simplify my life more.  I'm not perfect at it.  It's an ongoing process. But I have felt so much peace and clarity as I have filtered out the things that really were weighing me down. Some things I didn't even realize were.  I almost feel too blessed and like I cheated something because I didn't have to find this principle on my own.  I feel the like Lord handed it to me and paved a much easier pathway to get there.  As hard, and devastating, and painful as this trial has been, I can honestly say with all my heart that I have felt more blessings come from it then I ever thought possible.  I am grateful for it. I'm not sure I could have said that in the beginning, nor did I ever think I would be able to say it.  But the more I've simplified my life, prayed for the best ways to do it, and followed through with those things, I have found this really is one big blessing in my life.  I have gained an deeper gratitude for trials in general. I understand a little more clearly why we have them. And while I'm sure 5, 10, 20 years down the road I'll laugh and realize how little I knew now, I know that for now I feel uplifted with a little bit more of an eternal perspective.  Just enough to keep me going.  Simple but powerful. 

I really love the idea my mom said when she once compared her life to making lace. A time consuming, tedious, and painfully concentrated work.  Sometimes the simplest stitches create a foundation for the most beautiful piece of work.  With patience, determination, and consistency our once viewed "simple stitches" will come together and be loved as some of the most precious work ever made. 

"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great."

(Doctrine & Covenants 64:33)