Less is More When You Want It To Be

Four easy-to-keep resolutions (why wait for January) that will make a difference

By summer-time each year, many people have found that what they resolved to improve at the beginning of the year has not improved. They resolved to quit smoking, lose weight, read more, watch less TV, spend more time with family, or smell the roses. They did this because they thought it would make them happier. Unfortunately, the way many people measure their happiness is by their wealth. Everyone knows that money does not buy happiness, but many people are still willing to try.

Many of the best selling non-fiction books are all about ways to be rich or powerful. These books can be very enlightening, but usually are a disappointment when they do not tell you what you wanted to hear. Particularly when what you wanted to hear was something simple that you can do today to change your life. Many self-help personalities promise that they can give you a ticket to happiness or success. The books and speakers have an answer for some, but never for those who are unwilling to change or put forth any effort.

Here are four simple, do-it-today and change your life, resolutions that will move you closer to the better existence you seek. You will be able to keep these without adding another task to your day. You can be more at ease without adding something to your day. They are easy to understand and will not cost you a dime.

(1)    Spend less. You will have more money in the bank and fewer things that need fixing.

(2)    Eat less. Unless you are underweight, you will feel better and save money too.

(3)    Slow Down. You will have less stress and more patience if you learn to relax, do what you can, and not try to fit 26 hours of activities into a typical 16-hour day.

(4)    Do Less. It is better to do five things well than to do ten things poorly.

The idea is to do less of what does not bring true happiness and more of what does. Think “Less is more” and you will come up with additional ideas of your own. Find ways to do less of something to have more of something else. Spending less can achieve the same result as earning more. Watch less TV and have more time for your family. You can have most of what you want in your better existence if you take the time to look at why you want what you want. If you want a big screen to impress your friends, perhaps you need new friends, or maybe you underestimate your friends.

If you are not happy with the way things are in your life then you are looking for a better existence. You need to figure out what that existence is supposed to be. Once you know what your new life should look like you can look at parts of this better life and see why you think they will make you happier. Some will have valid reasons and some will not. Look honestly at those reasons and see if you cannot achieve the same result in a different way. There is always another way.

Having an ambitious life-altering resolution can be a great thing. Ambition is wonderful. Everyone should want to do better and be more successful. Sometimes all you need is some momentum to move you in a positive direction. Start with a resolution that you can achieve. This kind of small positive experience can help you work on bigger issues later. A series of minor successes can add up to a major success. It is better to try, and fail, than to never try at all. It may be even better to try something small and achieve it, than to fail big.

Make sure that you have control over the outcome of the goal you choose. Vowing to win the lottery is a wish, not a resolution. Many of today’s reality shows take advantage of the “get rich quick” mentality people have. These shows rely on a vast group of people willing to do almost anything for a shot at fame and fortune. The sad reality is that, with the exception of a very few participants, only the networks and the producers make the big money. They are the ones who control the situation.

At this time of year, when everyone is searching for that one resolution to create a better life, working backwards will help. Focus on what is important and try to eliminate what is not. Decide what your better life should be and why it will be so much better. See if you can achieve some of the goals towards that better life in a way that does not take money you do not have, or more work than it is worth. Life is not a race or a trial to endure. Life is a journey to take with measured strides, to savor, and to enjoy.