Simplicity of the Heart in a Complicated World

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Motherhood is anything but simple.  Constant demands on life, kids running around needing things all the time, to do lists for home and work, and a myriad of other things consume our minds and our hearts on a regular basis.  Simplicity in motherhood probably doesn’t mean that we will be able to throw off all of our to do lists.  Life still goes on, demands will still be made of our time, and the clock does not stop in our quest for some down time.  But if we discover what is most important to us and intentionally pursue those things we are passionate about,  we can cultivate a quiet and intentional heart in the middle of the chaos.

What Matters Most

The driving pulse of my family is that we want to love others intentionally and generously.  I find simplicity in aligning my days with this motto.  It is at the heart of what matters most to us.  Laundry is done because it is a loving act toward my family.  Changing diapers is a way to lovingly care for my children’s needs.  Inviting a friend over for coffee or dinner aligns perfectly with that goal and is a blessing to everyone.  Even self care can be an intentional act of love toward yourself and those you love.

Obviously, not everything fits into the category of what matters most.  If you are anything like me, I am a recovering yes woman.  I say yes to too many things, spread myself too thin, and cannot do my best at any of it.  Saying yes to everything is the antithesis to intentional, generous love toward others.  “Yes” complicates my life in ways that lead to late nights, grumpy days, and a bitter heart.  Saying no to some things has freed me to say yes to the things that are most important to me.  One hundred no’s frees me to say yes to five people or things that I love, and those five things can get the best parts of me.  Simplicity is reminding myself that I cannot be everything for everyone all the time, but I can love deeply in my little corner of the world.  That is enough.

Simplicity of the Heart in a Complicated WorldSimplicity of the Heart

This focused approach is intended to free us to pursue what we care most about in life, not to bind us to a set of rules.  We can KonMari our houses top to bottom, build a tiny house and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit, make a capsule wardrobe, or buy the best planner to organize our lives to the minute.  These things all can be good and beneficial to our lives.  The simplicity I am talking about though, is a state of the heart.  If my heart doesn’t follow my minimalist overhaul, I will still grumble about how complicated life feels at any given moment.  I can be satisfied with much or with little if my heart is focused on the simple aim of my life.  The goal is not easy in execution, but it is a grounding point for me as I make decisions and navigate my days.  It gives purpose to the mundane and protects my heart from bitterness toward the countless little things that I do during the day.  Does the next thing help me pursue loving intentionally?  If yes, then I can jump in and go after it.  If no, then I can let it go knowing I am pursuing what makes my heart come alive.

How do you pursue simplicity in your life?

 

1 COMMENT

  1. Love this! It’s something I’m really working on. I feel like it was easier for me to simplify when my kids were younger, but now that they are school age, the pressure to “say yes” to all the things is on again. One of my goals this summer is to simplify our lives so we can refocus on what’s important. Thanks for the reminder!

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