Do you ever find yourself wondering how your life became so complicated? Do you wish you could simplify things but aren’t sure how?I was researching this subject and found an article by Rick Houcek that I’d like to share with you.
Why We Overcomplicate Things – And How To Reduce Complexity.
Houcek says, “…we complicate things for one main reason: because we are unwilling to deal with our own insecurities and short-comings. We then blame some other person or event, not ourselves, and that skews our reality.” (read more here)
In our last newsletter, we talked about Confidence and Self-esteem. What we believe about ourselves affects every area of our lives. Have you focused on any of the 9 sources for building confidence that we talked about? If so, we’d love for you to share with us what you learned.
As for the overcomplication of things due to our lack of self-esteem and lack of confidence, Kimberly Janson (Forbes Councils Member) tells us that “The downsides to this approach are many, including fatigue, a lack of results, frustration, destroyed passion, costs of execution and decisions by people who say enough is enough and leave organizations.”
Fortunately, Janson offers great suggestions for “How To Get To Simple” with these 10 steps:
- Take a metaphorical weedwhacker to your processes and past approach. Go to town and don’t hold back just because it’s the way you’ve always done something.
- Shorten communications. Say what you want to say in such a concise way that it can fit on a bumper sticker.
- Have your audience in mind. I always use my bright, but retired 95-year-old mother as my frame of reference. I ask myself, “Is it simple enough for her to understand even though she hasn’t had any experience with this thus far?”
- Consolidate decision-making. Who is the lowest-level person who can decide?
- Focus on results. The expression “time is money” is true so act accordingly.
- Establish your needs. Ask yourself: Do we need this? What can we eliminate? How can we do it faster? Repurpose the excess on things that count.
- Get an outside opinion. Have someone else who has no vested interest take a look.
- Be courageous in pushing back. Speak up about complexity — say no.
- Accept imperfection. Perfection is expensive and often “good enough” will do.
- Check your to-do list and make sure tasks have a high return. Eliminate things and see if anyone notices/still needs it, such as meetings, reports, etc.
I can hear you now…how do I get the clarity, courage, focus, and process to implement these suggestions? And, I know you can hear my answer, even before you finish asking the question: the Chair of Joy™ Experience!
No surprise here!
Keeping It Simple: The Chair of Joy™ Experience
As you Sit in your chair, set an intention to get the answers to your questions. Then, Breathe and release all the thoughts, tensions, and feelings of inadequacies as you exhale, and receive the gift of openness to answers and inspirations. Think of all the questions you want answers to and see yourself receiving the thoughts, phrases, ideas, and words (without filtering them) that answer the questions. Allow yourself to venture into experiencing how you Feel having those new thoughts, phrases, ideas, and words – answers. Is your brow knit and contracted or relaxed and lifted, your mouth curved up in a smile or dropped open in awe, your shoulders relaxed or supporting arms and hands lifted into a gesture of appreciation or excitement? What thoughts are you having about yourself and your abilities? What sights and sounds, smells and tastes, and sensations are you experiencing?
Do you feel better? Whether you answer Yes or No, do the process again! And again! Until you feel better, more confident, clear, and equipped to take the next step to simplify your life (and the lives of others around you).
Let’s sit together and hold each other up in simply moving forward to living JOYELY and leading the world in living JOYELY Ever After!
Look at your calendar, schedule a time to sit with me, and let’s simplify together.
Living Joyely,
Sheryl Lynn
CEO of JOYELY, Founder & Visionary of The Chair of Joy™ Experience
