I have friends who are always into complication and drama. I bet you have them too!
You know—there’s always something crazy going on. Always tangents to be chased. Regularly a fight brewing and you can see where it’s all gonna go . . .
Maybe you are one of those folks.
Maybe, I was too.
But oh, my, does living that way zap every last shred of energy from every cell.
In youth, we have that energy (and more) to waste. Funny thing though, as life goes on, as we take all the things “adult” and put them into practice, well, energy becomes a pretty valuable commodity.
Like you, I work a lot. Okay, so too much, although I’m diligently focused on not doing so these days. Sometimes I actually succeed.
For a good two decades, always looking for a better way, a method to work smarter rather than harder, turning over ever rock, I searched for some magic wand.
In essence, I made things as complicated as could be. Which created more drama.
A vicious cycle, indeed!
Of course, Occam’s razor pretty much holds true. Named for Franciscan friar William of Ockham, it just basically says that when two competing theories make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is better.
Or, as my veterinarian is fond of saying: “If you hear hoof beats, most likely it’s a horse, not a zebra.”
Even though I’ve had my share of veterinary zebras.
But what I’ve learned (the hard way, of course!) is that putting into effect the U.S. Navy’s KISS program (Keep it simple, stupid) actually makes life so much easier, in all facets.
KISS simply states that most systems work best if they are kept simple, rather than made complicated. Simplicity should be a key goal in design and unnecessary complexity should be avoided.
Easier said than done! But oh-so workable.
I’ve found a failsafe way for me to conduct my life, in all facets, when faced with a decision.
Rather than writing out the pros and cons on a piece of paper (although I do know the benefits of doing so), rather than analyzing until my head explodes, instead I get quiet.
֎ And listen to my gut.
֎ If I can’t hear it well, I table it, then get quiet again, and listen more deeply.
֎ It always tells me what to do, and tells me true.
֎ That causes me to act from the heart, and not from the head.
֎ It takes out all the mental drama my ego would love to get embroiled in.
֎ It makes life, well, simple again.
My life from the outside would appear boring. I mean, I still work a lot! And write a lot, sometimes even as much as I want to. And chase around show Labradors.
But ya know, I’ve recently been studying all the new theories about how boredom positively affects creativity.
Studies have shown that participants who were bored outperformed those who were relaxed, elated, or distressed on creativity tests.
Doesn’t that get your attention? Maybe we do want bored!
So next time someone looks at your life and calls it boring, just think what a fabulous creator you are becoming. Just think of all the benefits to the simple life.
Now, I’m going to go find me some of that boredom . . .
As Henry David Thoreau said, “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.”
How do you keep it simple?
Roslyn Tanner Evans
19 Oct 2016I was married for 28 years to a frenetic man & life was never boring. Once on my own I was always in motion, exploring and tasting what life had to offer that fit me & there was much around especially with access to NYC. After many years as a single I met Herb who was the nicest stable man you could want. And i almost walked away because ‘he was boring’. Wiser girlfriends advised I didn’t need a clone of myself, always busy or a drama king like my x. So I said yes & for 17 years i get to be creative while he keeps the home fires going. The moral is, there is a place for ‘boring’ & that is a relative term.
Susan Malone
19 Oct 2016What a validating story, Roz! I love that. Yep, there’s a place for boring. And what a great compliment you are to each other!
Reba Linker
19 Oct 2016I love this post, Susan. Boredom? Who knew? I used to be a drama queen. Not because that’s who I am, but that was who I thought I was supposed to be! So funny. Yes. Boredom is good. The middle road, my teacher would say. Simplify, simplify! Ah, yes!
Susan Malone
19 Oct 2016I did too, Reba! But I love that–who you thought you were supposed to be 🙂
And yes, I too now walk (or try to 🙂 the middle road . . .
maria @closetohome
19 Oct 2016I guess I need to be more bored as I am in a soup with blogging and getting creative with new posts this week.
Susan Malone
19 Oct 2016I know the feeling, Maria!
Jolina
19 Oct 2016I avoid drama like the plague! I’ve been called apathetic (well, maybe I am haha) because I just refuse to be sucked into anything dramatic. Keeping it simple to me means not worrying about things I can’t control. Just live in the moment.
Susan Malone
19 Oct 2016That’s the ticket, Jolina! The perfect prescription 🙂
Krystal Bernier
19 Oct 2016Yes, yes, yes and yes. Well said. As a minimalist I’m working towards simplifying my life in many ways. I find life can become chaotic and I’m stretched in so many directions I can’t focus and do well at just one thing. The point of minimalism is to let go of unnecessary distraction so we can focus on what is important.
Interesting fact about boredom.
Cheers!
Susan Malone
19 Oct 2016I love the minimalist lifestyle, Krystal. Good for you! Ah, that unnecessary distraction beast. It can be a tough one!
Tamuria
19 Oct 2016There is such a knack to quieting the crazy brain and keeping things simple, Susan. I’m still working on this but tend to agree with you about becoming quiet, listening to your gut, and acting from your heart. Fascinating that boredom can increase creativity.
Susan Malone
19 Oct 2016It does take practice, Tamuria, doesn’t it. Daily practice for me 🙂
Sabrina Quairoli
19 Oct 2016My goal is to keep it simple too. If a system is too complicated, it makes me so stressed that I have to stop what I am doing and reassess and revise to make it less complicating. It helps a lot.
Susan Malone
19 Oct 2016That’s a great way to go about it, Sabrina. stop. Reassess. Revise. Great 3-step plan!
Virginia Tell
20 Oct 2016OMG! What a relief to know this!
Susan Malone
20 Oct 2016Yep, we’re good, Jinny!
Joyce Hansen
20 Oct 2016Interesting study about boredom. I can’t think of too many times in my life being bored, as my brain is always churning away on something. I prefer meditation for quieting the mind and find the silence as nice way to clean out the buffer. I’m not sure I would know how to be bored.
Susan Malone
24 Oct 2016I’m with you, Joyce–what is being bored? Lol
Elizabeth O
20 Oct 2016The exuberance of our youth fades with time, and if we stay true to our hearts, we’d come to see the blessing in the quiet. Like you, I’m cool with that too.
Susan Malone
24 Oct 2016Isn’t the quiet just wonderful, Elizabeth 🙂
Alene A Geed
20 Oct 2016Susan. I LOVE this post. I have fit into the complicated arena most of my life. always juggling at least 10 more projects than what is humanly possible to accomplish. What has worked for me is basically what you outline here. I take a break. (watch stupid TV as I call it, meditate, or go for a walk) Then I only do what actually FEELS right at the time. No shoulds. It works and surprisingly I accomplish a lot!
Susan Malone
24 Oct 2016I love that, Alene! And I’m laughing–one of my current mind breaks is watching old Lancer episodes!
Brandy
20 Oct 2016I really love this, that’s how I try to live my life, keeping it simple. No reason to get all crazy over stuff… and we know ourself and our surroundings well enough to just keep it simple and that isn’t boring – it’s being mature I think 😉
Susan Malone
24 Oct 2016You got it, Brandy–it’s being mature 🙂
Mary
20 Oct 2016I definitely know people like this, including ex lovers. It’s one of those crazy things that some people need.
Susan Malone
24 Oct 2016I have some ex-lovers who qualify as well, Mary 🙂
Carol Rundle
20 Oct 2016I’m so glad to be working for myself and not subjected to what I call firestarters. If there isn’t an emergency (fire) they create one! I stay calm and focused by prayer and focusing on God’s power in me.
Susan Malone
24 Oct 2016Firestarters. I love that, Carol!
Jena Proctor
20 Oct 2016This is a very interesting concept. I would think that bored would be a bad thing. I tend to keep things simple myself, so that makes me feel better!
Susan Malone
24 Oct 2016Keeping things simple really does make us feel better, doesn’t it, Jena!
Joan M Harrington
20 Oct 2016Hi Susan,
Yes, keeping things simpler makes life and business so much easier and a lot more fun! I tend to make things more complicated than I should and when I do, everything just seems so hard…..talk about drama lol If I would just get back to simple, all will be more productive, in the long run 🙂
Great share! Simple is always best!
Susan Malone
24 Oct 2016I know that drill, Joan–making things complicated! Makes me appreciate simple all the more 🙂
Tandy Elisala
22 Oct 2016Hi Susan, coming to you from the Virtual Brainstorming FB group. I love this article because it demonstrates that SIMPLIFYING helps us. Drama doesn’t serve us at all. It creates more stress. Simplifying for me means that I surround myself with people and things that lift me up. Thanks!
Susan Malone
24 Oct 2016So true, Tandy–surrounding ourselves with people and things that lift us up is one of the secrets to life!
Kathy @ SMART Living 365
24 Oct 2016Hi Susan! After following your blog for years now I can’t imagine thinking of you as boring….your mind is as curious and open as mine. But sometimes our actions don’t always keep up, right? But with that said, I too strive to keep my thinking as simple as possible. That’s why I need meditation so much! Thanks for the reminders. ~Kathy
Susan Malone
25 Oct 2016I’m only boring some of the time, Kathy. Lol. When I’m working too much! And isn’t mediation just the prescription for that too 🙂
haleybop
25 Oct 2016omg, I know how you feel about the making stuff complicated crap… been there done that -_-
Susan Malone
25 Oct 2016As have we all!
Kristen Wilson
19 Dec 2016Too funny… yes, I do have the drama folks in my life and I just try to stay out of it… I like the tip… to not overdo it and allow your brain to be silent and just see how you feel
Susan Malone
20 Dec 2016Especially during the holidays, no, Kristen? Lol!