Simplicity?
A lot has been written about simplicity. My favourite author is John Lane, and I can thoroughly recommend his book Timeless Simplicity.
In the main, it is focused on the material world, which manifests in desiring less, living within our means and seeing the beauty in nature – all laudable aims.
Whilst I wouldn’t decry the pursuit of less, it only speaks to part of the idiom.
What of our mind?
Can we say that we are as focused on cultivating less? Fewer thoughts, quietening our internal chatter or not succumbing to our controlling mind? In other words, do we seek a place where we are not beholden to the egoic mind?
For me a quiet mind is one where I feel totally present, possess inner peace and not distracted by the present or the past. Some people might call this mindfulness, but even this label I find a distraction: “Am I mindful today?”
If this sounds hopelessly metaphysical then I can understand how you might come to that view – it does seem a long way removed from good business sense – but the pursuit of more is never enough, even if that is wrapped up in making sure that you have less.
For me, as paradoxical as it may sound, I do my best work when I am not thinking. You might call this flow or being in the zone, but it arises when I don’t have the distraction of listening to my internal voice.
I am making a concerted effort this year to meditate; and practice the wisdom of The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I know if I can master the discipline of working from the self then I will be more productive than answering the call of my critic voice, which seems never satisfied.
Perhaps when you next read a something of simplicity, you might consider its wider compass.
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Hmmm. There is something alluring about this notion of simplicity that doesn’t ring true to me. That can be hard to say. Simplicity can feel like something of a sacred cow within the development field.
I wonder if the rub is in that FLOW point that you mention.
I think that Cziksentmihalyi, in writing FLOW, suggested that flow comes from an engagement with complexity, wasn’t he? – that when we balance challenge with our own capacity, talent or motivation, that it is only then that we experience flow.
In this sense, flow can feel like simplicity but it is not. It is engaged complexity. It is the joining with the struggle and being thoroughly stimulated by that.
I have a good friend who speaks of the simplicity on the far side of complexity.
If we approach simplicity as the absence of complexity then we might see simplicity as too abstract and idealistic. Offer simplicity as complexity engaged and people recognise the struggle.
This will be something that you will experience yourself, I suspect.
What could be more simple than mediation? The absence of interruption and distraction. Utter simplistic bliss? But to reach that disciplined state will be incredibly complex as you try to tame the mind and noises.
Have a happy new year Julian. Keep up the excellent work and writing.
Thank you Neil. If you look at Amazon under the title ‘Simplicity’ there are not many books and most of them are written from a very personal perspective. For me, simplicity is not rooted in any one methodology or paradigm (even those words carry a degree of unnecessary baggage) but rather as Gandhi said: “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.” Right now, I am trying to get away from trying to control my thoughts – positive thinking and all that stuff – and rather be more accepting. In my case that means practicing mindfulness or no mind. I have never been religious but this way of ordering my life has, in a way, become my spiritual quest. Thanks for the support, and here’s to a brilliant 2013. Best wishes Julian.