Simplicity and self-focus can be used as guiding principles when creating your own normal. But let’s first address the meaning of normal, as it is a weighted word.
normal means – conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.
google dictionary
I like the idea of our normal being our every day, the way we spend our average days. So with your knowledge, dreams, and celebration of uniqueness, do you want to live a life that over time involves, “conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected?”
Inspired by the thought-provoking words by Jari Roomer, I decided to explore this through the lens of the 2 main themes of a simple beautiful life – simplicity and self-focus.
So I looked at the home page and wondered exactly how we could create our own personal, lighter normal with simplicity and self-focus, with our everyday choices and actions.
Create a lighter life, simply: by prioritising simplicity, and knowing yourself and your stories.
a simple beautiful life home page
I believe in this one precious life, we would benefit by truly considering how we are living it – for ourselves, and for others. We could ask ourselves:
- What do we want our normal to comprise?
- How do we want to spend our time on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…?
- How do we want to have lived our lives when we look back at our life from our old age?
- Does a lighter life sound inviting?
- Are we content the way we are living?
There are two features involved in creating your own personal and lighter normal or every day:
- living with simplicity as a guide, and
- prioritising self-focus, which leads to self-knowledge, and self-acceptance, making life better!
1. Simplicity As A Guide
The first part of creating your own, lighter normal is to choose an overarching philosophy, so you can more easily choose everything that goes into your own normal.
I have chosen simplicity as my philosophy. It acts as a life rudder; it informs my decisions and guides me through my days. My lifestyle is centred around simplicity and has been for a number of years.
In my experience, living an ever-changing human life, having an eye on the simple option at all times, has led to my living a comparatively smoother life.
I have written about simplicity previously. You can read a post about why I choose to live with simplicity always top of mind, a post about a return to simplicity, or a post about living life simply based on your priorities.
Everyday Simplicity Examples
So if you want to create your own normal – could choosing the simple option in all things, help you? That could look like:
- cutting down on morning decision-making by having fewer clothes from which to choose
- introducing more structure into your days to make them flow more easily
- using a weekly meal plan
- challenging yourself to get more comfortable saying no
- saying yes only to your children’s extramurals close to home to cut down on driving
- knowing your priorities and structuring your life around these
- being open to fun and light and fulfilling opportunities
2. Prioritising Self-Focus
The second part of creating your own, lighter normal is to get to know yourself, so you can firm up what you want your normal to comprise. Getting to know yourself means you will know what you want to include in or leave out of your days.
Getting to know yourself requires time and work, but it is important because it will aid your creation of a better quality of life.
I came across this passage recently which made me realise how it is common for us to reach a point where we feel we have diluted ourselves. My reason is in bold below, and so I have spent the past couple of years getting to know myself again. It has been hard, joyful and empowering.
We all lose touch with ourselves at some point in life – it’s normal. Whether you’re middle-aged and facing the reality that your kids are leaving for college; or you have young kids and are just realizing that somewhere in the midst of being a parent, you’ve lost yourself; or if you’re facing the breakup of a marriage; or you’re leaving an abusive and oppressive marriage; or maybe you’re living the life set out for you by someone else – your parents, perhaps.
Sean Fargo
I have recently been learning about the psychology of our life stories, and how once written we use them as a filter through which we experience the world. Prioritising self-focus means we get to know ourselves again and can make beneficial changes in our stories, in the way we see the world.
I have written about self-focus previously. You can read a post about considering yourself, a post about plans and goals and making changes, or a post about living an aligned life, which mentions self-knowledge and habits.
Everyday Self-focus Examples
So if you want to create your own personal normal – you need to get to know yourself again, as you are now. There are many ways to get to know yourself, but you will need to commit to some time, for yourself. That could look like:
- meditating or sitting in silence by yourself every day
- journalling regularly
- starting the day with a glass of water – a simple and beneficial choice, for you
- noticing what lights you up and so getting to knowing your priorities and your interests again
- embracing opportunities that currently serve you on your personal journey
- letting go of old habits that you no longer want in your life
These are not all easy, but they are all worth aiming towards. I have found small gradual actions more sustainable and therefore life-changing than grand, hard to incorporate changes.
Simplicity and Self-Focus
I believe that simplicity and self-focus are excellent guides for life transformation. A philosophy of simplicity has shaped my life for the good; my busy days are more manageable and thus more enjoyable, and my self-focus practices have allowed me to remember myself amidst the activity and enhanced my quality of life. My normal is nicer thanks to these two influences.
Both support expansiveness in my personal growth, and I would say they will do the same for you.
I have experience setting myself monthly challenges as 30 days is a good time to shift some habits. You can read about my February challenges here. Challenges require some time and effort, and I don’t always succeed, but I always learn. In some cases, like my meditation challenges, my small habit shifts have had positive and life-changing consequences. I now meditate almost every day. Every day I drink water, I exercise, I rest, I write, and I learn. Small but mighty changes.
So will you be challenging yourself to learn and grow?
How do you feel about more simplicity and less chaos?
Have you reached a stage where you feel you need to spend time by yourself, with yourself?
Do you feel it would be beneficial to change some habits?
Let me know where you stand and if I can support you in any way from my experiences.
Thanks for reading