Simplify: Ten Practices to Unclutter Your Soul

Getting caught up in the busyness of life, with its clutter and its crazy pace, can harm relationships, jobs, sanity, and health. But how can one simplify life by letting go of anxiety and spending time on the most important things? Influential pastor Hybels (Too Busy Not to Pray), founder of Willow Creek Community Church, gently but firmly points out common stress-inducing topics and offers ways of coping with them that are alternatives to the typical frenetic response. Among those topics are over-scheduling, forgiveness, finances, anxiety, and the workplace. He likens personal fulfillment to an “energy bucket.” That bucket is filled when people are happy at work, but leaks profusely when individuals are miserable. Those unhappy with work should consider leaving it to do something enjoyable, and work around the financial aspects. “Simplicity cannot be achieved without clarity about the big-picture target of your life,” Hybels says. Instead of cluttering the calendar with things that have to be done in the next 30 days, he suggests asking, “Who do I want to become in this next season of my life?” and then using the calendar to help accomplish those goals. Readers who are ready to take somewhat drastic measures to simplify their lives will be ready to implement all 10 of Hybels’ practices, while others may need to pick which ones are the most immediately doable and tackle the others when they’re ready. (Aug.)