Choosing Simplicity: Aligning With What Matters Most

Simplicity and alignment involve being mindful of choices—both significant and minor—and then regrouping, reassessing, and realigning with what matters most.

This year, I'm focusing on simplification and alignment. I feel discontent and out of balance when my actions don't align with my priorities or when I complicate things unnecessarily.

Interacting with people, places, and things that don't support my well-being or align with my values drains me.

The Power of Alignment

When we align our actions with our priorities and values, we can:

• Preserve energy by steering clear of unproductive activities, conversations, and connections.

• Make choices that align with our goals rather than detract from them.

• Recognize unnecessary suffering and stressors in our lives.

• Maintain simplicity and focus.

However, we often complicate our decisions, over-explain ourselves, and become burdened by obligations placed on us.

Impact of Simplifying Choices

Simplifying empowers you to:

• Create Clarity: Replace complexity with simplicity.

• Be Confident: Trust your ability to make decisions and change your mind if you want to.

• Embrace Courage: Step outside your comfort zone. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

• Communicate Assertively: Express your needs directly, with care.

• Reclaim Energy: Focus on what matters and brings you joy; remove distractions.

• Establish Boundaries: Safeguard your peace and energy.

• Cultivate Integrity: Share your truth unapologetically and act consistently.

The Cost of Misalignment

As Martha Beck writes in "The Way of Integrity": "Whenever we reject any part of ourselves, we create a state of psychological tension."

This psychological tension manifests as fatigue, frustration, and a sense that life is more complicated than it needs to be. When we're misaligned, even simple decisions become exhausting because we constantly fight against our nature.

From Complex to Simple: Alignment Example

Instead of responding to an extended night of drinking invitation, "Well, I'm not sure if staying out late drinking would work for me; I want to get up early to exercise..." try saying, "Not tonight, no, thank you. I want to get up early to greet the sun or focus on my health."

The Courage of Simplicity

Simplifying requires:

• The courage to clarify priorities.

• Trust in your judgment.

• Comfort with occasionally disappointing others.

  
  

The rewards include more energy for what matters, greater focus, intentional action, and fulfilling alignment.

Your Invitation

Consider the following:

• Where can you simplify a matter?

• What can you start, stop, or continue doing that aligns or doesn't align with your priorities or values?

• How would your life change if you trusted your judgment completely?

Here's to the power of simplicity, alignment, and integrity in 2025 and beyond.

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Ready to align your actions with what truly matters?

Consider coaching with Fay to help you identify where you're out of alignment and create a personalized path to simplicity and greater fulfillment. Learn more.