Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated….Confucius

Words of wisdom trigger a pause and a moment of reflection as they can be vague . Yet when we allow the flower of truths to unfold, they hold many layers of interpretations that apply to our personal (internal) world as well as our outer (external) world around us .

They have layers of universal truths to them, that withstands the test of time.

A few common life examples came to mind when I thought about this simple statement.

1st The Over Thinkers

When we over think situations that shouldn’t concern us or that we have no control over we become lost in our own minds and anxiety creeps in. We can also become lost in others worlds, then neglect taking care of our needs.

If we can’t find a solution to the “problem” that arises, then let it be. It isn’t for us to worry or be concerned by. By redirecting our focus on what we do have some control over and finding creative solutions for those problems. We become in more of a relaxed flow state . Its a place of personal empowerment where solutions can present themselves when the time is right.

2nd The Helpers

Having concern and feeling the need to help others is a wonderful gift to share.

If you see a stranger, friend, partner or colleague struggling we have two options to assist or detach.

We can offer genuine support or assistance to the best of our ability at that time. Big or little acts of kindness (seen or unseen)- Simply out of care to alleviate another beings suffering without expectations or judgment .

This is a mindset based on core principled actions of teamwork and collaboration of any micro or macro community.

That when one struggles we all struggle. We are not just a singular entity or person in this world. We are a connected ecosystem that depends on each other for our survival and victories.

Yet the shadow side of that is when we overly involve ourselves in others lives where we aren’t contributing to their growth or cant offer a helpful solution, we can become the problem.

The situations may appear complicated yet the solutions are quite simple.

If we choose to , simply put, “not stay in our own lane,” that’s where life becomes more complicated.

We are adding to our own and others suffering with needless meddling, harsh judgment or projecting negative energies. By contributing to the background noise /gossip we are just adding to the struggle of ourselves or an individual.

Then we become entangled in an energetic mess of discord.

How many times in our lives can we think back to a situation that we should have walked away from because we didn’t have the time, energy or resources to be truly helpful. Then felt regretful for being the aid. That eventually leads to bitterness and saps the joy from your world as a helper.

When we don’t have better boundaries and set limitations on what we are able to do. A simple helpful gesture can become quite complicated.

By viewing it as there are only 2 answers then asking yourself reflective questions. It cuts down on all the emotional reactions and gets to the core .

Do I have the tools to fix the problem or not , at this time ?

Then let events naturally unfold, while focusing on what you are able to.

The outcomes will be vastly different to your life and others. That’s where we can make it complicated or simple.

The challenge is letting go of our own egoic attachments at that moment to the situations. Letting go of personal desires, what we think is right or wrong and attachment to how your actions will be received.

Moving with pure intentions regardless of the outcomes and allowing yourself to be guided by personal boundaries, a moral compass and principled standards being the only goal.

Another totally different perspective to this quote would be, life is so simple it’s rather boring.

So we insist on making it complicated, in order to spice things up a bit.

The monotonous routines of daily life that are required to provide, food, shelter and comfort day in and day out can become rather tedious.

This is why we crave a little drama. For example the excitement of an extreme sport, curiosity of what is going on in others worlds, lifestyle changes, taking holidays or consumption of goods / services.

In order to break up the monotony of the daily existence this is in attempt to find that spark of joy and to fill the emptiness that happens when your life force waters (chi) become stagnant . Its an attempt to shake things up a bit in order feel alive and connected again.

In its negative polarity we can become an agent of chaos and addicted to the highs we get when we stir up some excitement around us.

The choices are quite simple, how /when we choose to act on them that is where it can become complicated. There is no right or wrong answer either . The only time it becomes unbalanced and complicated is if the intention isn’t to restore balance. If we are in low state for a long period of time and unable to break out of that rut. Taking up and extreme sport or random exotic trip might be just the medicine needed at the moment.

Where these choices can become destructive to ourselves and others is when that becomes a habitual addiction in the extremes. Then natural order and balance are in danger of being disrupted

As within- So without

So life is quite simple, the only reason it can feel so complicated at times is when we are living out of balance. With our own principles and actions towards ourselves and others. In other words, a lack of self care, compassion or principles (a moral compass).

When in harmony and living in the flow of life. We can dip into the shadow and the light sides of our nature as needed depending on the situations around us. In order to restore our own internal/ external order.

That simply means course corrections when it feels too stagnant add a little spice. Change the routines, take that holiday, do that extreme sport, purchase yourself a little treat. That will lift your spirits. Of course that means being safe and responsible, not out of control or untethered from reality.

If life seems too unstable and your weathering constant storms, then it’s time to find more inner peace. That may require giving up habits, behaviors, and excessive consumption of material or physical pleasures that are creating those inner and outer storms.

It comes down to purposely taking the time to find what feels like your center. For each of us that will feel very different and is an individual experience. Its simple math of adding what is needed to fill fulfilled, or subtracting what is depleting your energy.

It takes practice, time and patience to learn what that even means.

It may be simple moments like sitting alone in a coffee shop, out for a walk , quietly watching a campfire. Or sitting by the river, where time seems to stand still and you are now just at one with that moment.

The purpose is to find ways of recreating that feeling when life’s pendulum swings in extremes from boring to overwhelming.

In order to come back to your personal centered place where you feel at home and are your most authentic self .

That is where inner peace lives.

The answers are always simple. Finding,understanding and executing the solutions is what becomes complicated…

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