The Freedom of Simplicity
> >By Bo Sanches
Happiness is not found outside of you. It doesn't come from cars,
clothes, cash, or Caribbean cruises. Happiness is found within. But how
can you find it if you don't have the simplicity of time and space to discover
the most important things in your life? How can you search the depths
of your soul if you are too busy impressing others, acquiring wealth, protecting
your properties, and paying your debts?
Simplicity is not about the external either: living in a doghouse, eating
in a Hepatitis joints, wearing rags. Let me define what it is: Simplicity
is living from the core of your being.
A TREASURE MAP OF HAPPINESS
Simplicity will point to you where and what and who the gold is
in your life. Let me share with you the seven powerful lessons I've learned
on simple living:
> >LIVE ON
LESS, AND DELIGHT IN THEM MORE
Some take their pleasure dining in classy restaurants, trips to
Europe, and owning the latest home theatre-equipment. I've chosen the
simple path: If I can simply be with my wife, or take a quiet stroll under
a canopy of stars, or play with a child, or read a good book in my home,
or laugh with friends over a pizza, I consider myself richly blessed.
Focus on what you have and not on what you don't have.
> >STOP RUNNING
AND WALK INSTEAD
Here's the truth: The person who has covered the greatest distance does
NOT win, but the one who has most enjoyed the journey does. Stop running
around chasing your own tail! Get off your hurried pace and learn to breathe.
Replace doing with being. Learn to say no to invitations, appointments,
and commitments, activities and events that will rob you of your
focus. Learn to say "yes "to rest, to tranquillity, to quietness.
> >YOU ARE
MORE THAN YOUR WEALTH
I own very few things today. Because I am more than the brand
of my watch, the logo of my shoes, the name of my car. I believe that if
in my soul I deeply respect and value myself, people around me will sense
that, and they too, will value and respect me-whether I'm wearing
Armani or not.
You are more than your wealth.
> >AVOID BUYING
ON CREDIT
I don't believe in borrowing from credit cards. (For convenience, I
use one card but I pay the whole amount at the end of each month.) If I
need something really bad, I save up for it. Sometimes, at
midpoint, I realize I don't really need the darn thing and give up the
whole idea. The only exception I feel we should enter into a credit is
when buying a non-depreciating item, such as housing or land.
I believe we should always live within our earning capacity. Proverbs
22:7 says, "Those who borrow are slaves of moneylenders."
> >GIVE AS
MUCH AS YOU CAN
If I content myself with P250 shirt instead of P4,000 Lacoste, I can
help others more. Trust me, there is immense pleasure! You will find
that the empty thrill of owning a diamond ring on your finger pales in
comparison to the joy of handling a piece of bread to an orphan child.
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all
things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every
good work." (2Corinthians 9:8)
> >SAVE AS
MUCH AS YOU CAN
Saving is essential to being good stewards of the money that God
"lends" to us. Saving is an important way of providing for our future-both
for our needs and to be generous to others. I recommend that you save at
least 10% of your income. I can almost hear you now: "Bo, that's
impossible!" Oh yeah? Well, how did you live three years back when
your salary was one-half its present amount?
Sacrifice. Many of our needs are actually wants. Is cable TV a
need? Will you suddenly die if you can't watch CNN or HBO? Are those new
golf clubs essential to your existence?
Invest in time deposits, long-term stocks and housing.
> >BUDGET,
BUDGET, BUDGET
Make a list of all your monthly expenses, according to categories. Make
also a list of irregular expenses-those that don't come monthly.
Set up another savings account for these expenses and put in a little money
each month. To differentiate this from the savings account, we call ours
freedom account" because it frees us from worrying about them when they
suddenly attack.
And stick to your budget!
> >ONE LAST
WORD BEFORE WE CLOSE
Balance. Don't take living simply to the extremes! Living simply
doesn't mean living in deprivation.
There are special days when my wife and I eat in a fancy restaurant.
Or when we splurge into a vacation. Very rare, yes, but my point is that
you take living simply NOT as a rigid goal-but as a happy process towards
the goals of generosity, inner peace and holiness.
Cheers!!!
From Rev. Fr. Erick Santos
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