How to leave the more with more treadmill

Resolving to seek more with less is difficult, because we have to shake off all the erroneous assumptions of modern life. However, having made the commitment to less is more, the process of finding it is not that hard.

Why? It’s a process of subtraction. We don’t need to do more — we need to do less. We don’t have to reach the unknown. We can simplify back down to the best and most fulfilling parts of the life we already have.

We don’t try to get more. We give up grasping. We let go, relax. Our natural happiness inside is released.

We don’t strive for more “effective habits.” We drop habits that don’t work for us. We stop spending time on anything that doesn’t bring us happiness and fulfillment, that isn’t necessary for our living or the happiness of the people we care about.

We don’t have to say “yes” when people ask us to do things. We just ask ourselves, “Is this something I really want to do, is it part of the life I want?” If the task doesn’t connect in some way with our purpose, we say “no.” We do less. We enjoy more.

We take items off our lists. Less work. Less shopping. Clear closet clutter. Give away things we don’t need. Recycle them. Give up feeling angry or depressed. Close off an old grudge. Forgive our enemies or, harder, our friends!

Stop comparing ourselves to others. Be content with being happy. Be happy with what we have. Stop striving after things that make us restless and unhappy.

Edit our lives. Cut out unsatisfying meetings, travel, relationships. If something’s not going anywhere, stop.

Modern life may advocate expensive, difficult training to cope with difficulties. A shrink, guru, or motivation expert supposedly trains us to deal better with stress and our bad behavior. This is like learning all about snakes to deal with them better.

Why bother? Rather, give up or avoid our “snake pits,” areas of life where we cope badly. Less is more — dump the stressful and unrewarding parts of our lives. There is always a way, if we are determined.

I have a home in Spain. I go there every few months, to escape business commitments, to focus on thinking and writing. I limit my information inflow:

• No radio or TV.

• Few phone calls — a secret number, one phone, no backup, no mobile. Happily, the phone system often fails.

• See only the few friends I really want to see.

• Read the newspaper only on Saturday.

Result? I write three or four times faster, and I think much better, than when I’m elsewhere. I love my simple life in Spain. I enjoy every hour — writing, daily cycle ride through the mountains, tennis, dinner with friends. Simple life. Sweet rituals each day. Very cheap.

Think about what’s simple, economical, and makes you happy. Read the ideas to simplify your life and look at Jane’s pleasure chart opposite.