Time, energy, money, and attention are finite resources. Over time, I’ve come to value three things when it comes to these finite resources: simplicity, service, and generosity.
Simplicity
Peace Pilgrim wrote about thirteen “steps towards inner peace.” She said that these steps can be taken in any order, so we should take the steps that seem easiest to us right now.
One of the steps she wrote about was about “the simplification of life”:
A persistent simplification will create an inner and outer well-being that places harmony in one’s life. For me this began with a discovery of the meaninglessness of possessions beyond my actual and immediate needs. As soon as I had brought myself down to need level, I began to feel a wonderful harmony in my life between inner and outer well-being, between spiritual and material well-being.
Some people seem to think that my life dedicated to simplicity and service is austere and joyless, but they do not know the freedom of simplicity. I am thankful to God every moment of my life for the great riches that have been showered upon me. My life is full and good but never overcrowded. If life is overcrowded then you are doing more than is required for you to do.
She took a “vow of simplicity: I shall not accept more than I need while others in the world have less than they need.”
For me, simplicity is not austerity, minimalism, or stinginess.
Simplicity is about balance and moderation.
Simplicity is a recognition that having too much is a burden, is heavy, cumbersome.
Simplicity is a recognition that having too little is stressful, difficult, challenging.
Simplicity is about having what you need (but not more).
Simplicity is about letting go of what doesn’t bring joy, and keeping what does.
Simplicity is about thriving, not merely surviving.
Service
Service is about helping others, of being of benefit—about using your time and energy to be of benefit.
Service isn’t about sacrificing yourself. Service isn’t a burden. It’s playful, delightful, rewarding, fun, joyful – a gift that feels good to give.
Service isn’t about punishing yourself, or doing things you hate and find exhausting.
Service is finding joyful ways to express care for others.
Generosity: A Philosophy of Money
Abundance and scarcity are key themes. Scarcity is a block to deeper service and joy. See, act, live from abundance.
Generosity is a way to practice living in abundance.
Generosity is about acknowledging our connection to others.
Generosity is about knowing that if you plant your feet firmly in the ground for something good, help will arrive.
Generosity is about giving and receiving.
Make use of every moment of your life, give every gift you have to offer.
Give every gift, receive every gift. Let generosity flow through you. Give all of your energy and money and wisdom and time in every place and way you can.
If you dedicate yourself to giving every gift you have to give, two things will happen: you will be given more gifts, and you will have even more to give.
Money is fuel for serving others. It is an expression of love like everything else.
Giving money is one form of generosity—an important one, but not the only one. We can also give our time, attention, love, and skills.
To deeply pay attention to who someone is, how they show up in the world, what their past and dreams are, is an act of tremendous love, healing, and potential.
Give it to everyone you can as often as you can: it is a gift to the person you attend to, to yourself, and the world.
We can give this attention as an everyday gift to everyone we meet. The extent to which you are willing to pay this kind of attentive love to yourself is the extent to which you are willing and able to give it to others.