A BRIEF MEDITATION

Imagine a lone, delicate flower bathed in the soft glow of morning sunlight. The world around the flower fades into a gentle blur, leaving only the bloom in sharp focus.

In the same way a single flower can captivate with its simplicity, an uncomplicated approach to life can bring out its inherent beauty. Breathe in the freshness of a new day. Find joy in the subtle fragrance of your surroundings.

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MANTRA BREAKDOWN

We tend to overcomplicate life sometimes.

Jamming our schedules with mundane tasks, expensive appointments, and meaningless activities.

Ruminating on a past interaction until it becomes something else entirely.

Consuming content about how to be better, do better, and have more.

We might even strive for complexity because having more "going on" makes life (and ourselves) seem more interesting.

In today's age, it takes courage to deviate from complexity and live simply.

Simplicity is stripping our days free of unnecessary actions and distractions.

Simplicity is not being afraid to appear "boring."

Simplicity is being honest and heartfelt with ourselves and others.

Making this choice (one we have to make repeatedly) liberates us from thoughts and actions that aren't aligned with who we are and what will make us truly happy.

After all, the greatest joys can be attributed to mere moments. The most transformative truths are only ever simple.

QUOTES TO INSPIRE YOU

• "Simplicity is the most difficult thing to secure in this world; it is the last limit of experience and the last effort of genius." - George Sand

• "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Leonardo da Vinci

• "Simplicity is the key to brilliance." - Bruce Lee

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CREATING WHITE SPACE IN DECEMBER

In a world with constant stimuli and chaotic schedules, more space can be the deep, deep sigh of relief our minds & bodies need. Especially as we prepare to close the loop in 2023.

Space allows us to breathe, rest, focus, or do anything more calmly and consciously.

We can achieve this by intentionally creating more "white space" in our heads and environment.

Create a spacious mind.

Work emails, scrolling random ads you found on Instagram, watching reality TV, skimming vegan recipes for the holidays...

Your content might be different but what you're consuming still takes up precious headspace, keeping you from inhabiting a more clear and calm mindset.

Challenge A: Putting more on your schedule seems counterintuitive but hear us out: Block out "negative space" during your workday. (Label it that or "white space.")

Perhaps it's 20 minutes after your last work call, or setting aside half an hour in the morning to sit down with your favorite beverage.

This is a time away from any type of content, so your mind can breathe and process everything. Go on a walk, and leave your headphones at home. Meditate, or do some nighttime journaling.

See if you can do this once (or 3X) a week. Observe the difference you feel on the days you schedule "negative space."

Declutter your physical space.

Of course, your physical environment not only reflects how you think and feel inside… It also has the power to influence it.

Challenge B: Set a timer for 10 minutes a day to tidy one area of your living space. Aim to do this every day in December, but keep going even if you miss a day!

Pro tip: Stop cleaning when the timer runs out. Keeping habits tiny and contained within a short time window makes them significantly more sustainable.

Challenge C: For those who have too much physical clutter, aim to discard ONE thing every day. This could be items like expired skincare, lotions, holey socks, old tchotchkes, etc.

Alternatively, you can add to a donation pile for things you no longer need but may be valuable to someone else.

HOW TO START

Choose one of the challenges. Let us know what insights come up while you're doing it. Did you come across any unexpected feelings? Are you inspired to go even further in 2024?

✅ BONUS: Create a Metric (e.g., "Daily Tidy") to make tracking your challenge easier! Reset to "Monthly."

MOMENTUM TIP OF THE WEEK

Imagine if you were a fly on the wall, observing yourself on your computer. Second to second, minute to minute, what would you see?

Tabs multiplying like rabbits? Several windows opened, producing more distractions than actual progress?

Navigating our digital environment on auto-pilot won’t help you focus.

The fix? Be intentional and simplify. Strip away the excess 'til your focus is zeroed in on ONE thing.

1. Vacuum all of the tabs.

2. Go full-screen.

3. Pause, deep breath, and dive in!

IT’S ALL GOOD (NEWS)

Here are a few stories that may spark curiosity and wonder. ✨

• ❤️ Health: Cutting Back on One Amino Acid Increases Lifespan of Middle-Aged Mice up to 33%

• 🥗 Sustainability: These States Recycle and Donate Food Headed to Landfills

• 🎄 Holiday Fun: This College Town’s Lighting of a 123-Foot Christmas Tree Continues a 56-Year Tradition

• 🦾 AI: Steel Fingers Guided by AI Pluck Weeds Rapidly and Autonomously