Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals. ― Jim Rohn
We live in a time where Google is practically attached at everyone’s hips. At any moment, we can find more information about any topic than ever before. This wealth of knowledge can be helpful, but it can also be dangerous.
Our brains aren’t meant to process all this information. Research suggests that the human brain can only hold about seven pieces of information at any given time. When we use Google an abundance of information comes rushing forward. We buy into this wealth of information because we think the more we analyze and consider the scenario, the better results we will get. Doing research is important, but it can also be a form of procrastination. We do more research instead of getting started. We take so many precautions and consider so many possibilities that we never even start. There is so much information that we get lost in the details and we forget the bigger picture.
It’s time to bring the bigger picture into focus by finding what is fundamental. Let’s look at some common examples of how people get stuck in the details and how to get the bigger picture back.
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Buying fancy accessories
Whether you are interested in fitness, technology, entertainment, or cooking there are a ton of accessories available to purchase. Companies get into our heads, making us believe that if we have this new gadget, it will allow us to make leaps in progress and achieve our goal faster than ever before. Having the right tools to work with is important, but it’s important to remember what is fundamental. What’s the essential skill necessary for your goal? As a runner you can buy all the accessories you want, but you aren’t going to notice a substantial improvement until you really spend time running. It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how often we need reminders to focus on what is fundamental.
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Planning great goals
Having an impressive goal is great, but by getting lost in all the details it’s easy to get overwhelmed and quit before we ever truly started. Don’t get lost in all the upcoming details. Break the goal down, and focus on what you have to do right now. Do a little bit each day, and watch the results pile up. When you do your best in the present moment, you set up the best conditions for the future.
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Our relationships
Having a plethora of apps at our disposal, we are unconsciously trading quality for quantity. Applications steal our attention, and when we are using these applications during our time with friends and loved ones, you are being robbed of your precious time with them. Instead of focusing on how many ‘likes’ a latest social media post has; think about how much you like it when your friend gives you their full and undivided attention, and repay the favor. If you feel that your friends are always on their phone when they are with you, lead by example. By bringing our friendships back to basics, we can make our friendships much more fulfilling and meaningful.
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Lead a life of purpose, not a busy one.
Being busy is almost like a badge of honor everyone wants to wear. Having a busy life gives us the delusion that we are being productive, and doing our best work. It’s tempting to wear the badge and do more at once because we think we are seeing more results, and we might even feel a greater sense of accomplishment. Often times, being busy is just about multitasking and working on distracting smaller tasks, instead of doing what really matters. Consider your own schedule, goals, and values. What do you really want to do? What really matters in your life? See if you can pare your activities down, and free up more time to do what really matters.
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Cut down on excess spending
It can take weeks to earn money, yet only a few seconds to spend it. If you want to save more money, first take a look at your current finances. Where is your money going? Is it going towards things you actually need, or luxuries that you don’t need, or even services that you barely use? Consider cutting down on extra expenses in order to have some extra money in the bank.
How to Apply the Basics in Other Areas
Consider an area of your life that you want to change. What do you want that area of your life to be like? Then take a step back and look at the bigger picture. In order to make it happen what do you really need to focus on? What’s the main priority, and what’s extra? Make sure you spend most of your time on the priority, as it is the engine that will help push the rest of your plan forward. This is not to say that the extras don’t matter, they can help fine tune your goal, but make sure to always remember what is fundamental. Don’t let the extras tempt you, and always keep the essentials within sight.
Why Minimalism Helps Us Move Forward
On the surface, people might assume that minimalism is going backward in progress. In reality, it’s doing the exact opposite. Minimalism helps us remove distractions, to help us see the bigger picture, and allows us that extra breathing room in order to focus on what is fundamental and live a much more meaningful and satisfying life.
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