Most of us have an addiction to addition. Our resolutions are full of more, problems are met with a barrage of suggestions, and garages are brimming with things we thought would make us happy.
Sometimes, more is the answer. Eight hours of sleep is better than four, a fridge full of food is better than none. But most of the time we don’t have to deem more as our default.
The key is to be intentional when we add.
Do I need to say something, or can I just enjoy the silence and the presence of this other person?
Do I need to fill the day with useless tasks, or can I find something more rewarding to do?
Do I need to buy this jacket, or am I just trying to prove I am worthy of attention?
We don’t always have to be talking, doing, or proving. We can simply be as we are without anything else. Shorter sentences tend to be stronger. Pared down concepts are easier to understand. Fewer obligations tend to cause less stress and anxiety.
Speak when the noise surpasses silence.
Act when it’s more appropriate than the opposite.
Add when it enhances the experience.
Otherwise, leverage less as the default.
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