The deliberate art of subtraction adds meaning to life
If you feel behind in life, apply this surprisingly therapeutic good life mindset
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The subtraction method: less is more life
Life can quickly become too cluttered and full of internal and external noise when we don’t take a step back and assess what is truly important. Subtraction is a way of becoming more aware of our habits and what we do and don’t need to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life. When you subtract from your life, you can make space for what you truly value and create a more focused style.
Lao Tzu, a Chinese Taoist philosopher, once said, “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.” By stripping away the non-essential, we can become more in tune with our values and priorities. It can help us to make more intentional choices about how we spend our time and energy, leading to a greater sense of fulfilment and satisfaction.
Subtraction creates more space in your life. This can be physical space, such as decluttering a home, or mental space, by letting go of negative thoughts or limiting habits and beliefs. The process can lead to lightness and freedom, allowing you to approach life with a renewed sense of purpose and positivity.
“If the past was the age of adding to one’s mind, now is the age of subtracting what is in his mind. A person who subtracts his minds in this time will recover his original nature,’ argues Woo Myung, in his book, Stop Living In This Land, Go To The Everlasting World Of Happiness, Live There Forever.
When you actively subtract, you can make room for new experiences, create more free time and enjoy a life focused on the things that bring you the most joy. Through the practice of conscious subtraction, you can live a life that is simpler, more meaningful and easier to manage. Subtraction isn’t just about removing the excess; it’s a deliberate art form. It’s about taking stock of our lives and being mindful of what brings us joy and fulfilment.
“The soul grows by subtraction, not addition,” says Henry David Thoreau.
A few ways to practice the art of subtraction
Prune social feeds: By cutting many of your social media sources, you can reduce the time and energy you spend or waste on updates that add no value to your life.
Declutter physical space: When you simplify your living space, you can reduce the stress and anxiety caused by physical clutter, allowing you to focus on the things that truly matter.
Minimise commitments that drain you: Remove activities or obligations that drain your energy and make more time for self-care practices such as exercise, starting a regular sleeping routine, making time for nature walks, and healthy eating that can improve your physical and mental well-being.
Limit your to-do list: When you remove unnecessary tasks and focus on the most important ones, you can get your most important things done.
Focuse on one task at a time: When you eliminate multitasking and distractions, you can achieve greater focus and productivity one thing at a time.
Let go of negative thoughts or limiting beliefs: Getting rid of negative thoughts or limiting beliefs from your mind can free you from their hold on your actions and thoughts.
Simplify your schedule: By removing activities or obligations that don’t align with your values or goals, you can create more time and energy for the things that truly matter to you.
Unsubscribe from unnecessary newsletters: Cut out the constant stream of emails and notifications to reduce email distractions.
Eliminate unnecessary expenses: You can reduce expenses such as subscriptions or memberships to free up money for more meaningful experiences or investments.
Remove toxic relationships: Cut relationships that drain your energy or bring negativity into your life, and create more positive and supportive connections with others.
Living an abundant life isn’t about accumulating more things or experiences — it’s about making space for the things that truly matter. The quality of your life depends on how well you manage your habits, tasks, experiences and the many events in life. The deliberate art of subtraction is not always easy and may require difficult decisions. But with a clear understanding of your values and priorities, the process can lead to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
Food for thought
If you feel behind in life, apply this surprisingly therapeutic good life mindset
“I am on my own timeline.”
It’s my mantra for a slow, conscious living.
I came across this quote and thought it’s worth pondering:
“A satisfied life is better than a successful life. Because our success is measured by others, but our satisfaction is measured by our own soul, mind, and heart.”
If you feel behind in life or think everyone else has figured out their life part from you, don’t despair. You’re walking a uniquely rare path.
The word “behind” is merely an illusion created by comparing ourselves to others. There are no ‘defined” finish lines in life.
3 questions worth asking
When we think about changing a habit, starting a new project, or learning a new skill, we often put ourselves under too much pressure. We feel like we must have all the solutions or get a lot more done as quickly as possible. By asking, ‘Does this add more value than it takes?’, we learn to focus on the essential tasks, choose the right projects, or focus on the most important tasks while still striving for a positive impact.
Asking ‘What are you optimising for?’ allows us to be intentional and focus our results on something that’s actually valuable to us. Regardless of whether or not we’re aware of it, we’re all optimising for some sort of outcome. This question helped me make very important decisions.
When I grapple with a difficult decision or when I’m running out of time to go through a long to-do list, I ask myself ‘What matters most?’ – it’s a question that never fails to help me stay focused on what’s important.
An activity worth doing
Am I spreading myself too thin?
I ask myself this question every month or quarter. I use it to assess my calendar and everything on my plate. It’s how I defend my time.
For every potential slice of my time. I ask myself:
Is this task aligned with my goals and values?
Am I the best person to do this?
Is this the best use of my time?
Will I regret saying yes to this?
It’s how I identify the low-value tasks, the unnecessary commitments, and the energy-draining requests that I can and should decline.
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Thanks for reading!
Happy New Year!
Thomas
Medium | All Courses | The Write Life | Philosophy For Modern Life
Postanly Weekly is now a reader-supported publication. To support my work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription for $7 per month or $40 for an entire year. With a modest yearly contribution you’re not only helping keep Postanly Weekly going, you also get free access to Thinking Toolbox (mental models for life) and Mental Wealth Toolbox (practical concepts for smarter decisions).
Christmas discount: 50% off today (get free instant access to Thinking Toolbox (mental models for life) and Mental Wealth Toolbox.
Use this special link or the button below.