How to Live a Life of Substance

I need to start by saying that I'm not unhappy.  I've been blessed with so many advantages and good circumstances, from birth onward.

And it's easy, in a life like mine, with its mix of ups and downs, joys and worries – but nothing too mournful or extreme – to coast along, thinking it will always be that way.

Last year, one of my aunts and my last three uncles passed away.  None of their ends was unexpected (they were all in their 80's and 90's).  What was unexpected was my 30-year-old nephew's cancer diagnosis earlier this year and my younger sister's major surgery and cancer scare just a couple of months later.

I had pneumonia this February, emergency abdominal surgery in early March, and pneumonia again in May.  Our medical insurance has made a fuss about paying the hospital bill, and the IRS decided to audit our tax return.

It's been a season of changes and challenges.

Stay tuned in.

I mention all of this because most of us are so used to being busy and making plans for the future that we often don't pay much attention to right now.  There are so many lovely moments that we only miss once they're gone.

It shouldn't take death, illness, or an unexpected financial challenge for us to appreciate our lives.  There are good things all around us, and we need to give them our attention, because these moments are fleeting and so important.

But we're busy.  So busy and distracted.  And when we do give our attention to something, it's often something we know isn't really worth it, like social media, binge watching, video games, gossip magazines, shopping or dreaming of what we want to buy next.

I'm not judging anyone, but I want my life to have more substance than that.  Why?  Because someday in the not-too-distant future I may have fewer choices than I do now.  Health, energy, and clarity of thought don't last forever.  Why should I be blessed in so many ways and yet do nothing of value?

The antidote to boredom

All of the social media, binge watching, video games, shopping and etcetera might just be the modern way of counteracting boredom.  We're not living at subsistence level, with every waking hour devoted to providing ourselves with food and shelter, so we have time to fill and funds at our disposal (or at least a credit card).

Perhaps we just don't know how to use these bountiful resources.

In the past six years, I've become a writer.  (Happy anniversary to Maximum Gratitude Minimal Stuff!) It's a profession I thought and dreamed about for over 20 years before I took consistent action.  Maybe I wasn't in the right season of life, and maybe I hadn't found the thing I felt passionate writing about.  But now I write every day, and my life would be much poorer without this challenging, creative activity.

My oldest grandson recently asked, "Why do you always write about minimalism?"  I felt challenged to give an answer that might make sense to a not-quite-9-year-old.

I think it's easy for most of us to buy and have a lot more stuff than we need.  It's easy for us to be so busy that we work and do errands all day, yet still have more stuff we think we need to do.  This is "normal," but I don't think it's healthy.  It means we're always tired, we have a lot of bills to pay, and we still might not feel happy.

 

I write about something that's healthier for us and the planet.  You start by thinking about what's really necessary and important, and then get rid of the rest.

I could have also explained that a minimalist keeps the things she needs and loves, and stops buying things just because she's bored.  He does the things he needs and enjoys, and stops being busy just because he's afraid to be bored.  And then a minimalist gets to figure out what she can do with her money, time, and talents that will be valuable and fulfilling.  A life of substance is the antidote to boredom.

7 tips for adding value to daily life

A substantial life will be celebrated every day, not just once in a while on a special occasion.  Life isn't just valuable on the birthdays, wedding days, and graduation days.  It's always worthwhile.  So how can you celebrate a basic 24-hour slice of life?  Simply.

1.  Pay attention.

Notice that cheeky squirrel, the singing bird, interesting clouds, new blooms, a cool breeze, and more.  Instead of rushing by, slow down time by paying attention to the details.

2.  Enjoy simple pleasures.

Today is valuable, so don't save all the good stuff for certain special days.  Light the candles,* use the good dishes, or wear your favorite outfit and a little of the "good" scent you treated yourself to.

* This blog is reader-supported, with no ads!  If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.

3.  Move beyond logistics.

It's easy for families to spend a lot of time talking about who has to be where when, and how to make that all work.  We wind up moving from one appointment to the next until we're exhausted.  Cut back on busyness and take time for a conversation.  These are the people you will spend your life with – try to make your relationships intimate rather than superficial.

4.  Take a daily walk.

A lot of us do this, but we're on our phones or wearing earbuds and listening to something while we do it.  We don't really inhabit our bodies while we walk – its just one more chore to fit in.  What if we were more present so we could notice little changes in the weather, become acquainted with neighbors, or appreciate the way our bodies move?

5.  Monotask.

The reason we feel so rushed and harried is because we're always trying to multitask.  Try doing one thing, and then the next.  Your brain will feel calmer, your focus will be better, and you'll even increase your attention span.  You'll have more energy and creativity for doing valuable work.

6.  Take one day at a time.

A page-a-day calendar can be fun.  There are calendars with daily trivia, new vocabulary, affirmations, jokes, comics, recipes, and more.  Taking time to read and share each page can help you focus and have fun each morning.

7.  Begin a daily gratitude practice.

Most of us are grateful in the moment we receive something, but our minds quickly return to our plans and lists of things we want to do and buy.  A daily gratitude practice can begin to create a different mindset.

Being aware and grateful all the time is hard.  Finding something to be thankful for even when things aren't going right is a challenge, but it's the only way to gain contentment.  Get in the habit of giving thanks at meals, at bedtime, before leaving for school or work – all the time!  The more you look for things to be thankful for, the more you're going to find.

Don't just coast along.  Gratitude gives you a reason to celebrate every day.