For years, I’ve been trying to figure out what I truly want out of life, the goals I want to achieve and the lifestyle I want to live. I thought I had it all figured out, maybe only partially. Recently, I realized I’m still on a journey of discovery. I’ve tried embracing a slow lifestyle, but I’m now taking it a step further, to embrace a simpler life. It’s not just about simplifying, it’s about letting go.
Letting Go of Ambition
Part of this new approach is about changing my mindset. One major shift is letting go of ambitions. As a freelancer, I’ve always worked just to meet my monthly expenses, but I had other ambitions, to grow my income, travel more, and be a digital nomad.
That desire to “grow” and constantly achieve more has started to feel out of alignment. I’ve been traveling frequently with family and friends, but something shifted recently. I even turned down a trip I would have eagerly accepted in the past. I felt no urge to constantly seek the next adventure.
Stepping Away from Consumerism
In today’s world, where everything is just a click away, it’s easy to fall into the trap of consumerism. I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of this. Since the beginning of this year, I’ve made a conscious effort to change. I’m focusing on buying less, saving more, and being more intentional with my purchases.
As part of this shift, I’ve started decluttering my room. I’ve realized just how much stuff I haven’t used in years and probably will never use ever again.
Reevaluating Social Media
Social media has also played a significant role in this transition. I’ve realized how it creates a complicated mindset, so I deleted Instagram from my phone. It’s been a few weeks now, and it feels good. I still keep Facebook to see what my family and friends are doing. As for Tiktok, I didn’t fully give up, because I want to be more intentional with my social media usage.
Instead of mindlessly scrolling, I want to be conscious about what I see and how it makes me feel. I believe it’s possible to be mindful of social media consumption, just like it’s possible to make conscious decisions about purchases, even with the shopping app on my phone. It’s all about awareness.
I don’t know if I’ve really fully figured out and whether simplicity is the type of lifestyle for me, but life is an ongoing journey of figuring things out, right?