Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Trina Cress of Beginner Beans.
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” —John D. Rockefeller
Over the last few years, I’ve grown in my desire for a simple, intentional, contented life. Sometimes, however, I lose focus.
Like when my daughter almost drowned on a little excursion to the pool a couple summers ago. As I finished changing my then six-month-old into his swim diaper, my then three-year-old escaped my peripheral vision and confidently rushed down the steps into the water. Water that happened to be level with the top of her head.
When I glanced up, it took only a second to see her frantically kicking—her feet down, arms frozen by her sides, head tilted toward the sky, and a thin layer of water just covering her face. Her eyes open and panicked, she tried and failed to reach fresh air.
I managed to quickly pull her to safety, calming her and reassuring her as she caught her breath. Thankfully, she hadn’t taken in much water or had to hold her breath long in the seconds from her stepping off that last step and me noticing her in a panic.
That is the image that comes to mind as I think about my own venture into life. I bound joyfully down each item on my To Do list easing my way into what I think to be manageable and joy-filled waters.
Before long, I look around and realize I’ve filled my life to overflowing with good things. Good goals and projects—creative work, healthy living, hobbies; good daily tasks—errands, e-mails, chores; and all the specifics of my life happenings—my current pregnancy, staying home with the two kids we already have, and everything that comes with this current season of life.
A life full of good things.
So full, it sometimes threatens to drown me. My never-ending list of good things just covers the top of my face as I try and fail to catch my breath through them all.
It’s these moments—when I’m overwhelmed, exhausted, spent—that I know it’s time to simplify and refocus. I need clarity of purpose so I can let go of some of those good things, opening room to breathe and move forward into the deeper waters of great living.
I got this clarity recently by going through five checkpoints on my journey to simple, intentional, contented living. I’ll share them with you here, in case you are also finding yourself overwhelmed in the shallow waters of good:
1. Identify where you are.
I started by listing all the specifics that were taking my resources. All of those good things—the projects, tasks and life happenings—that filled my days to overflowing. I had an “Oh, now I get it” moment as I realized all the directions I was sending my time and energy.
2. Discover where you really want to be.
I then dreamed about where I really wanted to be—drowning in the shallow end of good, or confidently swimming in the deep end of great? In order to get deep into great, I had to be honest about those projects, tasks and life seasons where I really wanted to focus. Which did I care about and want to pursue above the others?
3. Consider what’s holding you back.
Then, came the tough questions. What good things were drowning me? What was holding me back? What good things were getting in my way of doing something great, or doing anything at all?
4. Let go of good for better.
Next, came the hard part of letting go. I had to confront my hang-ups to letting go of those good projects, tasks and happenings. I couldn’t let guilt control me anymore—if I wanted to swim in great, I needed to go through the challenging process of letting go of the excess good.
5. Live simply with purpose where you are.
Finally, it was time to pursue my new focus on purpose and with appreciation. What would I do today to implement my new simple, intentional, contented focus?
Focus and direction for my life, work, and family came as I dove into these checkpoints. I found a refreshing clarity like pulling my head above the water’s surface and taking in a healing breath of air. A renewed focus of where to point my limited resources to swim in great.
What good things in your life are keeping you from great?
***
Trina Cress blogs at Beginner Beans where she encourages others to live simply with purpose where they are.
Renee Hall says
Great visual analogy that really drove the wisdom home!
Mike Corona says
Great post, number 3 is a game changer when you dial in on exactly what’s holding you back. Usually, it’s our own mindset and fear and the enjoyment of our comfort zone. Thanks!
Yossarian Fay says
Thanks so much Trina and Joshua :) I loved this and it really came at a good time as I was de-cluttering my house, which does occur quite often, and yet not feeling that sense of freedom and simplicity which I hoped for. I hope you don’t mind that I used it as a basis for my blog last night. It resonated so much that I really wanted to share the post and both of you :) Thanks again. Yossarian Fay
Trina says
Thank you for passing the message on!
Gladys (The Pinay Mom) says
This is such an excellent post. We’re really enjoying living a simple life. We learned that material things are always the component for a happy life.
John says
Trina,
Thank you for an excellent post. It reminds me that sometimes we need to “let go”. When we hold on to the material things and fuzzy perceptions of life, we have no room for the more important things that matter. Usually, when we clear unnecessary or unproductive things from our lives, we make room for the new and better.
blessings,
John
http://www.thehillofbeans.com
Tope Fabusola says
The Most Amazing thing to me is that, my last post on my blog was titled ‘Leave Good Behind,’ where I addressed Leaving Good and Being Better.
Seeing this did my heart a lot of good. You know what they say that Great Minds Think Alike? I’m enjoying that kind of moment now.
Thanks for putting this up, Trina and Joshua.
One Love!
Trina says
Love when good ideas overlap :)
Kate says
This is great and perfect timing for my husband and I. We’re budding minimalists, but drowning in social clutter. We love spending time with and helping other people, but between that, jobs, our kids, and our hobbies, we rarely have moments to consider other options. It hit us this week that we could completely simplify our lives by taking a couple of years to travel the country with our kids (my husband and I both have portable/online jobs.) BUT, there is so much “good” in our lives that we’re afraid to let go and try for “great.” Inspiring post; I always like reading what Trina has to say!
Trina says
How wonderful that you already have portable jobs! Many of us think that is the only thing tying us down, but I’m glad you’re able to remind us letting go has to happen in a lot more ways than we realize.
Viv says
The moment I began reading this post I thought about my “to do list.” Its a note book I carry around and in it I scribble things I need to get done.The notebook began as an organizing tool but now the list is all encompassing, personal goals, household chores, bill payments, phone calls, emails, crafts, scheduling reminders and on and on. When I get something on my list completed I date it, to remind myself I have done it and I keep those pages. Some things on my list are carried forward page after page – those things also sit firmly and constantly in the back of my mind. My list triggers internal anxiety about “finishing what you start”, an old script from my past. The thought of abandoning unfinished projects seems to me to waste the time and money already spent half completing them. (The unfinished craft projects and hobbies seem to be the hardest to let go of). I want time for myself but the things I really want to do are lost in the mess of my list. I too feel like I am drowning in the mundane, ignoring my true purpose simply to get other stuff done.
Time to let go of things I no longer have interest in completing and make way for the things I am compelled to pursue.
Thank you :)
Virivitae says
Viv, that is exactly how I feel.
Excellent article Trina, and thank you Joshua.
Trina says
And, you’re both welcome :)
Trina says
Oh, I am all too familiar with the “carrying forward” to do list. In efforts to never leave a week unfinished, I’ll even draw an arrow through those uncompleted tasks as a way to say they carried on to the next week. It’s overwhelming to say how many weeks in a row tasks will get arrowed over and over before I finally admit it was a nice thought but it’s time to let it go.
Thank you for sharing a piece of your story and your struggle. It’s so hard to let go of those unfinished projects. But how fun would it be to choose one or two and actually finish them?! It’s not easy, but you can do it! Wishing you the best.
Chrisy@GoodNorthCoastLife says
Wow, that really hit home for me on a few levels. Thanks to Trina for writing it, and Josh for posting it. Really good stuff guys.
Trina says
Happy it resonated with you! And, yes, thank you Josh for posting it :)