Keeping it simple
Do you ever find yourself asking “Why does life have to be so complicated?”. If so, you are not alone. But did you know that human beings can often avoid keeping things simple and find they lean, instead, towards complicating their lives.
This is known as the complexity bias. When we are overwhelmed, and we can’t see the wood for the trees, we will naturally look at complicated resolutions rather than the simple solution. As Confucious said, ‘Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.’
The reason I have been exploring this subject is because on the 12th July it will be National Simplicity Awareness Day. This day was founded in honour of Henry David Thoreau who is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings.
When we are within the complexity bias we will feel that the universe is a complex place to exist, but as Theroux said:
As I researched more into Henry David, I found that he was a philosopher and a transcendentalist – a movement which has philosophy, literary, and spirituality at its heart.
According to ‘good ole’ Wikipedia, ‘Transcendentalists saw divine experience inherent in the everyday…’ whilst ushistory.org describes it as ‘People, men and women equally, have knowledge about themselves and the world around them that “transcends” or goes beyond what they can see, hear, taste, touch or feel. This knowledge comes through intuition and imagination not through logic or the senses. People can trust themselves to be their own authority on what is right’.
I must admit, when I started looking into this, it was like a light bulb switched on at my heart.
An experience which I can’t always put into words and explain to anyone, but something I can feel and experience with every fibre of my being.
Of course, I find it impossible to constantly be in the perfection of simplicity – to always feel part of something bigger – because life is far too complicated! But when things overwhelm me, I can return to my meditation cushion and for a fleeting moment, I can connect to that place which transcends beyond the illusion. And if only for a moment, I can be reminded again that it exists.
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