The Necessary Art of Subtraction
On Overwhelm?
Most of us have gotten caught up in the process of addition. After all it is easier than subtraction-that’s why we were taught it first!
And the tendency in our lives seems to be to keep adding: more tasks, more appointments, more gadgets, more clothes, more furniture.
It’s so American. Well, maybe it’s so human!
But continual addition isn’t really sustainable or even desirable:
As Leo Babauta points out in his blog Zen Habits, we can improve the quality of our lives by decreasing the quantity of “stuff” in our lives (including stuff to do!)
- Too many things to do means we’re always busy, with little time for rest, stillness, creativity, time with loved ones.
- Overwhelming choices means we’re less likely to make an actual choice.
- Too many possessions is clutter, visual stress, and need maintaining.
- Too many tasks makes it more difficult to focus on any one thing or get anything done.
- Too much communication (24/7-wired and wireless) is exhausting.
Subtraction is beautiful: it creates space, time, clarity.
Subtraction is necessary: otherwise we are overburdened.
Subtraction can be painful: it may mean letting go of a child.
Subtraction is an art that improves with practice. It can be practiced on your schedule, to do lists, commitments, list, possessions, reading lists…
For me, I’ve done some “subtracting” by cutting back the hours on my part-time job. I’ve started clearing out clothes I won’t really wear, books I won’t ever get around to reading, kitchen gadgets I won’t ever use again.
How about you?
My suggestion is before you go and press that fast forward button again, try pressing the pause button.
The power of the pause!
Pausing allows you to take a breath in your life.
When you pause,
what can you subtract right now?
6 Comments
Pause, subtract, enjoy. There is a lot to enjoy every day if you just take the time to pause in your schedule, subtract the little busy tasks, and enjoy just looking around to enjoy what goes on around you. It is much easier to concentrate on what you may see if you take it one thing at a time ( if possible ). Give yourself a break and slow down a bit. Take a walk, use your head to remember good times, look around to see what is out there – you gave yourself a time to relax and enjoy. If part of your time is given to subtract objects from your life ( old clothes, old toys, old cards, etc ) you may find memories of good times along the way – more relaxing with good thoughts. Pause, subtract, enjoy.
Earl, I love the reminder that the memories triggered by subtracting objects from our lives are a special gift!
With a move looming the big SUBTRACT PROJECT is beginning. It’s really an interesting thing to watch things leave the house, and actually feel a physical and emotional lightness as a result. I really don’t need more, I need less.
Being retired now, I don’t have a hugely busy schedule of things to go out and do all the time. My challenge is the STUFF I’ve collected over the years – too much of it. This clearing out is actually a most enlightening thing to be doing. Oddly, I’m actually enjoying much of the process – which is a good thing since it appears this may be a longish process.
Thankfully, I learned early on in life that subtracting, or never adding in the first place, kept anxiety and stress at bay. Emotional clutter is so intense sometimes that clutter in the physical space is simply the last straw. For me, prioritizing my Addition & Subtraction is key. Thank you, Pat, for the reminder of the Power of the Pause!
Theresa, I do think that we have long underestimated the Power of the Pause, the chance to become Present!
Earl, you put it so well!!!! And I am not a keeper of “stuff” as it drives me crazy trying to keep it clean and organized. I have recently really cleaned out and feel much better! Now I have to take the advice to slow down on the constantly doing and do as Earl says and just pause and relax and enjoy more!