Simplify...

Simplify.....

That is the word that God keeps bringing to me.  It is everywhere.  It is in my devotionals.  It is in the messages I'm listening to and the books I'm reading.  It is inside my head.  Simplify.  I know our family has several new challenges just around the corner.  Maybe that is why God is trying to prepare us by prompting me to simplify as much of our hectic life as possible now. 

A year ago, I think I was in a much better mind-set.  Our family had gotten rid of so much of our "stuff"!  Our focus was on relationships, people, time, and having less.  We had a homemade Christmas.  The tree wasn't overlowing on Christmas morning.  We all made homemade presents for each other.  In addition we received family gifts....skis, a weekend at the Great Wolf Lodge (in March), State Theater gift card, and restaurant gift card.  They were things to encourage family time.  It was a great Christmas!  Over the past year, however, the "materialism bug" caught us again....or we just got lazy....and fell back into the trap of collecting stuff.  This year's Christmas tree was overflowing.  The gifts were materialistic and much more meaningless. 

This past summer, I made a Priority List.  I listed (with pictures) the things that are most important to me in my life.  I made sure that everything I did with my time and every decision I made was in alignment with my  priorities.  Thinking about my life now, I can see how many things I am choosing are not lining up with my priorities.  I need to get my Priority List out and re-evaluate what I'm doing! 

I think this is an important thing for everyone to do. 

1.  Prioritize

• What are the most important things in your life?  (make a list)
• Make more time for the things that are  your priorities!
• Cut out things that you are doing that are not producing fruit (not in line with your priorities) or are not helping you get closer to your dream or goal.  Sometimes you may have to cut out "good" things (ex. church activities or children's activities) to have time for the "best"!
• Understand that saying "no" is ok.  Choose your activities/commitments carefully. 

2.  Streamline

• Streamline necesseties and be more efficient (housecleaning, errands, grocery shopping, etc.)
• Use a house cleaning schedule
• Stop making multiple trips to the store (ex. only go once a week)

3.  Focus Your Time on Strengths/Gifts

• Recongnize your individual gifts and focus your time and energy on those
• Do NOT give time to areas that you do not have strengths or interest
• Stop trying to do it all and stop expecting to be perfect
• ***Design a "Things I Will Not Do" List

4.  Have New Goals

• It is important to be working towards something....what is your dream?

***Make sure that your time, talent (gifts), and money are all in line with your priorities and are helping you achieve your goals.  If you are spending your time, talent (gifts), or money on things other than your priorities or goals...then I believe you will begin to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and out of balance.  This is your clue to re-align your priorities with what you are doing. 

In my next post, I will share my individual plan to simplify my life with you.