I’m talking predominantly about the books I have in my Audible or Libby queue, or podcasts for that matter, that are focused on mediation, mindfulness, minimalism, all the “m’s”. I have several. But how many do I really need? And if I’m just going from one to the next, am I really allowing myself the time to focus on and implement the practices and ideas of one before diving deep into yet-another-alternative?
I had a book once that’s next on my ‘reacquire’ list: "Simplify Your Life". It came out in the mid 1990’s and i loved it. 100 way to slow down, simplify life, focus on what matters. I bought it, read it, read it again, put it down, read it sporadically for years until something caused me to part with it. Likely having a desire to thin out the books I’d collected about living a simple life.
One was enough. One worked. One taught me all I really needed to know. And not that much has so dramatically changed that the ideas are in any way outdated or needing revision.
Take “Getting Things Done”, the landmark book about, you guessed it, getting things done. It came out, it made sense, people adopted it, but there’s 100’s of other versions of the same basic principles out there.
I guess what i’m trying to say is that it’s it’s not broke, don’t buy a book about fixing it. Use what you have; Use what works. My one mediation app works wonders. The one spiritual podcast keeps me thinking. The leadership podcast sets me up for success. But every free minute need not be filled. There’s such joy and empowerment to be found in the silence of being undistracted and in the moment.
Of course I’m going to continue my efforts to read and learn about things that are positive influences for me or inform me. But i’m going to reduce the redundancy and repetition of subject matter. Instead i’ll start applying the principles and getting more ROI out of my limited free time.