.....Veena Shyamraj

Baloo the bear did know what he was talking about when he taught the simple bare necessities to Mowgli in the Walt Disney Classic, Jungle Book. Come on now! Who needs Baloo the bear? Haven’t we all heard that the simple and the best things in life are free?

The point is, do we really believe in it ourselves? In this mad daily routine and a race that seems to be leading us nowhere, we often choose to ignore the simplicity of life.  Things that might actually make every moment of our precious life, worth living and pleasurable. Check out these 8 really simple points.  They might actually help you lead a more blissful and energized life. The best part here is that one does not have to spend a lot of time, energy and money on these. After all, we did promise that they’d come for free, right?

1. Breathe: And breathe deeply. Right now, even as you read this. Don’t overlook the powerful benefits from the simple of things. This is a frequent, automatic cleansing action that takes place every few seconds. The deeper we draw our breath in, the more oxygen gets to our system.  A deep, purposeful inhale calms our mind, de-stresses our body and enlivens our spirit with instant force of life. When you start to feel stress, immediately take a deep breath in.  Always remember to take a few deep breaths, before you react to something, and then, respond (not react) to the situation.  It never fails to work. When we breathe deeply, we borrow attention from the often disoriented mind, and put ourselves back into the command center of our lives. It is our most basic physical connector to LIFE ITSELF and, like promised, comes absolutely free!

2.  Eat simple and clean:  When the creator made us, he also put us on a planet that has more than enough to sustain us. Mother earth has practically everything that we need, without us having to work hard and worry ourselves. Food from the earth is live energy.  The closer our food is to its natural grown state, the better it is for us. The more organic things we take in from the earth and the less filler and contaminates of “man-made” additions, the happier and more energized we feel. When you are shopping for groceries the next time, think, “SIMPLE FOODS.” Food does not have to be expensive and elaborate.  Eat just what your body requires to sustain it for nourishment and save the rest for later.  Clean foods. Clean system. Clean body. Happier LIFE!

3. De- clutter:  This can be a little tough! But, we actually need much less than what we think we do.  Now is the time to take that decision. Clear out that space and get rid of all the unwanted stuff. A clean, clear, organized physical space, leads to a clean, clear inner space. We generally end up keeping old things around because we believe we have an attachment to them, and not an actual use for them.   Let’s try storing memories in our heart, without keeping all the items from the past. Clothes, Books, Ornaments, Stuff that we used as a child there’s no end to the weird things we can get “attached” to! Make a pile for donation and give them away….absolutely free. There is nothing like getting ready for the day in a clean, beautiful space, because it puts your mood in an immediate UPLIFT!

4. Move that body! The more physically healthy we are, the more emotionally healthy we feel. When we feel strong outside, we feel strong inside. Get a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity a day, and do things that make you feel GREAT and energized. In any form that you like. Research shows that people who exercise live longer, healthier and feel happier overall. All of us know this, but do we follow it? When we make exercise a part of our daily routine and start noticing its benefits, it is difficult to live without it.

5. Connect with the creator:  Do you feels being spiritual is laborious? You might have misunderstood it then. Spirituality is not knowing or saying or doing anything, it is an “Experience”. The essence of creator is everywhere around us, right from the shoes we wear to the air we breathe.  Feel the connection.  A simple prayer straight from the heart, Meditation, Light visualization, walking in Nature.  Even repeating ONE verse of scripture that has particular meaning can connect one to Divine Source Energy. The energy or light is present in every living thing. It is simple, loving, ever-present, and all inclusive. We need nothing grand to reach it, but the opening in awareness. Go ahead, connect with the creator. You can even try smiling at a child, or like a child, experience the connection now, in this moment.

6.  Life is full of  love and positive energy:  Surrounding oneself with  positive, happy people can make a lot of difference in the way one lives and looks at things. Be with people who see and bring out the best in you. Never belittle or speak ill of yourself or complain about your life. Choose thoughts and words carefully, say positive things about people around you see good in everybody, refrain from gossiping. These simple points can transform the energy field around us immensely. Being in the company of people who make us feel safe and secure can bring about a positive change. Life is indeed simple…. Full of love and positivity.

7.  Never give up hope:  No matter what.  Live in the present and believe that the next moment is a gift. The best in life is yet to come. Doing things we never thought we were capable of, challenging ourselves every moment of the day to make it better, puts us on a high all the time! Human mind can be a pretty deceiving place, because every experience of our past is stored in our subconscious. At any given moment, the mind can open up its data files and re-circulate the past around in our heads over and over again, making us dizzy and confused.  It will also project us into a future that hasn’t happened yet, and one that is usually full of our worst fear (which rarely comes to pass!) As long as we know better and watch our thoughts, we can stop ourselves from falling into the trap.

8. Listen to the inner voice: And finally, be honest and true to yourself. Never do things to please others. Say how you feel, and don’t stuff your emotions.  Say no, if something isn’t right for you.  Say yes to risks if it will lead you to what you want. The more you live in integrity with who you REALLY are, and what you want for your life, the less painful detours you take into situations (and relationships) that aren’t right for you. It’s not always popular to live this way, but ask yourself if you want to follow the crowd and get the same results that they are getting.  If not, then be willing to check in with your own inner compass before you make commitments. It will soon guide you constantly and you will find that you will be cleaning up your language, your thoughts, your relationships, and your commitments automatically.  Life will feel simpler. And that is how it is meant to be.