March 7th, 2010 by rob white
For many years I made a lot of hard work out of simple matters. Eventually wisdom sunk in; I have learned that there is no complex challenge in my life that I cannot solve with simple thinking. By ‘simple thinking’ I mean that I no longer get emotionally involved in the matter, and make it complicated.
When I am willing to look at a problem in my life with the simple thought of finding an answer, the answer comes (and it comes relatively quickly). There is a notion out there that says intelligent people come up with complicated theories to answer life-questions. Complicated theories are a consequence of complicated minds. When I learned to clear my mind of complicated theories, those mental meanderings that took me in circles began to diminish, and answers to my problems soon followed.
Ludwig Wittgenstein (considered by some to be the greatest philosopher of the 20th century) once said, “The aspects of things that are most important to us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity.” That which is simple and often even familiar is never found if you seek it with a complicated mind.
* If you suffer financial loss in these trying times – your task is to think simply and clearly about how to get through it … and think nothing else. Answers will come to help you.
* It’s your turn; what is it time for you to think simple and clearly about ______?
I love this blog. It is so telling. I can see how often I complicate matters and then feel lost. Thanks you, rob
It is amazing how we complicate things. Genius is always simplicity.
It is obvious to me that when I get emotionally involved in something that dumb gas descends on me. I can’t fine answers to save my life. What a difference remaining calm can make.
I used to make a lot of work over putting the rubbish out for pickup on pickup day. I would talk about it the day before, complain about it the next morning, and eventually do it begrudgingly. Now I simply do it – no resistance, no big hallabaloo. It’s so easy now.
I love what you said on your daily tweet about crumbling blocking walls that we construct in our minds, Learning to think simply helps with this.
Wow, do I ever complicate matters when I get emotionally involved with things at work. I can learn something by taking things less personally like my boss does.
I lost my job, I am almost out of money. I thought simply about what I could do. The answer came to me = ask my brother if I could come to work for him. He said yes. I never would have asked if I kept whining and complicating matters.
It is time for me to think simply and clearly about getting a new car. The horn keeps sticking and the battery keeps dying. Clearly the car is not taking care of business and I have been ignoring it.
I would think the spontaneous honking of the horn could be a delightful wakeup call, Salty, reminding you to keep your eye on the road.
I can tell when I am looking at problems with the idea of finding an answer; I stop fretting so much about it.
I like the word ‘Fretting’, Carol. My mother used to use it to calm me (stop fretting so much) when I would get worked up over nothing as a child.
Fretting is a feeling of annoyance for me. When I indulge in fretting, I am sure to say things that can damage my relationships, so I shut up.
In math class, I am only able to complete the equation when I think clearly about the components of the equation. Any confusion and the solution is lost.
I can never find a pair of socks when Im leaving
That’s because you forgot to put your clean laundry in the sock drawer – think simply.
I put my wallet and keys in my sock drawer… Then what am I supposed do with those, smarty pants?
If you think too simply, they call you a ‘simpleton’. What about that?
I still make a lot of hullabalo out of simple matters, and it shows. My friend tells me that I am very intelligent, but somehow I use my intelligence to act confused. I think I will look deeper at that.
Maybe its like an ‘absented minded professor’ thing going on. We can all forgive them for doing stupid things. I worked with a guy who photocopied his lunch once.
Simply put, I always am more effective with my card tricks when I keep my eye on the cards and off the audience, wondering what they’re thinking.
I lost my cat when he went outside today. I paniced, and then paused to come up with a simple answer. It dawned on me – leave his scratching post on the rear porch; he loves that. Sure enough, he’s back.
Looking at a problem with the thought ‘there is an answer’ feels a lot better than looking at a problem with the thought ‘there is no answer’. Just feeling better helps the problem seems less intense.
Simply put – I need a job. I hope this simple message, with no complications added, gets me one.
Thinking simply takes a lot of the emotions out of my judgment. I am more accurate with my judgment when I don’t get too emotionally involved.
I am being tested financially these days … and I decided to look at it simply. I cancelled my two credit cards until I get a grip on my bills.
I am in a financial pickle and decided to think simply. I cancelled my credit card until I get out of debt.
Breaking free of troubling emotions can be a bit challenging for me. Certainly breaking matters down so I can put them in proper perspective can help. It isn’t always that easy.
I broke my leg and missed basketball season this year. Clear thinking that I have my whole life ahead of me helped me get over feeling so depressed.
I am sorry to hear you broke your leg Jiminey, I love your attitude about it.
I broke my leg two years ago and I still have a limp; perhaps my limping attitude is my problem?
That’s funny but also probably has some truth in it Maurice. A limping attitude probably does slow down the healing.
My dog broke his leg jumping over a fence. His attitude was great. He healed quickly. I want to learn his secret.
When I am angry, I make much ado about nothing, and I get little done. Simplifying not only soothes the anger, it gets thing sdone.
‘Much ado about nothing’; that’s a food way of saying what happens when our mind is cluttered, kindlebright. Thanks, rob
When my husband and I get going about some foolish disagreement, it devolves into much ado about nothing.
My whole life became much ado about nothing when I thought I had to impress everyone else rather than simply take the necessary steps to succeed with my singing career. Now I keep my eye on the ball, by practicing daily, and I am getting some pretty good singing engagements.
My friends and I are often busy doing nothing – we love to relate to one another that way.
My sense of humor is so easy and I am so familiar with it that sometimes I do not consider it a gem. It is.
I complicate things. I am always over-thinking. Everyone tells me this. And now I am told about your interesting blogs – so I come over to your website, and you remind me of this same problem I have. Wow! thanks.
The law of attraction is in action, Samee ….. you are being reminded of a little something that it is time for you to clean up … so that you may get on with living the life you dream of experiencing – what might that be?
You mentioned,’learn to think simply’ rob …. I just have to ‘learn to think’. I tend to think my old thoughts and come up with nothing new. that seems to be my challenge.
Here is a simple thought – God is on my side. It works for me every time.
That’s a good one, Harry
The simplicity of God’s magic is beyond the human mind.
I was in a for car crash and everyone was yelling. I calmed down and said, let’s keep it simple – lets exchange information and wait for the police to come. We all agreed. It was that simple; no one was at fault.