From Mother Earth News
To live more voluntarily is to live more deliberately, intentionally and purposefully — in short, it is to live more consciously. We cannot be deliberate when we are distracted. We cannot be intentional when we are not paying attention. We cannot be purposeful when we are not being present. Therefore, to act in a voluntary manner is to be aware of ourselves as we move through life. This requires that we pay attention not only to the actions we take in the outer world, but to ourselves acting — our inner world.
After a person or family reaches a moderate level of income, here are the factors that research has shown contribute most to happiness:
* Good health. Physical, emotional and mental well-being.
* Personal growth. Opportunities for learning, both inner and outer, and giving creative expression to one’s true gifts.
* Strong social relationships. Close personal relationships with family, friends and community in the context of a tolerant and democratic society that values freedom.
* Service to others. Feeling that our lives contribute to the well-being of others.
* Connection with nature. Communion with the wildness of nature brings perspective, freshness and gratitude into our lives.
When we look over this list, it is clear that happiness does not have to cost a lot of money. A tolerant society does not cost a lot in material terms, but the rewards to the social atmosphere in civility, congeniality and happiness are enormous. Feelings of communion with nature and the cosmos come free with being alive. The quality of relationships with family and community grow from the quality of the time and attention we give to them. Personal growth requires nothing more than paying attention to the experience of moving through life. Feelings of gratitude for life are free.
To live sustainably, it is vital that we each decide how much is “enough.” Simplicity is a double-edged sword: Living with either too little or too much will diminish our capacity to realize our potentials. Balance occurs when there is neither material excess nor deficit. To find this in our everyday lives requires that we understand the difference between our needs and wants. “Needs” are those things that are essential to our survival and our growth. “Wants” are those things that are extra — that gratify our psychological desires. For example, we need shelter in order to survive; we may want a huge house with many extra rooms that are seldom used. We need basic medical care; we may want cosmetic plastic surgery to disguise the fact that we are getting older. We need functional clothing; we may want frequent changes in clothing style to reflect the latest fashion. We need a nutritious and well-balanced diet; we may want to eat at expensive restaurants. We need transportation; we may want a new Mercedes. Only when we are clear about what we need and what we want can we begin to pare away the excess and find a middle path between extremes. Discovering this balance in everyday life is central to our learning, and no one else can find it for us.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-community/voluntarily-simplicity-elgin-xe0hir.aspx
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