Power Tool: Simplicity vs. Complexity

A Coaching Power Tool created by Rupika Bhargava
(Life Transformation and Parenting Coach , SINGAPORE)

Everything is simpler than you think and at the same time more complex than you  imagine.

(Johaan Wolfgang von Goetha)

Simplicity is the property, condition or quality of being simple or uncombined. It often   denotes beauty, purity or clarity. Simple things are usually easier to understand   than complicated ones. It is also a term used to denote candor, Guilelessness, innocence, straightforwardness and freedom from duplicity.

Leonardo de Vinci said

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication Life is really simple. Everything around us is in its simple and natural form. We insist on making it complex or complicated.

Complexity is an innovation of us .We like to complex things around us. As coaches if we understand and make thing simple around us, we can be powerful Coaches.

We need some tools to simplify things.

Four Laws Of simplicity

1. Collect everything in one place.
2. Choose the essential.
3. Eliminate the rest.
4. Organize the remaining stuff neatly and nicely

To understand this let’s take a quick look at how to de -clutter a wardrobe. A wardrobe has clothes, paper, important documents, old collectibles, and dozens of stuff that is lying there for many years. We as humans don’t want to simplify or de-clutter.  Instead, we lock it so that we don’t see it. It stays with us and makes our lives complex.

As we follow the four laws we can make our lives easier too. This simple technique of simplifying things applies in all situations of life. Focus on one area at a time; apply the method and then move on to next area.

CASE STUDY:

Jenna was an executive, working in a multinational company. She had lots and lots of commitments. She was mentally and physically draining herself. Then, one day she said to herself that’s enough. She can’t take this complexity of life. She wants to simplify. She applied these four laws as follows-

She made the list of all her commitments from work to personal including hobbies, clubs, online groups, civic groups, kid’s activities, sports, home stuff etc. anything that takes up her time. Now she picked out the few of those that really gave her VALUE, ENJOYMENT, LONG-TERM BENEFITS AND PURPOSE. She tossed the rest, that was difficult for her but she did it and she came out of her commitments by telling people by just telling people that she didn’t have time. This left her with a life that only has the commitments she really enjoyed and she wanted to do. Leave space around those commitments instead of filling up your life. That made her life SIMPLE and fulfilling.