“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” – Hans Hoffman

When I reflect on 2018, I had some wonderful experiences: my first spiritual pilgrimage, adding new service offerings at Purple Ink, traveling to new cities (San Antonio, Krakow, Rome, Assisi), watching my children take on new adventures and responsibilities, fun family times, new friends, adventures, and new learning opportunities. But, even with my positivity strength, I know that I also bought too many clothes and “things,” worked too much, took on too many responsibilities, and was involved in too many organizations or groups.

See a pattern? The word “too.” I had and was doing too much! That’s why I selected the word simplify for 2019.

One of my favorite topics to facilitate is goal-setting and time management (CliftonStrengths is my other favorite). In the class, I love to show the early 80s video of Stephen Covey facilitating what I call, “the rocks” version of his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. If you haven’t seen it, search for it on YouTube under “Stephen Covey first things first”; it’s well worth 10 minutes. I have literally watched it at least 100 times, and I still learn from it every time. His basic point is that we can’t prioritize what’s on our schedule, we have to schedule our priorities.

Let’s just say that I had a lot of priorities in 2018. So my goal in simplifying is to refocus my priorities. Stephen Covey calls this making room for our “big rocks” by putting them in first, then adding the “little rocks”; I would suggest that we can just eliminate many of those little rocks by simplifying. Hans Hoffman suggests it will create more room for the “necessary.”

In the first 30 days of the year, I already feel better (and so does my husband!). I de-cluttered closets and Christmas décor, unsubscribed to at least 50 email lists (seems to be an ongoing battle!) established new “simpler” routines around eating, exercising, journaling, and prayer. I know, I know, it’s all easy to do for 30 days, I’ve got to keep it up for 365! But I do feel as though I’m moving in the right direction. I feel lighter, more focused, and more thoughtful.

I don’t even know all the ways I want to simplify, as I hope I continue to discover them throughout the year. But I’d love to hear ideas of your word for 2019 and/or what else I could be doing to simplify.

Can Purple Ink be of assistance with simplifying your HR or recruiting processes or learning about goal-setting and time management through our training offerings? Reach out to us today, or to me directly at jodee@purpleinkllc.com, if we can be of assistance.

Click here for more on Purple Ink’s 2019 words of the year.