The Healing Power of Simplicity in an Age of Excess
THE JOURNAL 📜

The Healing Power of Simplicity in an Age of Excess

There is something deeply human about craving less. Not because we’re weak, but because life has become too much. Too many choices. Too much noise. Too many voices pulling us in directions that leave us scattered, drained, and never at peace.


Simplicity isn’t about stripping away life’s beauty. It’s about cutting through the excess to return to what matters. In a world that keeps demanding more, healing begins when we choose less.

 

 

 

Why Simplicity Is So Hard in Today’s World

 


Simplicity sounds like it should be easy. But living simply in an age of excess often feels impossible. The truth is, our entire society is designed to keep us distracted and overstimulated.


We are bombarded with:

 

  • Endless ads telling us we’re missing something.

  • Social feeds that make us feel behind or not enough.

  • Work and obligations that never seem to end.

  • A cultural obsession with “more” as proof of success.

 


Excess has become the default. To step away from it can feel like swimming upstream, because simplicity isn’t just a personal choice anymore — it’s an act of resistance.


Yet beneath all the noise, your soul already knows what you need. It isn’t more. It isn’t faster. It isn’t louder. What you need is space to breathe.

 

 

 

The Mental and Emotional Weight of Excess

 


Excess isn’t just clutter in your home. It becomes clutter in your mind.


Too many things, too many responsibilities, and too many distractions pull us in so many directions that we forget how to just be. We end up:

 

  • Overthinking every choice.

  • Chasing validation instead of truth.

  • Carrying stress that doesn’t belong to us.

  • Feeling disconnected from ourselves and the present moment.

 


This constant overload keeps people anxious and restless. Healing can’t take root in a mind that never has space to rest.


That’s why simplicity is not just about lifestyle — it’s about survival. When we reclaim simplicity, we reclaim peace of mind.

 

 

 

Simplicity as a Path to Healing

 


Simplicity is not about deprivation. It’s about alignment. When we remove the unnecessary, we create space for what nourishes us.


Healing begins when:

 

  • You quiet the noise → giving yourself room to think, feel, and hear your own truth.

  • You own less → realizing that what you keep begins to reflect what actually matters.

  • You slow down → remembering that life is not a race, and presence matters more than productivity.

  • You choose intention → every “yes” and every “no” becomes a step toward the life you want.

 


This is why simplicity has always been linked with spiritual clarity. Faith traditions, philosophies, and wisdom across history all point to the same truth: the less you carry, the freer you become.


And in that freedom, healing can finally happen.

 

 

 

How to Bring Simplicity Back Into Your Life

 


The hardest part isn’t knowing you need simplicity — it’s practicing it. But simplicity doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Start small. Start real.


Here are some grounding ways to invite simplicity into your life:


1. Clear physical space

Choose one drawer, one corner, or one room. Remove what doesn’t serve you. Notice how your mind feels clearer when your surroundings are lighter.


2. Protect your attention

Your attention is your most valuable resource. Guard it. Set boundaries with technology. Turn off notifications. Step away from the feed.


3. Reclaim your time

Stop saying yes to everything. If it doesn’t align with your values, say no. Your healing requires space.


4. Choose meaningful routines

Simplify your day by focusing on a few grounding habits: a morning walk, journaling, cooking simple meals, stretching before bed. Consistency heals more than complexity.


5. Practice presence

Put your phone away while eating. Sit with silence. Notice your breath. Presence is the most radical simplicity we have left.


Simplicity doesn’t have to be dramatic. Every small step is a return to yourself.

 

 

 

What You Gain When You Let Go

 


Letting go is never easy. But what comes after is always worth it.


When you step out of excess and into simplicity, you gain:

 

  • Clarity → fewer distractions, more focus.

  • Peace → less noise, more calm.

  • Energy → fewer obligations, more strength for what matters.

  • Freedom → less pressure to keep up, more space to live authentically.

  • Connection → less isolation in screens, more presence with people and yourself.

 


Simplicity doesn’t take away from your life. It multiplies what actually matters.

 

 

 

FAQ: Simplicity in Real Life

 


Is simplicity the same as minimalism?

Not always. Minimalism can sometimes feel like an aesthetic or a strict rule. Simplicity is more personal. It’s about removing what doesn’t serve your soul, not following a rigid standard.


What if my life is too busy to slow down?

That’s exactly when you need simplicity the most. Start with one thing — five minutes of silence, saying no once this week, clearing one corner of your room. Small steps change everything.


Does living simply mean I have to give everything up?

No. Simplicity is not about less for the sake of less. It’s about less of what drains you, and more of what heals you.

 

 

 

A Closing Thought from Benevolentia

 


We were not made to carry the weight of the world, yet that’s what excess demands of us. Healing begins when you finally decide to set it down.


Simplicity is not weakness. It’s wisdom. It’s the quiet strength to live in alignment with what truly matters — even when the world tells you otherwise.


Choose less. Choose slow. Choose simple. Your soul will thank you.

 

- Benevolentia

Previous
Unlearning the Hustle: How to Break Free from a Culture of Overdrive
Next
Why We Confuse Busyness with Purpose (And How to Tell the Difference)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.