Zen - The Art of Simple Living

I recently started reading the book "Zen - The Art of Simple Living" by Shunmyo Masuno. The author walks you through 100 ways you could incorporate the principles of Zen Life into your daily life. In the first chapter, Shunmyo walks us through ways that can boost our energies and bring us true happiness.

Eliminating negative emotions and reducing anxiety have become priorities in the current modern life. And we can neglect this trend: we live in a fast-paced society, running from one corner to another, and accumulating stress everywhere in our body and soul.

And in my opinion, the global pandemic hasn't improved our mental health. If we think about our lives before covid, how did we release stress, disconnect and recharge energies from busy days? first word that comes to my mind is travelling. Holidays somewhere else, in a different environment and ideally in a place with a different culture. Somewhere, but not your city, where you can disconnect from studies or work. Does it sound you familiar?

Now, think on the present: how do we disconnect? I personally think that we don't disconnect. We don't really achieve that total disconnection, when you don't even remember the laptop's password or you are so relaxed, that it feels you levitate.

Regardless, going back to travelling as a form to disconnect: what happened when we came back from holidays and restarted our regular days? Stress accumulated, mind frayed and we somehow felt empty again. There was, and there is, nothing extraordinary in our lives. But, aren't we the ones who are pushing for such feelings? what is really the extraordinary?

Going through the essence of Zen applied to the modern life, it made me think on how we can change our mindset and lifestyle; how we can find balance between daily life and the constant search for the extraordinary.

I personally love routines. I love having a tidy house, having my day scheduled and having same routines one week after another. You could be different, and it is OK. However, Zen and simple life, does go in tune having an organized and tidy life. According to the author, our lifestyle do affect our spirit and physics. By putting the things around us in order, we invigorate our minds.

Create space in your mind: wake up 15 minutes earlier, lengthen the spine, take slow breaths, and while enjoying a cup of tea/coffee, look out the window at the sky. And empty your mind.

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