This is part of our series on The Simple Living Manifesto. We invite you to join us on the journey.

The 16th idea in the manifesto is:

Create a simplicity statement. What do you want your simple life to look like? Write it out. More here.

This is a tough one… boiling it all down to one statement…

Steve’s written a nice one:

“Get rid of what is unnecessary, unless it is beneficial in my relationships.”

But while Steve and I have many of the same goals and ideas, I need a statement for me. Something that’s realistic, promising and hope-filled for me.

(And you should have one of your own as well.)

I think the key points for me, include why I want to live simply:

• Investing more in others rather than myself.
• Being a good steward of ALL that God has given us.
• Living simply = less stress.

And… my most important things:

• My faith
• My wife (aka My Life) & my family
• Building community on and offline
• Caring for the under-resourced
• Creating

Perhaps I could say:

I will invest more in others rather than myself, be a good steward of all that’s been given to me and live a simpler, stress free life so that I may focus on the things that really matter to me, my faith, my family, building community, caring for the under-resourced and creating a better world for those around me.

But that’s a bit long for a mission statement isn’t it? Especially a “simplicity mission statement”?

Revision 2:

I will live simply so that I may invest myself into the lives of others, caring for all that’s been given to me and creating a better world for those around me.

Getting closer. It doesn’t exactly define what “living simply” is to me.

Revision 3:

I will live simply by investing in people and reducing my dependence on stuff so that I may truly love all that’s been given to me and create a better world for those around me.

I like that. Could be a bit long. May need a little refining in the future — but I like it.

What do you think?

What’s your simplicity statement?

Join us!

Write a blog post about the point above and then share the link in the comments below…

You may also enjoy reading ::

• Simple Manifesto #42 – Find inner simplicity
• Simple Manifesto #72: Will this decision simplify my life?
• Simple Manifesto #71: Live closer to work
• Simple Manifesto #70: Leave space around things in your day