Lao Tzu says "When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you”.

Lao Tzu emphasized the importance of simplicity in life. He believed that simplicity was key

to finding peace, happiness, and harmony with the Tao. In Taoism,

simplicity refers to the idea of living a life free from excess and

focusing on what is essential. It involves reducing desires, material possessions,

and external distractions in order to achieve calmness, inner peace and harmony with the Tao.

However, our modern day world promotes a very fast-paced, materialistic, and status-driven

lifestyle, which can make it difficult for people to embrace simplicity and seek a more balanced

way of life. We generally believe that success and status are measured by the things we have,

such as wealth, possessions, and power and as a result we accumulate as much as possible.

There is also a pressure to conform to societal expectations and to keep up with the lifestyles

and possessions of those around us and as one tries to keep up with societal expectations, the

constant pursuit of material possessions, success, and status can lead to stress and anxiety.

For instance, someone may purchase a luxury car and feel proud of it, but soon realize that there

are even more luxurious cars owned by others. This realization may cause stress and anxiety,

leading the individual to feel like they need to upgrade to a more expensive car,

and so the cycle continues. The focus shifts from what brings happiness and contentment to

what others have, leading to a constant pursuit of more and more and more, without ever finding

true peace and fulfillment. In this sense, societal conventions and expectations can create

a constant cycle of wanting more and feeling stressed about acquiring and maintaining that.

Taoism on the other hand advises us to let go of societal conventions and

expectations. In doing so, by embracing simplicity and reducing desires,

individuals can break free from this cycle and find peace and contentment in life.

Simplicity is all about knowing exactly what you want, and critically,

what you don’t want. One of the best ways to embrace simplicity is by living in moderation.

Living in moderation means finding a middle path, one that avoids

extremes and instead seeks balance and harmony. To adopt a moderate lifestyle,

it's crucial to be mindful, evaluate and manage our expenses and consumption,

so that we can find ways to be more frugal. This can involve simple changes, such as being mindful

not to waste food, or to donate or recycle unused items instead of throwing them away.

In terms of eating and drinking, moderation means avoiding overeating and heavy drinking,

as this can lead to physical and emotional imbalances. Living in moderation can also mean

taking simple steps to conserve resources, such as turning off the tap while brushing your teeth,

or washing our cars with a bucket of soap and water instead of using a drive-thru car wash.

People who live in moderation typically focus on using fewer resources for themselves,

but they are also happy to spend more on others. They balance their personal needs with their

desire to be of service to others, creating a sense of contentment and fulfillment. By adopting

this approach, individuals can live a life of simplicity, balance, and harmony, in line with

the principles of Taoism. When we recognize our needs are few, we can stay calm and be present.