The Beauty of Living a Simple Life

What does simplicity mean to you?

Normally, society judges you based on your behaviour, the way you present yourself and your attire.

It doesn’t mean that you are unorganised, careless or inattentive.

I don’t like it when people brag or try to present themselves as grandiose, high-class or superior to others. I don’t know how other people usually perceive these behaviours.

There are people in society who like to show off, seeing themselves as superior to others, especially in terms of wealth and status. They often try to display a high standard of living and spend a lot of money on their rituals.

In addition, they look down on people who are deprived or have a low economic status. They see themselves as belonging to a higher class.

I genuinely dislike such behaviour. In reality, this mindset is just an illusion.

But this way of thinking is firmly embedded in society and has become a serious problem in many cultures.

Narcissistic behaviour is often visible in their actions. They always expect a certain level of respect from others. In general, people dislike such people.

If they are seniors or elderly people, we have a tradition of showing respect when we meet them.

In Eastern society, this is the norm. People greet them out of courtesy, but respect is not heartfelt.

What I appreciate most in a person is simple decency. I truly admire those who choose to live a simple life.

I live in Norway.

What I like in Norway is that people are very informal. It seems they don’t like showing off or being extravagant. They don’t care about what people are wearing or what their get-up is.

Norwegian society is egalitarian and shaped by the principles of janteloven. They have tried to uphold social justice and equality within society.

They also don’t interfere in others’ personal space, and they prioritise their own as well. They give you your space and let you live in your own world. People often misunderstand this and interpret it as impoliteness. But that is a completely wrong perception. They simply have a different understanding of politeness.

If you approach them first for some kind of help, they open up as very kind and helpful people. But unless you take the initiative, they won’t involve themselves, not because they don’t care, but because they don’t want to bother you.

Isn’t this a good culture?

I look at some decent, famous personalities in Nepal, their lifestyles and the way they present themselves.

Mahabir Pun, a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award from Nepal, is known for his selfless nature. He never cares about his appearance and attire. In fact, he often says he has never bought his clothes, as friends and well-wishers give them to him.

His simplicity naturally commands respect.

His lifestyle is simple, unique and deeply inspiring. People have a lot of respect for him.

Another praiseworthy person for his simple lifestyle is Daya Hang Rai, one of the most successful and sought-after actors in the Nepali film industry.

He dresses simply, speaks simply and carries himself with humility. Yet in his work, he is a true Gem.

I have noticed that there are people in society who live simple lives and carry themselves with decency, even though they are well-educated, affluent, and hold a good social status. They understand how society works.

They do not look down on those who are deprived and poor. There are inequalities and injustices in the world, and being poor is not their fault. Poverty often arises from a failed political and social system.

Thus, embracing simplicity is one of the foundations of a good life. Many of the greatest personalities in human history demonstrated how simplicity was mirrored in their lives.

Siddhartha Gautam renounced his title as crown prince and embraced a life of simplicity under a banyan tree, offering humanity a timeless and profound philosophy.

Similarly, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a pioneer of India’s freedom movement, transformed his entire life, embracing nothing more than a simple piece of cloth as his identity.

I am sorry; perhaps the examples of Buddha and Gandhi aren’t appropriate here.

The simplicity I am talking about here is not about attaining greatness, but simply about making life more effortless.

If you are determined to live a simple life, you only need to stop chasing luxury and the habit of hoarding material possessions.

But how?

Consider cutting your expenses and reducing the frequency of visiting shopping centres.

If possible, consider reducing your debt by choosing a smaller home or smaller living area.

Avoid unnecessary luxury and grandiose things in life.

When you can manage your life with a smaller amount of money, you no longer need to work excessively hard or for long hours each week. This allows you to have more free time, which you may divert to travelling, reading books, hanging out with friends, and exploring the meaning of your life.

These kinds of actions naturally lead to greater happiness. Strong relationships and meaningful connections with friends and family are the building blocks of a happy life.

Recently, a post by Elon Musk went viral on X, where he said, “Money can’t buy happiness.” It was surprising and somewhat amusing to hear this from one of the world’s richest people. And it’s true; money can buy many things, but it cannot buy everything.

In conclusion,

Simplicity leads to peaceful growth and lasting success in every dimension of life.

In fact, simplicity reflects a deep understanding of life.

You can truly have this kind of lifestyle only when you reach a certain level of inner clarity and enlightenment.

You can truly embrace simplicity only when you understand the deeper meaning of life.

If you found this worth reading, even a small gesture of support means a lot.

(This story was originally published on Medium.com)