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What is Voluntary Simplicity
© 2003 by Linda Breen Pierce

Voluntary simplicity calls into question North American society's tendency to equate money and material possessions with the good life.  Proponents of simplicity as a way of life reject the notion that our life goal should be to amass as much material wealth and prestigious accomplishments as we possibly can.  Their lifestyles tend to involve patterns of working less, wanting less and spending less.

This way of life cannot be strictly defined.  It means different things to different people.  What may be a simple, enriching life for one person could be a life of deprivation and suffering for another.  Simplicity can best be achieved by paring your life down to its essentials -- those things, activities and relationships you either truly need or genuinely cherish.  Simplicity involves unburdening your life, and living more lightly with fewer distractions that interfere with a high quality life, as defined uniquely by each individual.  You will find people living simply in large cities, rural areas and everything in between.

Some of the simplicity values that are important to people who live simple are:

1. Limiting material possessions to what is needed and/or cherished.

2. Meaningful work, whether paid or volunteer, ideally spending no more than 30 hours per week (in order to make time for items #3 to 12 below).

3. Quality relationships with friends and family.

4. Joyful and pleasurable leisure activities.

5. A conscious and comfortable relationship with money.

6. Connection to community, but not necessarily in formal organizations.

7. Sustainable consumption practices.

8. Healthy living practices, including exercise, adequate sleep and nutritious food.

9. Practices that foster personal growth, and inner life, or spirituality, such as yoga, meditation, prayer, religious ceremonies, journal writing, and spiritually-related reading.

10. Connection to nature -- delighting in spending time in nature regularly.

11. Aesthetic beauty in personal environment.

12. Living in harmony with values and integrity.

Living simply does not require adherence to a rigid set of rules, but rather it challenges the individual to live consciously and deliberately.  Simplicity is not a destination.  It is a life long journey that is not always easy, but ultimately deeply satisfying.

Linda Breen Pierce is the founder of The Pierce Simplicity Study and the author of Choosing Simplicity:  Real People Finding Peace and Fulfillment in a Complex World and Simplicity Lessons:  A 12-Step Guide to Living Simply.  She can be reached via her website.