5 Steps for Living Lighter

These five steps will get you started:

1. Seek solitude. Thomas Edison said, “The best thinking has been done in solitude.” Turning down the noise level in your life—your phone, TV, and commitments, to name a few—results in a mind at peace and a heart open to giving and serving.
2. Streamline your schedule. Remember, every time you say “yes” to something, you’re saying “no” to something else. This practice clarifies what (and who) deserves the gift of your time and, ultimately, what doesn’t.
3. Spend wisely. Money is tightly connected to a sense of security and can weigh on your soul. But when you recognize that all you have is a gift, you’re free to use those gifts to help people, whether they live across the street or on the other side of the world.
4. Strengthen your relationships. The wisdom of Proverbs has three particularly strong themes: trust God, care for others, and live as a person of peace. If you fashion your life around these concepts, you can simplify your talk and act, rooting your actions and words in love.
5. Invest in something lasting. Thinking long-term can unclutter how you live today. Many people use resources like IRAs, real estate holdings, stocks, or life insurance to support ministries that align with their personal values. You will leave a lasting legacy.