The stupid simple secret to a good life

Modernity is great. We’ve got all sorts of wonderful things. Smart devices that turn on our lights for us. Fancy electronic gadgets that have now become an extension of us, making us the very first cyborgs to ever exist. The internet keeping us in the know of every little thing that’s going on everywhere, all at once. All of these innovations have occurred horribly fast that trying to stay up to date is ridiculously pointless. Regardless, I’m grateful to be alive in the time I happen to be alive in, but I cannot deny that 99% of the time, it’s all a bit too much.

Not long ago, our immediate surroundings—family, friends, and community—told us what to do and who to be, and that was tolerable. Now, it’s hard not to lose your sense of self by having the world via our handheld devices pull us into countless different directions. On top of that, with so much stimulation and so much time put back in our hands thanks to modern agriculture, medicine, and the myriad of commodities that have made our lives much easier than those before us, we have made life unbearably confusing and complicated.

With every technological advancement comes a whole new set of problems. Advancements in agriculture brought prosperity, and that led to expansion, for a small town wouldn’t fit three generations. Expansion led to urban development, then to trade, money, the need for a governing body, etcetera. All those things solved a lot, but branched into countless other problems. Today, with the internet, frozen meals, and smart devices that automatically turn on other smart devices for us, things have gotten out of hand when it comes to simplicity. We don’t need the latest iPhone, thousands of followers on social media, smart light bulbs, countless streaming subscriptions, that perfume X or Y actress is wearing… all we need is stupid simple, but not easy.

A good life is simple:

• Stay grounded: keep your feet on the ground. Remember who you are, what comes naturally to you, and what you stand for. Live in accordance to nature, and be cautious of pretentious ways of living that disconnect you from reality.

• Don’t overcomplicate your thinking: Not everything needs an explanation. Not everything has to be deep. Not everything has to have meaning, or be “good” or “bad”. Some things just are. Take it from there, and you’ll avoid mental clutter and unnecessary worry.

• In conflict, be fair and generous: Be compassionate and empathetic. Do for the sake of doing. Be for the sake of being. Strive for maintaining harmony rather than feeding the ego.

• When you lead, let go: Lead by example, not by force.

• Do what you enjoy: Experiment to find what you love, and once you find it, let it kill you.

• Be present with loved ones: There is a time to work, and a time to rest. A time for staying safe, and a time for danger. A time for solitude, and a time for company. When it’s time to be with your loved ones, immerse yourself in their company, while it lasts.

In conclusion, by means of being a citizen of the world in the 21st century, and witnessing modernity first-hand, it seems to me that we’ve made life a hell of a lot more complicated than it needs to be.

Modernity threw a thousand shiny things at us, and naturally, we forgot: life is stupidly, painfully simple. Not easy. But simple.

We got so good at surviving that we started inventing problems just to feel alive. Now, drowning in noise, unnecessary luxury, and existential dread, the answer’s been here the whole time: Stay grounded. Keep it simple. Be kind. Let go. Be present.

The old wisdom isn’t outdated. It’s undefeated.

And maybe—just maybe—the way forward is the way back.