Minimalism. Essentialism. Stoicism.
They’re all based on the same concept: Simplicity.
A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery
In your life & training, work diligently to treasure what is essential, and be free to get rid of the rest. Success doesn’t come when you’ve finally added that last trinket, car, relationship, or thing out there.
Success comes from an elegant simplicity and a constant rejection of extraneous detail.
Complexity Kills
Mutli-tasking is a myth. You’re not good at doing several things at once. You’re really good at doing several things poorly.
In a dynamic situation, additional details spell disaster. Each new thing you’re trying to think about means you have fewer mental resources to spend on each.
Your techniques, mindset, and strategies should be as simple as possible to maximize the likelihood of succeeding.
Adrenaline
The instant a stress response kicks in, adrenaline gets to work. Vision tunnels, heart rate increases, auditory exclusion kicks in, and fine motor skills go right out the window.
You might be able to thread a needle right now, but try doing it while you’re getting chased with an axe. It’s not going to work.
Relying on strategies, approaches, or ideas that are too complex is lethal. That’s why simplicity is one of the core principles you should use to evaluate your life.
