Recently at work we have been tackling several large projects. Many members of my staff have been getting lost in the details. It brought to mind the old acronym KISS – Keep it Simple Stupid. While the concept of KISS is appealing, I don’t like the negative term Stupid. Some years ago, I began thinking of KISS on my terms, replacing the negative Stupid with a more important and positive word: Spiritual. So: Keep It Simple Spiritual.SM
What does KISS mean? As with the expression “Less is more,” KISS advocates simplicity, scaling back and sometimes eliminating the excessive bells and whistles that confuse and add clutter to a task and, indeed, to our lives.
There is beauty in simplicity. And too often in this frenetic, technologically advanced 21st century world, the essence of simplicity is lost. How ironic that all the tools meant to simplify our lives have only complicated them. They have kept us away from recognizing and allowing spirituality to be a part of our daily existence.
Spirituality is an integral part of the human condition. As Wikipedia defines it, “Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of their being; or the ‘deepest values and meanings by which people live.’ Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop an individual’s inner life; such practices often lead to an experience of connectedness with a larger reality, yielding a more comprehensive self; with other individuals or the human community; with nature or the cosmos; or with the divine realm. Spirituality is often experienced as a source of inspiration or orientation in life. It can encompass belief in immaterial realities or experiences of the imminent or transcendent nature of the world.”
The concepts of Simplicity and Spirituality are important aspects of the Mind Over Body® philosophical approach. Our minds seek balance and simplicity.
Can simply stating to yourself on a regular basis, “I am in Control,” be enough to change your body and your life? Certainly it is easier said than done, BUT the resounding answer is YES!
Can simply stepping back from a project for five minutes, infusing yourself with basic spiritual acknowledgment of nature by breathing in fresh air, feeling the breeze and reminding yourself to simplify the project make a difference? The resounding answer is YES!
Now my staff reminds each other to Keep It Simple Spiritual, embracing the KISS Principle. I have seen immediate results. Projects are not getting lost in the bureaucratic shuffle and everyone seems a bit happier. I invite you to KISS it too. Let me know how it is working for you.