Travel Light
In this process of elimination, I discovered one of the principles of what I began referring to as āSpiritual Minimalismā: the fewer options you have, the more freedom you have to make decisions, and the more present you become.
The ten steps for meditating like a Spiritual Minimalist 1. As early in the day as possible, sit with comfortable back support (you donāt need to be on the floor). 2. Set a gentle alarm (such as a chime) for fifteen to twenty minutes. 3. Close your eyes. 4. Take three deep breaths, relaxing your body more with each exhale. 5. After the third deep breath, breathe naturally and maintain a friendly attitude toward your thoughts, no matter what theyāre about. 6. Use your natural breath as a soft, gentle anchor. 7. As your mind wanders from thought to thought, gently return to your breath (expect your mind to wander dozens of times in a single meditation). 8. Continue to breathe naturally throughout the process (thereās no need to control or deepen your breathing). 9. When your alarm sounds, take three more deep breaths in and out of the nose or mouth. 10. After your third deep breath, slowly open your eyes.
As a Spiritual Minimalist, thatās where you want to place the bulk of your attentionānot on whatās bad, but on what youāre grateful for.
Every morning, while lying in bed, youāre going to spend the first few minutes upon awakening by placing your attention on five things that youāre grateful for. Thatās it. You donāt have to write anything down (unless you want to). Just ask yourself, Whatās good about this moment? The answers can be as simple as: 1. Iām grateful that I woke up. 2. Iām grateful that I feel rested. 3. Iām grateful to have a job. 4. Iām grateful for my strength. 5. Iām grateful for my family.
All you need to do is wipe them down with a rag or a wet wipe every couple of days before you head out, and if you stay on top of it, the white really pops. Itās a classy look that can be easily dressed up or down, depending on the occasion.
A couple of tricks for keeping your shoes looking new: Wiping: Wipe your shoes down every few days. This does not have to be an elaborate process. If you have a hand towel or a rag, just wet it in water and wipe down your shoe. If youāre really strapped for time, you can use a wet wipe to clean your white shoes. Laces: Either clean your laces or buy a new pair of white laces from any shoe store or drugstore. And once you wipe down the leather and re-lace them, they will look brand new. Socks: Itās important to keep the inside of your shoes as fresh as possible. Sock-wise, I wear black, no-show socks because itās easier to keep black socks looking clean, and youāre not going to see them anyway. Plus, you need socks because the last thing you want is to be stinking up someoneās place with smelly shoes and feet. So always wear socks.