Urban legend suggests that Albert Einstein’s wardrobe consisted only of black pants, white shirts and black shoes. The reasoning behind the simple wardrobe was that it reduced his choices.
If Einstein only had white shirts, black pants and black shoes he had no choice about what he would wear that day. He had to wear a white shirt, black pants and black shoes.
In other words, he would not, could not stand in his closet looking at and contemplating his options. He simply reduced his ability to choose and by reducing his ability to choose he led a more simple life. I wonder if his philosophy has some life application for us today?
With all of the choices we have in today’s world we need more self control.
We live in a world of bigger, better, faster, stronger. Some would even add “excessive,” and while I don’t believe there is anything wrong with having nice things or many nice things, generally speaking the formula looks something like this.
More Stuff = More Choices = More Stress
I’m sure each of us could use a little simplicity in our life, especially our family life.
Picture a life less complicated, crazy and chaotic. Picture your family life with less calendar clutter, over activity and noise. Now, breathe in, breathe out, wax on, wax off.
After talking to parents, leaders, and families across our country I believe there is a strong desire to live a more balanced life and a balanced life does have a level of simplicity to it.
As the current of today’s culture pulls is into more complexity we must explore the possibility of pause, patience and a more simple life.
Now, whether or not you subscribe to Einstein’s fashion philosophy––or hairstyle for that matter––isn’t the point. The point is to simply simplify life.
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