Discover the Power of Keeping Life Simple

We all live busy lives. As fast as the world moves, it is almost impossible not to. As we age, more and more life stressors are added to the piles we already carry with us on a daily basis. Did you know that National Simplicity Day is celebrated on July 12th? It is a day to honor the birthday of the philosopher Henry David Thoreau who wrote many books on living the simpler life. You may ask how this pertains to problem gambling and disordered gambling, and all you need to do is take a look at what is driving the compulsion to gamble in the first place. Many people report they gamble to escape life’s stressors. Many report they do so to numb out; to not feel things that are uncomfortable. When gambling becomes a problem, it adds more and more life stressors – the result is often a vicious cycle!

For many of us, it is hard to be content with what we have. While it is healthy to have goals, there comes a point when the costs of chasing the next best thing – or say, a jackpot – become the loss of time, relationships, money, or happiness. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

There are two sides to this idea of how to look at life simply. One is to stop doing those things that are having a negative impact on your life. The other is to find things and experiences that add to your life in a way that is positive. Making lists of what brings joy and comfort to your life and what bring stress and worry is a good way to start. Write these down.

You can make separate lists like:

1. Connections that are good for you with relationships and friendships
2. Health, exercise, and the outdoors
3. Items or things in your house or office

Then, make lists of the sources of stress and worry in your life.

1. Financial hardships
2. Relationship problems
3. Difficulty at work or school
4. Legal problems

After finishing the second set of lists, pause and think about how gambling, whether your own or a loved one’s, may be contributing to your life stressors.

Make a point to take time to focus on your health, finances, personal growth, and relaxation. By reading any of Henry David Thoreau’s books, you can relax by reading and gaining new knowledge while getting more insight into what “living simply” means to you. Even without the books, you can practice the principles by closing your eyes and thinking about each of the items from the lists you made before. What feelings do you experience when thinking about each one? Anything that has an uncomfortable or negative feeling should give rise to the thought of making a change to remove that stressor from your life. If a friendship only brings you negativity and not positivity, then why do you keep that person in your life? If you’re constantly under financial pressure due to gambling, then it’s time to reach out for help.

The spirit of National Simplicity Day can be carried on throughout the year by pausing and taking the time to find out what really brings you joy and peace. If gambling is bringing problems and stress along with it, know that free help, hope, and resources are just a call of text away through the 24/7, Confidential, and Multilingual 888-ADMIT-IT Problem Gambling HelpLine.