Studies have shown that Americans are the most distracted people on the planet. We are bombarded on average with 10,000 advertisements per day. We watch an average of 6 hours of TV per day. The amount of information we take in every day is mind boggling. One edition of the New York Times paper has more information in it than the average person got in their entire lifetime 200 years ago!

All of this information can steal your destiny. To make a difference during your lifetime you have to focus on one thing. That means that you know what that one thing should be. You can’t be great at a dozen things, probably only 1, maybe 2 at most. That means you have to shut out all of the clutter around you – simplify- to discover what you are to do. When you clear your mind of all of the clutter you start understanding what you are to accomplish. Simplification helps you to focus.  If you are not careful you can lose yourself in all of the activity, noise, information, and other stuff and think you are doing something when in fact all you are doing is listening and processing information from others.

You find your purpose in the still small voice inside of you, the one that comes from the Holy Spirit. The world cannot tell you what you were created for. Your close friends that know you well can help, but in the end it comes down to you and God. Once you slow down enough to hear the Holy Spirit you will get your purpose and then you must stay simplified as you focus on the finish line!

Information has its place. I probably read 35+ books and listen to 120+ hours of audio messages a year. But if I am not careful I can spend all of my time processing and viewing information instead of creating something new. To create something new takes meditation and reflective thought. It takes soul searching and spending many hours with the Creator of the Universe getting insights. None of these actions are valued by our society. Knowing the latest political news or celebrity diet is what we value.

How do we cross the finish line of the race we are appointed to run? Here are 3 pointers that will get you started: Slow Down, Say No, and Simplify

Slow Down

If you are moving fast all of the time you will pass the exit you need to take.

The Holy Spirit is never in a rush. If you are, then you will walk alone.

The Holy Spirit only speaks significant direction when you are relaxed and enjoying Him.

Do you think the answer to your lack of time problem is to increase your efficiency? Forget it. You are doing too much.

It’s not wrong to rest.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”– Leonardo DaVinci

Say No

Just Say No to everything that does not help you cross the Finish Line.

At the end of your life you will be glad you did.

Ask for wisdom on when to say yes.

“Simplicity requires ruthlessness.”– Timothy Ferriss

Simplify

Clutter distracts.

Clutter includes unnecessary things, people at the wrong time, and events that only fill time.

Less is better.

Things require time sapping maintenance.

When you simplify you get clarity.

Simplicity helps you to focus.

“There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.” – Leo Tolstoy

Don’t be deceived by the cultural lie, the race does not go to the busiest or well informed, but the focused.