There are various kinds of styles of living and each individual chooses his/her life style. “Simplicity” is one of the life styles, where we lead a low key life. This kind of life is synonymous with an ordinary life, where things are very simple, not large and grand. For example, talking to a friend without any agenda or compulsion or obligation to talk, merely for the pleasure of sharing each other’s company, to unwind, to vent-out if necessary – all these activities though appear to be insignificant, yet, are crucially important for the mental and emotional well-being of a person.
Now we are living in a very fast-growing world, where everything is fixed, planned or pre-scheduled. Here doing something without agenda is rarely seen. Now a day our life seems to be moving in an auto pilot mode. And we humans are like drivers who no longer have any control to change the direction or halt for a moment to glimpse at the passing scenario or enjoy the enchanting moments of a beautiful life. People are getting habitual to compulsions to groom themselves well, wear expensive ornaments, lead a luxurious life etc. These compulsions and thought processes for a luxurious life style, ultimately lead to carrying a weight of disappointments, worries, guilt & regrets in our life, as a nagging need is created to show-off your success graph. This success graph comes at the cost of peace of mind and a constant pressure on your mind set.
The fear of missing out on a privileged life is an overpowering concept amongst most Indians. The consequent internal manifestations increase the chances of susceptibility to various life-style diseases along with psychological problems. Earlier, when we were not trapped in this kind of hamster cage, where we did not have the need to run on the treadmill of life, we used to be more stress free and at peace.
In the present scenario, our country is no longer the land of simplicity, where people used to get happiness and pleasure in doing simple things like snacking on a modest Parle-G biscuit or chitchatting with neighbors over a cup of chai etc. There was a time when children used to play in lanes and nearby grounds with full of joy and enthusiasm. Such enjoyment of life those days didn’t come with any pre fixed ideas or agendas, but were simple activities for enjoyment and pleasure. Now spending time in such activities is branded as “Boomer/old fashioned” ideas.
No, I am not seeing life with gloomy dark glasses. But I definitely feel the situation in present life circumstances is such that, we cannot avoid or escape to travel this affluent yet strenuous life journey. It’s kind of a compulsion with a conditioned mindset. But we can break this stereotyped or rigid/fixed pattern or attitude for achieving success. By adopting a path of slow and mindful attitude, living a life with a sense of eternal gratification, we are sure to experience the real sense of happiness. “Simple Living and High Thinking” are indeed the necessity of the day in this monotonous machine like life of humans. A conscientious thought process is essential to get out of the rat race and lead a beautiful life, simple yet meaningful and most importantly, peaceful…….This indeed is the secret formula for a healthy mental and emotional equilibrium.
The Article Reviewed By
Asha Hospital, Banjara Hills
India’s Best Psychiatric Health Care Center
25+ Years of Experience in Caring Minds.
Reviewed on: August 1, 2025
Yes, indeed Dr Prachi, we need to get out of the rat race and lead a simple life to ensure that we stay healthy and happy in the long run. Thank you for the timely insights!