Shed the Unnecessary

“Since the vast majority of our words and actions are unnecessary, corralling them will create an abundance of leisure and tranquility.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.24.

Expunge the inessential from your life. This includes your words—many of which are unnecessary. Shift your priorities, change your routines, and get back to the basics. What you choose to do and what you expose yourself to impacts you more deeply than you realize.

Hans Hofmann said, “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” Be more selective with how you spend your time, apply wisdom in your decisions, and embrace simplicity. By shedding the superfluous, you create space for what truly matters. It’s in this simplicity that you find clarity, purpose, and a deeper connection to yourself.