Less is More, 101 Ways to Simplify Your Life

8/9/2019 Less is More, 101 Ways to Simplify Your Life

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Contents

Title Page

Preface

Live your life

Learn to stop

Narrow your focus

Spring clean your style

Get started today

Read the label

Pick up where you left off

Pretend its spring

Go window-shopping

Believe in yourself

Be the best you can be

Embrace silence

Give them your love

Get a routine

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Steal a moment

Get a life

Dont try to please everyone

Learn to prioritise

Let it out

Love unconditionally

Keep it up

Practise moderation

Make it easy

Make an investment

Take care of yourself

Enjoy a little bite

Tread gently

Fix it quick

Get rid of it

You have what you need

Manage your expectations

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Recharge your batteries

Earn their love

Get it done

Open your eyes

Keep some time up your sleeve

Just say no

Schedule it in

Dont worry

Give them your best

Focus on what matters

Rest your mind

Begin it now

Keep it simple

Create good habits

Enjoy your meal

Just listen

Be content

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Leave it on the shelf

Leave some room

Dust yourself off

Have a power-down

Love is all you need

Dont waste time

Keep it in perspective

Be lucky

Seek true friends

Get started

Learn to breathe

Use each day wisely

Enjoy the ride

Invest in your health

See the upside

Wear a smile

Get some fresh air

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Fresh is best

Get in touch

Fill it with laughter

Save your money

Dont keep it for best

Press delete

Learn to meditate

Treasure your loved ones

Create a list

Enhance your experience

Have a good attitude

Dont be selfish

Done is better than perfect

Save your energy

Dont be critical

Be enthusiastic

Try new things

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Take small steps

Be stylish

Rest up

Stop when youve had enough

Love yourself

Stick to the schedule

Learn to save

Find happiness within

Unlock your potential

Be a quiet comfort

Set an example

Do what you want

Pack light

Do your best

Be confident

Cross it off

Go with the flow

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Be loving and kind

Make a difference

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Copyright Page

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For Sophia and Tobias

Less is more

except when it comes to love,

and then more is more is more.

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Enjoy the little things,

for one day you may look back

and realise they were the big things.

ROBERTBRAULT

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Preface

Trying to do it all, be it all and have it all is exhausting. All too often people find themselves asking, What was it all for?

The sad conclusion for so many is that the things they pushed

themselves to do and have were rarely that important and

never led to the happy and fulfilling life they longed for.

About ten years ago, something fundamentally shifted in the

way I viewed my life. I began my evolution from someonewho loved to hit the shops every Saturday and needed threewardrobes to fit all her clothes to someone who still lovesbeautiful things, but doesnt need many of them to keep hersatisfied.

It all started when I ended my career in banking, where

massive paycheques and endless spending are a way of life,and moved back to Australia to begin my married life andstart my own business.

My husband and I had only been in Sydney for a couple ofdays when we found our dream apartment. It was in agorgeous Art Deco building with sweeping views of the city,Harbour Bridge and Opera House. I fell in love with itimmediately and (lucky for me, given my newly marriedstatus) so did my husband. The only catch was that thisapartment was tiny. Although the views gave it a sense ofvastness, the rooms were minuscule and there was no storageto speak of. Undeterred, we knew we had to have it, so off tothe auction we went, and a couple of nerve-racking hourslater the dream home was ours.

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Not long after we moved in, our 40 or so packing boxesarrived from England and it became very obvious, veryquickly, that a massive clutter-clearing was in order. Once wefinally had our home organised, I could see I needed to thinkmuch more carefully about what I bought: did I really need it,and where was I going to put it?

This new way of life took a bit of getting used to but mytransformation was complete when I read an article aboutFrench women and their approach to their wardrobes. The

French have long had a reputation for being advocates oflessis more, whether in their stylish appearance, the restrainedelegance of their homes or the small portions of indulgenceson their plates.

This article began by talking about the 8020 rule or Paretoprinciple*, and how most of us wear 20 per cent of our

clothing 80 per cent of the time, whereas a French womanaims to only own that 20 per cent. This isnt about austerity:she may only own one scarf, but its probably an Herms one;one handbag but its in the most buttery-soft leather; one pairof black trousers, but with the perfect cut and most flatteringfit.

I loved the simplicity of this approach and set aboutstreamlining my life even further, applying this philosophynot only to my wardrobe but to my whole way of living. Isthis essential?, Is it the best it can be?and Does it reallymatter? have become questions I continually ask abouteverything I think or do.

Ive been living this way for years now and have long given

up trying to do it all, be it all or have it all.

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If there is one thing I know for certain, when it comes tobeing happy, less is definitelymore.

If you would like to apply this philosophy to your life, visitdomoniquebertolucci.com and download the Less is MoreManifesto, as well as a series of free guides and checklists tohelp you simplify your life.

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Your time is limited

so dont waste it by trying to live

someone elses life.

STEVEJOBS

Live your life

When faced with a choice or decision in life, ask yourself,What will make me happiest?

While there will always be more you can do or achieve, beinghappy with who you are and the life you live is the only realgoal to strive for.

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Take care of your body.

Its the only place you have to live.

JIMROHN

Learn to stop

When you feel the urge to overindulge, be that with food,alcohol or simply overdoing the good times, stop and remindyourself that the pleasure will be short-lived but the paybackwill last much longer.

The key to a long and healthy life is knowing when to stop and then doing it.

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Start wherever you are

and start small.

RITABAILEY

Narrow your focus

If you have a big goal or something substantial you want toachieve, dont let the size of your task overwhelm you.

Break it down into small, achievable chunks, then give allyour attention and energy to the single task before you.

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Simplicity is the keynote

of all true elegance.

COCOCHANEL

Spring clean your style

If your wardrobe is overflowing but you never have anythingto wear, its time for a spring clean. Sell, donate or give awayeverything that doesnt fit you or flatter you. Be ruthless. Ifyoure not sure if it suits you, it probably doesnt.

Maintain a wardrobe of a few high-quality items that makeyou look and feel amazing. Youll save time in the morningand you wont mind wearing the same thing regularly when

you are guaranteed to look and feel good.

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You dont need endless time

and perfect conditions.

Do it now. Do it today.Do it for twenty minutes

and watch your heart start beating.

BARBARASHER

Get started today

Dont let feeling unfit put you off getting started on a healthand fitness regime. Instead of setting yourself a big goal thatis way out of reach and then giving up at the first hurdle,make the commitment to do something, anything, that movesyour body every single day.

If you keep active, your fitness will steadily increase andbefore long those bigger goals wont feel so far off.

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Those who have no time

for healthy eating

will sooner or laterhave to find time for illness.

EDWARDSTANLEY

Read the label

Your body really is an amazing machine, so be mindful ofwhat you fuel it with.

Read the labels of all the food you buy and dont eat anythingthat contains ingredients you dont recognise or couldnt keepin your pantry. Your body will thank you for it.

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Balanced relationships

are always based in freedom,

not obligation.

MICHAELTHOMASSUNNARBORG

Pick up where you left off

The frequency with which you see your friends is no indicatorof the quality of your friendships. So often the people you seethe most can be the people whose company you care for theleast.

No matter how long it has been, when you are with your truefriends, time will fly; you will pick up where you left off and

it will always feel like you just spoke yesterday.

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You can still go shopping without buying,

because where buying is a matter of need,

shopping is a question of want.

ROBERTROWLANDSMITH

Go window-shopping

Dont confuse the pleasure of looking at beautiful things withthe desire to acquire them.

You dont need to buy something to enjoy a shopping trip.Think of it as visiting a gallery or museum. You can have alot of fun window-shopping, enjoying all the visual delightsof your favourite stores, and come back home with your

money still safe in your wallet.

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Men are not great or small

because of their material possessions.

They are great or smallbecause of what they are.

JAMESCASHPENNEY

Believe in yourself

If you find yourself thinking you need this or that in order tofit in, make the grade or be a part of things, remind yourselfthat nothing you can ever buy will make up for how you feelinside.

Instead of spending your money buying things to build you

up, invest your energy believing in who you are.

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Its never too late

to be who you might have been.

GEORGEELIOT

Be the best you can be

Theres no truth in the notion that you are too old to change.

No matter how big or small the improvement, there is no timebetter than now to start making it happen.

Regardless of your age, you still have your whole life aheadof you. Spend it enjoying the new, improved you.

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Silence is golden.

AMERICANPROVERB

Embrace silence

If you live a busy life, you probably find your brain buzzingwith thoughts during every waking hour.

Rather than adding to this cacophony with background music,news of the day or the latest in reality TV, turn the televisionor radio off and enjoy the silence.

Whilst you might not have a mute button for your ownthoughts, allowing them to roam free and uninterrupted is the

fastest way to get them to move on.

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All that children need is love,

a grown-up to take responsibility for them,

and a soft place to land.

DEBORAHHARKNESS

Give them your love

Dont worry about buying the latest toys or gadgets for yourchildren. Children dont need to have a lot of money spent onthem. What they do need is priceless: your time, patience,comfort and love.

As long as you are giving your children these essentials, youare giving them everything they need.

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The secret of your future

is hidden in your daily routine.

MIKEMURDOCK

Get a routine

So many people worry that having a routine will make themboring, when actually the opposite is true.

Not having to think about your daily essentials will leave yourmind freer to explore more inspiring and imaginativethoughts. Not having to remember what you need to do andby when will leave you with more time and energy to bespontaneous. Theres nothing boring about that!

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Not all those

who wander are lost.

J.R.R. TOLKIEN

Steal a moment

When travelling to somewhere new, dont try to create anitinerary so value-filled and jampacked that there is no time tojust wander around and enjoy the scenery.

So often its the little discoveries that you make in the sparemoments on your trip that will leave the most lastingimpression on your memory.

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Dont confuse having a career

with having a life.

HILLARYRODHAMCLINTON

Get a life

Although your employers might try to convince youotherwise, there is more to life than work.

The only way to make sure your work doesnt take over yourlife is to spend less time there. Fill your life with otheractivities and interests so that work has no choice but tobecome just one small part of it.

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As soon as youre done trying

to please everyone else

you actually have timeto make yourself happy.

DELANEYCURRY

Dont try to please everyone

Trying to keep everyone happy is one of the fastest ways tomake yourself unhappy.

Although you might know a lot of people, there are probablyonly a few people who you really do love and cherish. Dowhat you can to bring joy and happiness to their lives and

dont worry about trying to please the rest.

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Efficiency is doing the thing right.

Effectiveness is doing the right thing.

PETERF. DRUCKER

Learn to prioritise

There will never be enough hours in the day to finisheverything you would like to get done.

Before you get started on your to-do list, spend some timeprioritising. A little extra time at the beginning will save youa whole lot of wasted time along the way.

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My body needs laughter

as much as it needs tears.

Both are cleansers of stress.

MAHOGANYSILVERRAIN

Let it out

When you feel overwhelmed by stress, dont be brave and tryto soldier through it. When you worry or feel stressed, tensionbuilds in your body, and over time this can create a toxiceffect if its not released.

When you feel overwhelmed, find a way to release thetension. Your body will thank you for it.

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Thats what people who love you do.

They put their arms around you and

love you when youre not so lovable.

DEBCALETTI

Love unconditionally

Its easy to love someone who is behaving in a lovable way.But its when theyre not being quite so lovable that theyreally need it.

Love the people in your life for all that they are and with allof your heart. Loving unconditionally is the only real way tolove.

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Success is nothing more

than a few simple disciplines,

practised every day.

JIMROHN

Keep it up

Its not the big things that make the difference as to whetheror not you succeed in life.

Its the little things that you do and keep doing thatdetermine whether you will achieve your goals or spend yourlife dreaming about them.

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People of balance

age as gracefully

as wines of balance.

JOHNJORDAN

Practise moderation

Nothing is more debilitating than living a life of extremes.

If you want to live a long and healthy life, make sure you trya little bit of everything and not too much of anything.

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Life is really simple,

but we insist on making it complicated.

CONFUCIUS

Make it easy

Dont keep struggling if something seems difficult. It reallydoesnt have to be.

Theres a big difference between taking the easy way out andlooking for a simple solution, so stop what you are doing,take a deep breath and ask yourself, How can I make thiseasier? Then do it that way instead.

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Some people think luxury

is the opposite of poverty.

It is not. It is the opposite of vulgarity.

COCOCHANEL

Make an investment

Always spend as much as you can on the best quality you canafford. You will have far fewer things, but those things willbe guaranteed to look and feel good for the longest possibletime.

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The groundwork

of all happiness

is health.

JAMESLEIGHHUNT

Take care of yourself

Its hard to feel happy in your mind when you are feelingunhealthy in your body.

Instead of making your own wellbeing your lowest priority,move something else off your list so that you have time andenergy to take care of something that really matters.

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All you need is love.

But a little chocolate now and then

doesnt hurt.

CHARLESM. SCHULZ

Enjoy a little bite

Whilst you might never be able to eat too much broccoli orcucumber, most people cant say the same for their favouriteindulgence, whether its wine, cheese or chocolate (to namejust a few).

Rather than overdoing it on cheap and cheerful varieties, treatyourself to a small portion of something exceptional.

Regardless of your vice, choose the best and savour theexperience.

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Life runs in a narrow path

to balancing act, convincing tact,

and satisfying fact.

SANTOSHKALWAR

Tread gently

When it comes to friendship, honesty isnt always the bestpolicy. Sometimes the last thing a friend needs to hear is thefacts as you see them.

If you think a friend needs to hear some cold hard truths,warm them up first with tact and diplomacy. Then deliverthem in a kind and compassionate way.

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The time to repair the roof

is when the sun is shining.

JOHNF. KENNEDY

Fix it quick

Repair or replace things that are broken as soon as possible.

Its always annoying to discover something is broken whenyou go to use it, or even worse to spend weeks or evenmonths complaining about something that could have beenfixed quickly and simply at the time.

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Hanging onto a bad buy

will not redeem the purchase.

TERENCECONRAN

Get rid of it

If you buy something and it turns out not to be suitable, returnit. If you cant return it, sell it, and if you cant sell it, give itaway!

The only thing worse than wasting your money on anerroneous purchase is having it lying around, continuallyreminding you of your mistake.

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The secret of happiness, you see,

is not found in seeking more,

but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.

SOCRATES

You have what you need

Ask yourself, What do I need to be happy? Chances are notonly do you need very little, but you actually already havemost of it.

While you might have a long list of wants, recognise these forwhat they are. Dont let them get in the way of yourhappiness.

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You can have it all,

you just cant have it all at once.

OPRAHWINFREY

Manage your expectations

If you find yourself feeling annoyed or frustrated withyourself because you havent achieved all that you had hopedto in life by now, stop. Chances are your expectations werenever realistic in the first place.

Its true that with hard work and commitment you can getmany things you want from life. But no matter how hard youwork or how committed you are, you still cant achieve the

impossible.

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A little while alone in your room

will prove more valuable

than anything else thatcould ever be given you.

RUMI

Recharge your batteries

When you live a busy life, its important to take time out tounwind. Regularly.

Rather than waiting until your stress levels are at their peak,make time each day to sit quietly and relax, regardless ofwhether or not you feel like you need to.

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The soul is healed

by being with children.

FYODORDOSTOYEVSKY

Earn their love

Dont expect your children to be perfect. Theyve no morechance of that than you have. Instead, love your children forwho they are, faults and all, and hope that they do the samefor you.

There is nothing quite so wonderful as the unconditional loveof a child, and the best way to encourage that is to give it inreturn.

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What is not started today

is never finished tomorrow.

JOHANNWOLFGANG VONGOETHE

Get it done

Having a big list of things to do is rarely inspiring, but staringat your to-do list, knowing that you are never going to getthrough it all and hoping that things will miraculouslydisappear from it, wont change anything.

Determine what you really need to get done today and createa fresh, much shorter list that you can confidently work yourway through.

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The real voyage of discovery

consists not in seeking new landscapes,

but in having new eyes.

MARCELPROUST

Open your eyes

When you are on holiday, dont fall into the trap ofcomplaining about the things that are different from home.

Make the assumption that things willbe different when youare away, and rather than bemoan the things that you miss,open your eyes to the new things you can discover.

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If you commit to giving more time

than you have to spend,

you will constantly be runningfrom time debt collectors.

ELIZABETHGRACESAUNDERS

Keep some time up your sleeve

There is no such thing as a five-minute task. The thing youthink will take five minutes will always take at least fifteen.And its no different for longer tasks.

Always allow more time than you need and plan to do lessthan you think is possible. That way you will always have

extra time up your sleeve when you inevitably discover thatyou need it.

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You cannot be all things to all people.

Be unique. Be different.

Give to others what you want yourself.And do what you were made to do.

ROBERTKIYOSAKI

Just say no

Dont try to be all things to all people. Its okay to say nosometimes. In fact, its okay to say no whenever you wantto.

When someone asks you to do something, swallow yourinstant reply and ask yourself, Is this something I want to do,

something I need to do or something I have to do? If youcant answer yes to any of these questions, your answer isdefinitely no.

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Organise, dont agonise.

NANCYPELOSI

Schedule it in

If there are important things you need to do regularly billsto pay, medical check-ups, birthday gifts to buy or trips to thedentist avoid keeping them all in your head and fretting youmight forget; instead, schedule them in your diary.

This small bit of forward planning will save you time, money,energy and embarrassing mistakes.

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If the problem can be solved, why worry?

If the problem cannot be solved,

worrying will do you no good.

NTIDEVA

Dont worry

Worrying about something will never change anything.

If you are feeling stressed or concerned, there are really onlytwo options available to you. If there is something you cando, take action. If there is nothing you can do, accept it.Whatever you do, dont worry.

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Real love amounts to

withholding the truth,

even when youre offeredthe perfect opportunity

to hurt someones feelings.

DAVIDSEDARIS

Give them your best

Give the people you love the best of you, not the worst.

So often people treat their loved ones with less kindness orconsideration than they do people who are barely more thanacquaintances.

Give the people you love your patience and respect, and thegenerosity of your spirit. And keep any unkind thoughts youhave to yourself.

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Happiness is that state

of consciousness which proceeds

from the achievement of ones values.

AYNRAND

Focus on what matters

You dont need a lot to be happy. You just need to have thethings that matter to you.

Take the time to identify and understand your values. Thenhonour them by integrating them into every part of your life.

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The road to health for everyone

is through moderation, harmony,

and a sound mind in a sound body.

JOSTEINGAARDER

Rest your mind

While most people realise they need to take care of theirbody, taking care of your mental health is something that isoften taken for granted.

Be vigilant about your mental and emotional wellbeing, andmake sure to nurture your heart and rest your mind when theyneed it.

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Do not wait until the conditions

are perfect to begin.

Beginning makes the conditions perfect.

ALANCOHEN

Begin it now

If there is something you want to achieve in life, there is nobetter place to begin than where you are right now.

All too often people put off beginning while they wait forsome magical sense that the time is right. But the only realright time to begin is right now.

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Motivation is what gets you started.

Habit is what keeps you going.

JIMRYAN

Create good habits

You dont need a lot of motivation to exercise regularly. Allyou need is enough motivation to keep you going until yournew habit kicks in.

After all, its no harder to create good habits than it is bad.

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When walking, walk.

When eating, eat.

ZENPROVERB

Enjoy your meal

Instead of working through your mealtimes in an attempt tosqueeze more out of your day, stop and take the time to havea proper break.

You will find you eat less, enjoy your food more and feelsatisfied sooner if you give your meal your full attention.

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Sometimes nothing

is the best thing to say and

often the best thing to do.


Just listen

When someone comes to you with a problem, its all too easyto fall into solution mode.

As good as telling someone what to do can make youfeel,what they usually want is just to have you listen and, throughyour listening, have the chance to hear themselves think.

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If you are not content

with what you have,

you would not be satisfiedif it were doubled.

CHARLESSPURGEON

Be content

Dont complain about the size of your home. Regardless ofhow big their house is, the truth is that most people do themajority of their living in one single room.

So while a bigger house might give you more bedrooms,storage and other surplus requirements, its unlikely to give

you any more space youll actually live in.

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A bargain aint a bargain

unless its something you need.

SIDNEYCARROLL

Leave it on the shelf

Dont fall into the trap of buying something just because it ison sale.

While stores can reduce their prices dramatically to tempt youto part with your money, unless you would have been willingto pay the full price in the first place, its not a bargain nomatter how much they knock off.

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One can furnish a room very luxuriously

by taking out furniture

rather than putting it in.

FRANCISJOURDAIN

Leave some room

You dont need to fill your home with things to make itwelcoming. Some simple flowers, a photograph or acomfortable chair are all you really need.

Rather than filling all the space in your rooms with things,leave room in the space for living.

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Life is about balance.

The good and the bad.

The highs and the lows.The pina and the colada.

ELLENDEGENERES

Dust yourself off

Dont expect every day to be perfect. In a full and interestinglife, there will always be ups and downs.

The quality of your life isnt determined by whether or notthings ever go wrong, but rather how quickly you can dustyourself off when they do.

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In order to understand the world,

one has to turn away from it on occasion.

ALBERTCAMUS

Have a power-down

Cast your mind back to a time before voicemail. Back then, ifa person couldnt get hold of you when they wanted to, theysimply tried again later. It doesnt have to be so differentnow.

Simply turn your phone off.

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What can you do to promote world peace?

Go home and love your family.

MOTHERTERESA

Love is all you need

To be a happy family, you dont need to live in a big house,take grand holidays or give expensive gifts.

All a family needs in order to flourish is an abundance oflove. Everything else is surplus.

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Time is what we want most,

but what we use worst.

WILLIAMPENN

Dont waste time

One of the most common complaints people make is thattheyve got no time. The truth is, you have plenty of time 24 hours of it every single day but youll never feel like youhave enough if you waste it instead of using it wisely.

Dont try to fit everything in. If you focus on doing whatneeds to be done, youll never run out of time.

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Luck is where the crossroads

of opportunity and preparation meet.

SENECA

Be lucky

You dont need a lot of luck to get ahead in life, but you doneed to make an effort to make the most of the luck you have.

Put in the groundwork, do the preparation and when a little bitof luck comes along, get ready to seize it for all its worth.

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It is better to be alone

than in bad company.

GEORGEWASHINGTON

Seek true friends

If you find yourself complaining incessantly about a friendafter you see them or speak to them, its probably time toreview the friendship.

A true friend should enhance your life. If thats not what ishappening, stay home and enjoy the company of a good book.

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Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration,

the rest of us just get up and go to work.

STEPHENKING

Get started

Whilst thinking and planning are an important part of anyprocess, there is no time like the present to start doingwhatever it is you want to do.

Make a start and see what happens. There is nothing likeaction to clarify the mind.

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Dont let your mind

bully your body into believing

it must carry the burdenof its worries.

ASTRIDALAUDA

Learn to breathe

Not only is worry exhausting for your mind, it also has adebilitating effect on the body. When you find your mindturning and churning, stop for a moment and feel the effectsthese cyclical thoughts have on your body.

Instead of letting your mind run in exhaustive circles, start to

breathe slowly and evenly. Let the calm return to your mindand the strength return to your body.

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We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable.

It would be wise to use that time

adoring our families, cherishing our friendsand living our lives.

MAYAANGELOU

Use each day wisely

None of us knows how long we will have in this life, so liveeach day as if it were your last. Call your friends, cherish yourfamily and tell the people you love that you do.

Make sure that you live each day of your life fully, andappreciate today as a good day to be alive.

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It is good to have an end

to journey toward;

but it is the journey that matters,in the end.

ERNESTHEMINGWAY

Enjoy the ride

If, despite your efforts, you have failed to achieve a goal youhave set, dont be too hard on yourself.

Remind yourself that what will matter at the end of your lifeisnt how many things you have achieved, but how much youenjoyed the things you did.

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We can complain

because rose bushes have thorns,

or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.

ABRAHAMLINCOLN

See the upside

There will always be two ways to see everything youexperience in life: the upside and the downside.

Rather than focusing on what is wrong, disappointing orfrustrating about a given situation, make a point ofdiscovering what is right.

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Over the years I have learned

that what is important in a dress

is the woman who is wearing it.

YVESSAINTLAURENT

Wear a smile

You dont need a wardrobe full of clothes to look good. Withbright eyes and a welcoming smile you will always lookbeautiful, regardless of what you are wearing.

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All truly great thoughts

are conceived while walking.

FRIEDRICHNIETZSCHE

Get some fresh air

When you are feeling overwhelmed or confused aboutsomething, the best thing to do is stop thinking about italtogether.

Go for a walk in the fresh air and allow nature to clear yourmind. Youll find the answer will often be waiting for you onyour return.

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Buy less, choose well

and do it yourself!

VIVIENNEWESTWOOD

Fresh is best

Unless you are feeding a football team, you really dont needa refrigerator or freezer overflowing with food. Buy smallerquantities of fresh produce and enjoy your food while its atits best.

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No act of kindness,

however small,

is ever wasted.

AESOP

Get in touch

Dont put off getting in touch with a friend until you havetime. If you find yourself thinking of someone, call them.Dont let being busy be your excuse.

Now is the perfect time to get in touch, no matter how briefly.

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A good laugh is sunshine

in the house.

WILLIAMTHACKERAY

Fill it with laughter

There is little to be gained by filling your home with things:gadgets, widgets and the latest technology. No matter howexciting these can sound, all too often they wont be usedenough to have been worth the investment.

If you really want to improve the quality of your life, saveyour money and fill your home with love and laughterinstead.

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It is not how much we have,

but how much we enjoy,

that makes happiness.

CHARLESSPURGEON

Dont keep it for best

If you find yourself putting things aside and saving them forgood be that homewares, clothing, jewellery or any otherpossessions stop and ask yourself, What is stopping mefrom using this today?

Rather than saving things for good, use the things you loveall the time and make every day a special day.

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Clear your mind of cant.

SAMUELJOHNSON

Press delete

One of the most debilitating and destructive words in theEnglish language is cant. It gets in the way of so muchpotential. Delete cant from your vocabulary and startthinking of all that you can.

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Together in our house,

in the firelight,

we are the world made small.

JENNIFERDONNELLY

Treasure your loved ones

Its easy to let other things get in the way of spending timetogether as a family a stressful day at work, a big deadline,a new romance or a busy social life.

No matter what distractions are competing for your attention,nothing is more important than family. Treasure yours andmake them a priority in your life.

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The key is in not spending time,

but in investing it.

STEPHENR. COVEY

Create a list

Its a fact of life that certain things need doing again, againand again.

Rather than reinvent the wheel every time something needsdoing, spend the time to make a list. You will only have to dothis once. You can then save your brainpower for somethingelse while you work your way through checking it off.

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Ones destination is never a place,

but a new way of seeing things.

HENRYMILLER

Enhance your experience

When you go somewhere new for the first time, look aroundyou to see what you can discover.

Of course there is often plenty to learn about art, history orculture. But just as interesting are the simple observations youcan make about the way people are living their lives observations you can then use to enhance your own life insome way on your return.

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Ability is what youre capable of doing.

Motivation determines what you do.

Attitude determines how well you do it.

LOUHOLTZ

Have a good attitude

You dont have to do everything to get ahead in life. Whatyou do need to do is a great job of the things you decide to do.

Even if your skills for a certain task are really quite basic, itwill be your attitude and effort in doing it that will make allthe difference.

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In seeking happiness for others,

you find it for yourself.

ANONYMOUS

Dont be selfish

You dont need to be selfless to be a good friend, but youneed to avoid being selfish.

There is a big difference between trying to keep everyonehappy and not having any regard for other peoples feelings.Be considerate in your relationships and give as much as youhope to receive.

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Organisation isnt about perfection;

its about efficiency, reducing stress and clutter,

saving time and money, andimproving your overall quality of life.

CHRISTINASCALISE

Done is better than perfect

Dont get so focused on your process or organisationalsystems that you never get around to benefiting from them.

Remind yourself that done is better than perfect. Get startedand then make little improvements as you go.

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Worry does not empty

tomorrow of its sorrow,

it empties today of its strength.

CORRIE TENBOOM

Save your energy

Although it can feel like the only option, worrying and tyingyourself in knots doesnt actually change anything. It cantprevent something from happening and it cant fix somethingthat has. All it actually does is reduce the amount of energyyou have to deal with whatever it is that is causing yourconcern.

When you find yourself worrying, stop and put your energy tobetter use by either addressing the issue or moving on from it.

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If you judge people,

you have no time to love them.

MOTHERTERESA

Dont be critical

Dont waste your time criticising other people.

Instead of trying to make yourself feel better by pointing outwhat is wrong with someone else, focus on what both you andthey are getting right.

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Nothing great was ever achieved

without enthusiasm.

RALPHWALDOEMERSON

Be enthusiastic

Dont ever let a lack of money stop you getting what youwant out of life. While money is always helpful, its not theonly ingredient to success. All the money in the world wontachieve much without commitment and enthusiasm.

Your most valuable resources are free. Harness them andmake your dreams a reality.

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Life is like riding a bicycle.

To keep your balance,

you must keep moving.

ALBERTEINSTEIN

Try new things

Avoid getting stuck in a rut. Although doing the same thingover and over can offer some minor comfort, to live a trulybalanced life you need to fill it with a variety of experiences.

Make a point of trying new things. You dont have to likeevery single one of them, but its only through experience thatyoull know what you do enjoy.

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If all you can do is crawl,

start crawling.

RUMI

Take small steps

Every achievement in life begins at the beginning, so dont beput off by the gap between where you are now and where youwant to get.

Ask yourself, What is one small thing I can do that will takeme one step closer to my goal? If you keep this up, over timethese little steps will add up to a giant leap.

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Fashions fade,

style is eternal.

YVESSAINTLAURENT

Be stylish

Dont worry about keeping up with each seasons trends. Youdont need to be a slave to fashion to look good. Instead,define your personal style and work out what suits you andwhat doesnt.

Once you know what works for you, you will always lookstylish, regardless of what fashion dictates.

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Healing is a matter of time,

but it is sometimes also

a matter of opportunity.

HIPPOCRATES

Rest up

If you are feeling unwell, rest.

Its such a simple notion, but something people rarely do. Ifyou try to soldier on through an illness, you will usually justmake it last longer. But if you can stop, rest and allow yourbody to heal, your recovery will be complete in no time.

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The more you eat, the less flavour;

the less you eat, the more flavour.

CHINESEPROVERB

Stop when youve had enough

Despite what you may have been told as a child, finishingeverything on your plate just because its there isnt sucha good idea. There is nothing pleasant about feeling overlyfull or uncomfortable.

Learn to eat slowly, enjoy each bite and remember to stopwhen youve had enough.

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Your relationships with others

are always a direct reflection

of the relationship youhave with yourself.


Love yourself

When you find yourself criticising a friend, stop. Most of thetime, the things we find most annoying about others aremirrors of the qualities we like least about ourselves.

Before you judge a friend for not being perfect, take amoment to forgive yourself the same.

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Its not enough to be busy,

so are the ants.

The question is, what are we busy about?

HENRYDAVIDTHOREAU

Stick to the schedule

Staying on top of all the things you need to do around thehome can feel overwhelming. Rather than spending your timedoing the same thing over and over or worse living in amess, create a routine for all your regular domestic tasks andstick to it.

You will enjoy being in your home so much more when you

know that everything is taken care of.

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A man who both spends

and saves money

is the happiest man,because he has both enjoyments.

SAMUELJOHNSON

Learn to save

Dont spend money you dont have. Most people spend toomuch of their income paying off things that they couldntactually afford and didnt really need.

If you cant afford to pay for something, instead of putting iton your credit card, add it to your want list and save for it.

More often than not, by the time you get your moneytogether, youll realise you didnt need it anyway. And if youfind you do still want it, youll then be able to comfortablyafford it.

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Happiness resides not in possessions,

and not in gold,

happiness dwells in the soul.

DEMOCRITUS

Find happiness within

Whenever you find yourself thinking, Id be happy if only Ihad , stop and ask yourself, What is stopping me frombeing happy today?

True happiness cant be bought. It has to be found within.Find yours.

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Continuous effort

not strength or intelligence

is the key to unlocking our potential.

WINSTONCHURCHILL

Unlock your potential

Dont ever tell yourself that youre not good enough.

Whether or not youre good is all but irrelevant. All thatmatters is that you take the raw material youve got and thenkeep working at it until you get where you want to go.

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I would rather my heart

be without words

than my wordsbe without heart.

LAMARBOSCHMAN

Be a quiet comfort

We are all faced with situations in life where its hard toknow what the right thing is to say to someone. But if youdont know what to say, say so.

Being honest about your loss for words is so much morecomforting than opening your mouth and letting any words

that come to you spill out just to fill the space.

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[Kids] dont remember

what you try to teach them.

They remember what you are.

JIMHENSON

Set an example

You can lecture a child all you like, but your words will neverhave the same impact as your actions.

If you want to teach a child, you have to lead by example andmodel the behaviour you want them to learn.

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He who does not get fun and

enjoyment out of every day

needs to reorganise his life.

GEORGEM. ADAMS

Do what you want

Its easy to fill your time with all the things you think youshouldbe doing, but unless you make the time for the thingsyou wantto be doing, all youre really doing is wasting time.

Of course there are things in life that you haveto do, but assoon as theyre done, spend your time doing what you want.

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A man travels the world over

in search of what he needs

and returns home to find it.

GEORGEAUGUSTUSMOORE

Pack light

When you travel, instead of stuffing your suitcase so full youhave to sit on it to close it, challenge yourself to pack light.

Lay everything out before you pack it, making sure you aretaking what you need and no more. Make sure the things youinclude work well together, allowing you to create a travelwardrobe where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

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If you look for perfection,

youll never be content.

LEOTOLSTOY

Do your best

There really is no such thing as perfection. Its entirelysubjective, which makes it an impossible goal. Remindyourself that as long as you do your best, your best willalways be good enough.

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You wouldnt worry so much

about what others think of you

if you realised how seldom they do.

ELEANORROOSEVELT

Be confident

If you are feeling nervous or self-conscious about a socialsituation, there really is no reason to.

If you find yourself worrying what other people think, stop.Theyre far too busy worrying what you think about them tobe bothered thinking about you.

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There is nothing quite so useless

as doing with great efficiency

something that should not be done at all.

PETERF. DRUCKER

Cross it off

Before you get started on your to-do list, have a look and seewhat you can cross off it.

Get rid of all the things you think you shoulddo and all thethings that you coulddo and then focus on the much shorterlist of things that simply have to be done.

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If things start happening,

dont worry, dont stew,

just go right along andyoull start happening too.

DR. SEUSS

Go with the flow

One of the biggest causes of stress is trying to force things toturn out the way you want them to. The truth is that in life,some things will go your way and unfortunately others wont.

Rather than trying to force the outcome you want, look at howyou can work with things the way they actually are.

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The real lover is the man who can

thrill you by kissing your forehead or

smiling into your eyes orjust staring into space.

MARILYNMONROE

Be loving and kind

There is more to lasting love than passion and romance.Grand gestures are all well and good, but its the little thingsthat matter: thoughtful words, a helping hand, a sign ofacknowledgement or appreciation, an affectionate embraceand companionable silence.

Passion fades and romance wont always be there, but kindand loving gestures will help to keep your love alive overtime.

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Acknowledgements

MY FIRST THANKS, as always, go to my wonderful agent,Tara Wynne at Curtis Brown, for her never-ending belief inmy work. Thank you to Fran Berry and the team at HardieGrant for once again being such a delight to work with.

To all my clients, past and present, the inspiring people who

attend my workshops and those who buy my online programs,thank you. I love my work and it is in no small part because Iget to share it with you.

To my readers who connect with me on my Facebook page,thank you for sharing your experiences or simply stopping byto say hello. It means the world to me.

Less is more in so many things but not when it comes tosupport, and I wouldnt be able to do all that I do if I didnthave the help of Dani Magestro in my business and NesliAcar in my home. It is wonderful to know that both mybusiness and my children are in safe and caring hands.Thanks to Brooke Alexander for sharing so much of thisjourney with me.

A never-ending thank you to my mum for once againproof-reading patiently and loving unconditionally.

To my darling Sophia, precious Toby and to Paul, foreverything, always.

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About the Author

DOMONIQUEBERTOLUCCIis the bestselling author ofTheHappiness Code: Ten keys to being the best you can be,andthe closely guarded secret behind some of the countrys mostsuccessful people.

Passionate about living your life on your own terms,

Domonique has a client list that reads like a whos who ofCEOs and corporate figures, award-winning entrepreneursand celebrities, and her workshops and online courses areattended by people from all walks of life, from all around theworld.

Since writing her first book, Your Best Life, in 2006,

Domonique has become Australias most popular life coach.More than ten million people have seen, read or heard heradvice.

Domonique divides her time between Sydney and London.She lives with her husband and young family, and in her sparetime can be found with her nose in a book, watching a movie,or keeping up the great Italian tradition of feeding the people

that you love.

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Other books by Domonique:

The Happiness Code: Ten keys to beingthe best you can be

Love Your Life: 100 ways to start living

the life you deserve

100 Days Happier: Daily inspiration

for life-long happiness

domoniquebertolucci.comfacebook.com/domoniquebertoluccitwitter.com/fromDomonique

225
http://domoniquebertolucci.com/http://facebook.com/domoniquebertoluccihttp://twitter.com/fromDomoniquehttp://twitter.com/fromDomoniquehttp://facebook.com/domoniquebertoluccihttp://domoniquebertolucci.com/


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Published in 2014 by Hardie Grant Books

Hardie Grant Books (Australia)

Ground Floor, Building 1

658 Church Street

Richmond, Victoria 3121

www.hardiegrant.com.au

Hardie Grant Books (UK)

Dudley House, North Suite

3435 Southampton Street

London WC2E 7HF

www.hardiegrant.co.uk

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in anyform by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording or otherwise, without the prior written permissionof the publishers and copyright holders.

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

Copyright Domonique Bertolucci

227
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A Cataloguing-in-Publication entry is available from thecatalogue of the National Library of Australia atwww.nla.gov.au

Less is More: 101 ways to simplify your life

eISBN: 9781743582046

Cover design by Kinart

228

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Less is More, 101 Ways to Simplify Your Life