New Year’s Resolutions Failed? Unburden Your Mind and Gain Clarity!
Who among us has not promised himself that from the New Year he will become a different, better and more mobilized person, full of passion and commitment to achieve the next points on the map of his own dreams? Unfortunately, fabulous plans are often written on water, unfulfilled wishes melt away with last year’s snow, and hidden desires splash away like soap banks.
Excited about new challenges, we treat the end of the old year like the last page of a boring book we were forced to read, and the beginning of a new one – like a great gift from fate offering us one more chance. We commit ourselves to changing our lifestyles, eating healthy, losing a few pounds, practicing sports systematically, jogging, learning foreign languages, reading overdue books, signing up for interesting training and various courses, going on long journeys, saving money, being more assertive and doing a general housecleaning.
Usually by the end of January, we already spend the following afternoons falling asleep in an armchair in front of the TV, watching the same movie or documentary about the Provence of our dreams for the umpteenth time, lacking the strength and motivation to find a travel guide in a pile of unread books. In only one thing are we consistent – in saying “no” to our greatest desires, New Year’s resolutions, which are like beautiful Christmas tree baubles packed in a box and hidden somewhere in the attic right after Christmas every year.
Is there some unearthly force that makes us become more honest with ourselves and fulfill at least half of our plans? This question is answered by Dominique Loreau, author of books such as: “L’art de la simplicité. How to Live More with Less”, “L’art de l’essentiel”, “L’art de manger peu: créer son propre régime”, “L’art de la frugalité et de la volupté” and “L’art de la liste: simplify, organize and enrich your life”. The French journalist, who has lived in Japan for the past twenty years, contrasts the consumerist lifestyle with a Zen philosophy. She shares her own experiences and thoughts with readers and presents concrete advice to help reject excess material possessions and find meaning in a modest life in harmony with nature.
Dominique Loreau’s “L’art de la simplicité” tells the story of her search for the perfect place on earth that suits her needs and is free of prejudices, burdens and limitations. She traveled through Canada, Mexico, Central American countries and much of the United States to find in Japan what ancient philosophers, Hindu sages, Christian and Buddhist mystics spoke of – simplicity that “has positive value and is enriching”. The reader can learn about the basic principles of ethics and aesthetics, managing one’s own time and space, taking care of the body and health, putting one’s own thoughts in order, and relationships with other people. Leonardo da Vinci claimed that simplicity is the pinnacle of sophistication. Dominique Loreau proves that living with finesse does not depend on financial resources, but on self-discipline and systematic work on oneself. The book contains an array of affirmations, exercises and recipes for homemade cosmetics. The author cites many inspirational quotes, among them a Japanese proverb: “Excellence does not consist in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way.” She encourages us to “elevate activities as simple as eating, talking, and household chores to the status of sacredness”, and urges us to celebrate various rituals such as drinking coffee, applying makeup, taking a bath, creating notes, or buying flowers. When we get our space in order and take care of our body, we should pay attention to the “interior ecology” and clear our mind of negative thoughts, because it is bad emotions and worries that block energy, disrupt metabolism and destroy us from the inside. To “rise above the problem”, all we need to do is not get involved in matters beyond our control, forget the oppressive past and focus on our own desires. Crossing off a few names in the address book will help break up fruitless acquaintances and begin to cultivate relationships with people who offer us support in difficult times. An activity that helps in the development of personality is writing which constitutes “entering into a relationship with one’s own mind”. Dominique Loreau’s book provides a large dose of positive emotions, strengthens self-confidence and is an excellent stimulus for change according to the idea: “Polish yourself as a river polishes a stone.” “L’art de la simplicité” is a kind of introduction to the author’s subsequent books.
“L’art de l’essentiel” talks about the importance of being able to select the objects we surround ourselves with. The author proves that our well-being is determined by the number of things, clothes and furniture we accumulate over the years. She emphasizes that the prescription for stress and lack of energy is not reading guidebooks telling us what new things we should buy and how to manage the excess of material goods but eliminating what is unnecessary: “Throwing away not only acts as a real therapy […] but is also an art and a kind of philosophy of life.” Only if we own little, we can appreciate what we have. Through the selection of possessions, we get to know ourselves better. To achieve serenity and inner peace, it is necessary to free ourselves from the “desire to possess.” Contrary to appearances, minimalism is not synonymous with poverty: “Luxury, in Epicurean terms, is about enjoying the beauty of every moment and not allowing what surrounds us to disturb our inner harmony.” High quality and functionality are extremely important. Dominique Loreau helps to deal with inner fears and get out of the habit of collecting objects. The haiku quoted by Loreau, written by the Japanese poet Issa Kabayashi, is one of the many thoughts that encourage reflection on living in moderation:
“Nothing belongs to me
Except the peace of heart
And the blue of the sky.”
Excessive consumption is one of the factors moving us away from achieving our dream goals, as Dominique Loreau’s next books, “L’art de manger peu: créer son propre régime” and “L’art de la frugalité et de la volupté” point out. Every problem of modern man is solved by pills: sleeping pills, vitamins, weight loss treatments, diet products. The author stresses that the prescription for many problems is not pharmacy preparations, but fresh air, sunshine, clean water, physical exercise, and deep feelings such as friendship, love, and intellectual and spiritual development. The basic rule is to reject dieting and follow the principles of common sense – eating food in smaller quantities, buying good quality products, preparing meals yourself and, above all, savoring every bite. Dominique Loreau seeks to redefine the feelings of hunger and satiety, to make the reader listen to the needs of his own body and follow his instincts. She presents the principles of functional cooking and provides dietary recipes. She accentuates that not only the quality of the food consumed is important, but also the way it is served. In order to live exquisitely and elegantly, one should pay attention to aesthetics that affect the senses. Proper nutrition will help achieve not only vitality, but also peace and serenity, as evidenced by the Indian proverb: “Take good care of your body so that your soul will want to stay in it.”
A great support in implementing our plans are lists, as we can learn from the book titled “L’art de la liste: simplify, organize and enrich your life”. Dominique Loreau reminds us that man has long felt the need to jot down his thoughts – “from Sumerian pictograms to the Internet”. Detailed writing down of successive ideas, dreams and aspirations not only simplify a lot, but also stimulate creativity. Making lists helps to manage one’s time, health and household budget, as well as to eliminate what is unnecessary. Writing down our own dreams, emotions and desires allows us to know ourselves better, “unburden the mind and achieve clarity”. Taking stock of life will provide answers to many of our questions, it will help us to make difficult choices, and it is an excellent starting point for setting plans for the future. The author emphasizes that we should first realize things “as they are and as they could or should be.” She quotes the words of Japanese tea ceremony master Ikkyu: “Before you learn complicated things, learn how to read the love letters sent by the wind and rain, the snow and moon.”
Reading Dominique Loreau’s books evokes a lot of spiritual experiences, helps to fight one’s own emotions and provides a solid foundation for creating a list of resolutions for various spheres of our lives. The author proves that a bit of Eastern philosophy can enrich our everyday life: “More and more women want to rediscover the joys and blessings of a modest life closer to nature. Away from the voracious consumer society, they are searching for its meaning, which would be in harmony with our era.”
Text: Dagmara Nawratek
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