“That’s been one of my mantras — focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”~ Steve Jobs
As I read about the passing of Steve Jobs today, I’m reminded of how he used a simple life principle to create an empire and simplify, enrich and improve all of our lives by making computers easy and simple. I love the ease and simplicity of my Iphone and Ipad.
As I develop weight loss programs for my clients, I find that keeping things simple has been one of my biggest challenges.
I suffer from this belief that more is better and want to include a lot of bells and whistles into programs that just are not necessary.
Over the course of my life, I have learned find comfort in the biblical stories. Its always comforting to know that my challenges are not unique.
In the bible, Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed!'” (2 Kings 5:13)
In 2 Kings 5:9-15, Naaman was a great hero who was not able to accept a cure as simple as washing his feet in the Jordan River. He would have preferred a big, elaborate scheme to cure his leprosy.
Many of us ( I’m at the top of the list) are like Naaman.
We want the most complicated EXERCISE PROGRAM, the latest, most far-fetched DIET, we want the sophisticated machines and the witch-potions. But the simple message of eating less and moving more is far too simple for us to grasp. “There must be something more to this,” we keep telling ourselves.
There are many instances of Steve Jobs’ “less is more” philosophy in the bible.
- David used a small, simple slingshot to conquer the big and mighty Goliath.
- God used understated, little Esther to save an entire nation.
- Jesus’ teachings were always simple
God wants to teach you and me the same principle. Though His ways may seem too simple, He will honour us for obeying regardless of whether it makes sense to us or not.
So forget about trying complicated weight loss programs and fads to lose weight – stay focused on the small, simple incremental steps each day to achieve your success.