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Olle Lindholm

Simple ideas win

Published almost 3 years ago • 1 min read

Simple ideas are powerful, but they're easy to ignore.

Exercise regularly. Drink more water. Be grateful.

We all know these things, yet struggle to put them into practice. Alas, simple does not mean easy.

Here's a simple idea: Let restrictions do the heavy lifting for you.

This is a little counterintuitive at first, so an example or two might help.

The English alphabet consists of 26 letters. But see what that allows us to do!

(Not to mention binary code – a series of ones and zeroes – which most modern computers use today.)

Barack Obama and Bill Gates wear dark blue or dark grey suits to events.

Restrictions work because they reduce decisions, which increase our potential. They free up space and invite creativity rather than squander it.

Restrictions --> reduce decisions --> increase our potential

Give it a try. For instance, decide what to eat for breakfast. (I eat porridge with lingonberry jam. And a cup of coffee, of course.)

Simple means less decisions, more freedom. Too often, we make life difficult for ourselves. What happens when we choose to keep it simple?

Have a great week!

Cheers,
Olle

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Olle Lindholm

A Sweden-based author and coach.

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