A while back I was at a small public park with my husband and two friends of ours that are also spouses, we just sat there to eat sandwiches we had brought, talking, looking at the chickens that were walking all around. There was this big old tree with long branches and most of time I was just caught up looking at the movement of the branches as the wind would go through them… and then I thought, “This is the soft life”.
If you have internet access and you’ve been on social media I’m sure that by now you’ve seen at least once the “living the soft life”motto.
For the most part it would be associated with a luxurious or lavish lifestyle but more and more I’ve been thinking how it’s goes beyond that. I think the concept left many people feeling like it’s a lifestyle that they can’t financially afford. Like they would look at their wallets and decide that the soft life isn’t for them after all. I just feel like there’s more to explore on this one.
To me, living the soft life really starts with a mindset, an intention, it starts with the decision of being intentional in everything you do. It’s a way of living were you pay attention to details, the things that others wouldn’t probably notice. I like to see it as something that is very affordable but some people just haven’t developed the skills that allow them to plunge into it yet. You could be living in a mansion and still have no clue on how to live that soft life. Truth is there are many things that are at our reach but we simply haven’t realized it. As humans we have this tendency to look for things far away while minimizing what we have under our eyes.
To me living the soft life is about being fully present, pausing when it’s necessary and taking it all in while entering a state of gratitude that might start just by the fact that we are breathing and that we’re alive. Now if we’re keeping it real, yes, money can really help giving us that stress free life but it’s not what it’s all about.
A soft life is a life that you intentionally create. It’s about walking in your purpose knowing that God will give you the instructions on how you should go about your life, so you’re not worried about missing out on anything that wasn’t meant for you anyway.
Having a good work/life balance is one of the things that will set you up for that soft life. Oh and planning as well, because when you don’t want to be rushed or do things hurriedly you must learn to plan ahead. (I might have to take my own advice on this one!)
Living the soft life the practical way is also avoiding financial decision that will later stress you out, we are avoiding distress, remember?! Truth being told, sometimes we might think that we are living the soft life when we are just living irresponsibly.
It’s more about discovering what brings you joy and peace. It’s about doing more of the things that make your inner child smile. It’s about surrounding yourself with people that are good for your emotional well-being. It’s about prioritizing the practices that will heal your nervous system and detoxify yourself from harmful patterns.
To me, really, the soft life is about living intentionally and having the luxury to move at your own pace, taking part in no race. Strolling in your own lane, traffic free.