The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style
Education:Self-Improvement
A quiet confidence, an ease of being. A deep joy of living each day.
To consciously find ourselves in any of the three states of being above, it will have taken much intentionality, effort, patience and compassion. As well as strength, courage, kindness and trust. And these are all actions given to ourselves, let alone to the people and environments we engage with along the way to reach each or all of the aforementioned states. However, as Steve Jobs succinctly shares above, once you arrive at the simplicity, you have gone through much complex exploration, and it is because you have gone through that exploration that you know, absent of ignorance, that indeed what that true simplicity is and how to attain it. It is then at that point you really set yourself free and yes, his metaphor is apt - you will be able to do things you may have never thought possible, experience things you once thought only resided in your dreams.
When The Simple Sophisticate podcast premiered back in September 2014, in the first episode, we dove right into sharing the eight pillars of living simply luxuriously (the most downloaded episode in the show's history); however, I think we are long overdue for sharing exactly what constitutes someone who is a simple sophisticate. And while I concisely shared a definition on the podcast page: The simple sophisticate is someone who prefers quality over quantity, sensible living over mindless consumption, personal style instead of trendy fashions, has an insatiable curiosity for life’s endless questions and a desire to live a truly fulfilling life rather than being led around by the nose, and the term itself 'simple sophisticate' has simple in its title, but it is in fact a complex concept, a destination and a way of living that takes time at which arrive; however, once we arrive and attain clarity in the understanding of what a simple sophisticate is and experience it first hand, the benefits, the elevation of the quality of our life, we then wholeheartedly understand the invaluable, yes, complex journey of self-discovery and self-growth we needed to travel in order to arrive at a state of being a simple sophisticate. And similarly to living a simply luxuriously life, the pillars for being a simple sophisticate are concrete, but how each of us embodies and welcomes them into our lives will be unique to our own life journey, and nobody will be exactly the same.
So to be clear, a simple sophisticate is not a simpleton, and in fact, polar opposite of such a descriptor. A Simple Sophisticate, as we will share in detail below, chooses and acknowledges that many lessons and skills are needed to be able to experience the deep contentment within, but in accepting this truth, now has a focus that will lead through the temporary complex journey in order to arrive at a state of simplicity, a dynamic resting place of clarity, inner peace and a quiet confidence in how you go about your daily life.
So remember . . .
"Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it." —Alan Perlis
And it will indeed follow it if you are willing to grow, to stretch, to explore, to let go of control and find comfort in uncertainty. Let's take a look at the 14 characteristics of a simple sophisticate:
322: Everyday Parisian Blogger, Rebecca Plotnick on Traveling to Paris during Covid
321: 9 Tips for Resetting into a Life Rhythm to Harmonize with Your Life's Desired Composition
320: What If . . . This Was the Year It All Came Together? Are You Ready?
319: How to Trust, How to Be Trustworthy and How Understanding Both Will Transform Your Entire Life
318: How to Become A Secure Adult in Relationships
317: How to Handle Travel Plans that Go Awry
316: How to Cultivate A Life Full of Vitality (and how it contributes to your overall well-being)
315: Being in Love, Being HSP and Being at Peace with Ourselves and the One We Love
314: Dive Deep into Life Instead of Paddling on the Surface
313: The Importance of Finding Meaning in Life: 9 Lessons taught by Viktor E. Frankl
312: The New Hello, my conversation with The Confidence Project founder Tracy Hooper
311: How Accepting Your Mortality Sets You Free to Live More Deeply
Season 8 Schedule of the Podcast Announced
310: Murder in Provence, M.L. Longworth Talks about Her Series Coming to BritBox
309: Let's Travel to Paris! My Discussion with Paris Perfect Vacation Rentals' Founder Madelyn Byrne
308: 15 Ideas for Welcoming Provence Style into Your Home & Garden
307: How to Step into your Fullest True Self — The Way of Integrity, as taught by Martha Beck
306: 25 British Petit Plaisirs (and a new category for all of TSLL's Simple Pleasures)
305: 36 Bedtime Daily Rituals and Essential Details to Ensure A Restful Slumber
304: Artists in Residence writer and illustrator Melissa Wyse and Kate Lewis
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free