Are we suffering from abundance of choice?

When living in Rwanda in particular, I was able to redefine my lifestyle. When traveling through Europe I didn’t have any obligations or schedule to maintain. It wasn’t reflective of real life.  In Rwanda however, I had a job, I lived in a home, had access to a “kitchen” and had a friend group!

I woke up every morning to the sunrise outside my window. It was glorious!  I went outside and had a cup of tea with Ange and then got ready for work.  The work-culture in Rwanda is much slower paced. Everyone at Akilah got to work at 8 and left at 5 as we do here. It’s a low-key environment where the people loved their work. It was what I’ve always known, minus the expectation to arrive early and stay late. The environment is much more relaxed with zero chaos. It’s just simpler. You don’t talk about work when you go to dinner with friends.  It’s not an identity for them. Fascinating right?

Why do we put so much emphasis on what we do here?  Our first question to anyone is “What do you do?” … as if what they do defines them. I have gone to events and when someone asks me that question, I pause, and then say, “Do you mean for work?” They are always like YA! (As if what I do for fun, enjoyment, inspiration doesn’t matter haha!)

Removing distraction was EASY in Rwanda. It wasn’t a choice, it was my new reality. When thinking about meals – I knew we’d use the same 5 ingredients we used for every meal.  I knew I’d have the same tea every day.  My treat was bread with peanut butter and banana’s. I knew I’d bathe in a basin everyday.  I knew I’d see my friend a couple days a week, and otherwise I’d go home and catch up with Ange. We’d sit on the mat outside and chat about our days. We’d listen to music. We’d start making dinner and that was it!  It was SO simple and yet so satisfying!

When I got home, I had a lot of anxiety around the transition and how I’d be able to manage this lifestyle moving forward.  Anxiety wasn’t something I’ve ever experienced up to this point  but it’s something I consider most days now.  I had to re-acclimate to larger crowds, the speed of life here, and managing all of my distractions.

When thinking about my best, most solid self… I am keeping in tune with my thoughts, and writing through my challenges. I am eating simply. I am acknowledging the moments that make up a day.  I am present.

My distractions tend to be the abundance of choice.

• It’s hard to be mindful and content when you can’t decide between Chic Fil A, making a meal at home, or going to a nice dinner.
• Should you read, write or watch tv?
• What should you watch? Netflix, Cable, a movie?
• A movie – on demand, one you own or how about Amazon Movie?

You can spend half of your day just making silly decisions.  I am working on this one daily. Being conscious of where I’m spending my time. Being aware of the environment I’m creating! Example, I don’t need to fill my refrigerator wit h a ton of things if those things are making meals hard to choose.  I don’t need to fill my cabinets with junk food if it stresses me out that I’m not eating better.

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is a real thing. It creates this sense of comparison that makes all choices feel like the wrong one.  Life was simpler when we had less than 25 channels and a car full of 10 cds. Now we have access to anything we want, at all times of day.  How do we choose?

Have you considered how these choices impact your life and how you feel?

Access is empowering when used correctly. It can also be quite paralizing, am I right?