As the holiday season jumps into full throttle and our schedules begin to burst at the seams, can we make an effort to live simply? Maybe you never thought this a possibility, or have not been able to follow through on the desire to make your life a little less complicated. Take a deep breath and read on.

In all realms of life there is an easy or a complex way of accomplishing a task. Would you rather read the newspaper sitting on the couch near a sunlit window or hanging upside down from a tree at night using a flashlight? Obviously the first is the simpler way. Why is that so easy to point out, but finding a simpler way of life so much more difficult?

I believe it has to do with our priorities and our focus on those priorities.

Living simply is not easy in our world today. Acknowledging this and accepting the occurrence of challenges is critical. Living simply is about making a choice and following through with it. Living simply has no one-size-fits-all, but will be different for each person.

Despite the challenges and tough attitude required, we can each find a way to live simply. It begins with making simplicity a priority and focusing on it. Start with one area and gradually build to where you can say you are living a simple life. Determine your priorities in all areas of life. What matters the most to you? Or maybe it is easier to ask, what does not matter—what can I let go of?

Make a choice, set a priority, and stick with it. Will you fail? Quite possibly, but is that a reason to quit or avoid simplifying my life? No, it should not be. Allow yourself the ability to find comfort and joy by living simply.