Take It Away

“In pursuit of knowledge,
every day something is added.
In the practice of the Tao,
every day something is dropped.
Less and less do you need to force things,
until finally you arrive at non-action.
When nothing is done,
nothing is left undone. –Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu (Stephen Mitchell translation)

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Give it away, give it away, give it away now
Give it away, give it away, give it away now
Give it away, give it away, give it away now
I can’t tell, if I’m a kingpin or a pauper -song “Give It Away” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

“The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.” -Michelangelo

“Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It doesn’t mean just doing less for the sake of less either. It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential.” -Greg Mckeown, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Instead of trying to add more to your life. More desires, more stuff, more whatever.

See how much you can take away.

Eventually you will arrive where you started. With everything you need. Nothing more. Nothing less. True satisfaction. True perfection.

Take it away. Take it away. Take it away now.