I am almost finished reading the new book from Leo Babauta called “The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential – in Business and in Life” and it truly resonates with what I have been thinking over the last couple of months.

The Power of Less is a very clear and short book on how to help you achieve your goals and for simplifying your life.  In fact, I love the introduction where Leo states the two easy steps for doing these things:

1. Identify the essential

2. Eliminate the rest

It cannot be more concise than that — and this is the new path that I have taken for myself.

Part of the reason I am fanatical on simplifying is my severe case of O.C.D.  I cannot function in a cluttered and calendar filled world.  I am not sure where this obsession came from (maybe Drill Sergeant) but it gets to the point where it pushes me over the edge.   I find absolute joy and euphoria in a clean and clutter free environment!

Another reason I am on this path is that I’ve hoarded so much crap since my childhood that the materials things – and possibly even some mental things – hold me hostage.  I can’t take my Star Wars or G.I. Joe collection, my KISS trading cards, or my 1977 vintage lunch boxes with me when I die.  And I could fill a complete room just with the toys I’ve has since a kid!

The last reason is that there are things I want to do with my life and goals that I have been passionate about for a long time.  It’s time to do them or keep this feeling of unhappiness until I die.  The only failure is not trying and I am ready to take a risk.

So I am going to try some of the advice that Leo Babauta gives in The Power of Less and bring change to my passion filled life.  I dig the book so far and if you are thinking the same way, please give his book a read and see how it helps you.  I’ll let you know how my experiment works out.