Finding Simplitude

Introducing my new publication on classic living

Michael Fousert on Unsplash

When will you find your delight in simplicity?

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 10.9

Today I am very pleased to introduce you to a new Substack I’ve just started, called Simplitude. Three guesses as to what it’s about.

That’s right—Simplitude is devoted to simple and thoughtful living. The tagline I’m going with is “classic living for simple souls,” which pretty much sums up where I am in my own life right now. I enjoy exploring simplicity through the lens of Stoicism in Stoicism for Humans, but I do feel the need for a publication that allows me to address some of the broader issues related to everyday living.

For example, I recently posted about emotions with my review of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. I’ve also shared how I choose which books to buy, which is informed by Stoicism but also filtered through related lifestyle concepts like minimalism, slow living, sustainability, etc. So Simplitude is one way of making these philosophical principles accessible to a wider audience.

Here are some of the topics I plan to cover in the new publication (in alphabetical order, not order of importance):

• Appreciation of art, music, and beauty

• Creativity and agency

• Focus on love, goodwill, and seeing the best in others

• Harmonious relationships

• Moderate minimalism

• Mind-body-spirit connection

• Mindset of gratitude and plenitude

• Nature and rootedness

• Openness to new ideas, people, and ways of seeing

• Regular reading, writing, and reflection

• Slow and frugal living

• Strength and courage in the face of adversity

• Sustainable and ethical lifestyle choices

• Wholesome and healthy habits

Just to be clear, by simplitude I don’t mean withdrawing from the world, quitting your job, giving up your social responsibilities, only owning 100 items, or anything like that. As I wrote about in last week’s post on practical wisdom, you don’t need to withdraw from the world in order to live a harmonious and happy life. What we’re talking about here is inner simplicity, like the kind Marcus Aurelius means when he says

For it is not right that one should set in competition to the rational and social good anything at all that is foreign to its nature, such as praise from the crowd, position, or wealth, or sensual pleasure. All of these, even if they seem to suit our nature in the short term, suddenly seize control of us and carry us away. For your part, you must in all simplicity and freedom choose what is higher and hold to that.

Meditations, 3.6

When urging himself toward simplicity, Marcus uses terms like good, loving, affectionate, clear, satisfied, kind, independent, benevolent, and gracious. In other words, it’s more about cultivating an inner disposition of simplicity rather than changing your lifestyle. Of course, if you have the option to virtuously live a life of outer simplicity too, then by all means do so. I do try to make my lifestyle as simple as possible given my constraints. But even if you are required to live a busy life full of many responsibilities (like Marcus Aurelius was), you can develop a mindset of simplitude. You can appreciate the small and beautiful things life has to offer, cultivate an attitude of contentment and creativity, and stay open to new ideas, people, and experiences. This is the path I will be exploring at Simplitude, and of course it’s what I continue to explore here at Stoicism for Humans.

I do hope you’ll check out the new publication and maybe even subscribe. I would also love to hear how you apply simplitude in your own life. As Marcus reminds us, “Do not disturb yourself; strive to be simple.”

Let’s all take his advice.

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