Name: The Effortless Life
ISBN: 9781365529672

Leo Babauta

This book is by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits. It was written publicly, and the world was invited to help collaboratively write and edit the document. This book is the result of that collaborative effort. This is meant to be a concise guide to living an effortless life.

The Effortless Life

Most of us rush around doing a lot of task and errands each day, putting out fires, and dealing with dramas. Most of these struggle are invented. We are simply beings. Food, shelter, clothing and relationships are all we need to be happy. Food grows simply and naturally. Shelter is a simply roof. Clothing is just cloth. Simple relationships consist of enjoying each other’s company without expectations. Beyond these simple needs, we’ve added invented needs: careers, bosses, and co-workers; new gadgets, software and social media; cars and nice clothes and purses and laptop bags and televisions and more. Imagine that you have a few close friends and family members, and you spend ample time with them. You have no expectations of them, therefore, they don’t disappoint you, and, in fact, whatever they do is perfect. You love them for who they are, and your relationships remain uncomplicated. You enjoy spending time in solitude—with your thoughts, with nature, with a book, and maybe even creating. This is a simple, effortless life. It’s not effortless as in “no effort,” but it feels effortless, and that’s what matters. And it’s entirely possible. The only thing that stands in the way of an effortless life is the mind.