Embracing Simplicity: Practical Steps for a Meaningful Life

To train the body, strengthening its muscles, increasing its cardiovascular health, and improving its agility, you need to do exercises like stretching, running, and lifting weights.

To train the soul, expanding its capacity, you likewise need to perform exercises, in this case, what are called "spiritual disciplines" — practices like fasting, silence, self-examination, study, and simplicity.

As a pastor, John Mark Comer approaches the spiritual disciplines from a Christian perspective, as the habits and practices from "the way of Jesus" that allow individuals to make deeper layers of themselves available to grace and access the transforming power that's necessary to become what John Mark calls "a person of love."

But the practices that are considered spiritual disciplines can be found across different religions, and even philosophies like Stoicism, and can be utilized by people from varied backgrounds to deepen their inner life and strength, center themselves in chaos, find greater purpose, and subdue baser desires to reach for higher ideals.

Today on the show, John Mark offers an introduction to the spiritual disciplines, and the way they can be an act of resistance, a way for us to form our own values and rhythms in life, instead of allowing our lives to be formed by the defaults and external forces of our age.

Resources Related to the Podcast

• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
• Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
• AoM's series on the spiritual disciplines:
  • An Introduction to the Spiritual Disciplines
  • Study and Self-Examination
  • Solitude and Silence
  • Simplicity
  • Fasting
  • Gratitude
• AoM Article: How and Why to Take a Tech Sabbath
• AoM Podcast #503: The Case for the 24/6 Lifestyle
• AoM Podcast #708: Overcome the Comfort Crisis

Connect With John Mark Comer

• John Mark's website