Choosing One Thing: The Spiritual Power of Simplification
- Michele Thompson
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
If you’re new here, this article is part of an early-year series focused on creating sustainable change without forcing yourself into systems that don’t fit. You may want to begin with Why 'I Am' Affirmations Don’t Work for Everyone or explore Sacred Structure: How Ritual Creates Safety for the Neurodivergent Mind before continuing.
When More Stops Working
At some point, many people reach a quiet realization: Doing more is no longer helping.
More goals.
More practices.
More information.
More self-improvement.
Instead of clarity, there is fragmentation. Instead of growth, exhaustion.
This is not a personal failure. It is a natural consequence of living in a culture that equates expansion with success and complexity with depth. For neurodivergent individuals, especially, the accumulation of choices, obligations, and expectations can overwhelm the nervous system long before any benefit is felt.
The spiritual power of simplification lies in understanding that growth does not always come from adding. Often, it comes from choosing one thing and letting it be enough.
Why Overwhelm Is Not a Motivation Problem
Overwhelm is frequently misinterpreted as laziness, lack of discipline, or poor time management. In reality, overwhelm is often a signal of cognitive and energetic overload.
From a neurological perspective, every choice requires processing. When the number of choices exceeds the nervous system’s capacity, decision fatigue sets in. This can lead to:
Paralysis instead of action
Avoidance rather than engagement
Emotional shutdown
Chronic guilt about unfinished intentions
For neurodivergent minds, which may already process information more intensely or non-linearly, excess choice drains energy faster than effort itself.
Simplification is not avoidance. It is regulation.
The Difference Between Simplifying and Giving Up
Many people resist simplification because it feels like failure.
“I should be able to handle more.”
“Other people manage this.”
“If I let go, I’ll fall behind.”
But simplification is not about quitting. It is about prioritization.
Giving up is rooted in hopelessness. Simplifying is rooted in discernment.
Choosing one thing does not mean abandoning growth. It means creating the conditions where growth can actually occur.
Spiritual Growth Thrives on Focus, Not Saturation
Across spiritual traditions, depth has always been valued over breadth.
Monastic paths emphasize devotion to a single discipline. Mystical traditions focus on repetition rather than variety. Contemplative practices return to the same questions again and again.
Modern spirituality often reverses this wisdom, encouraging people to:
Learn everything at once
Practice multiple systems simultaneously
Chase constant transformation
This approach creates stimulation, not integration.
The spiritual power of simplification is that it allows insight to settle rather than scatter.
Decision Fatigue as a Spiritual Issue
Decision fatigue is not just practical—it is spiritual.
When the mind is constantly choosing:
What to do
How to do it
Whether it’s enough
Whether it’s working
There is little energy left for presence, reflection, or meaning.
Simplification reduces the number of decisions required, freeing mental and emotional space. This space is where intuition becomes audible again.
Why Neurodivergent Minds Need Fewer Anchors, Not More Systems
Neurodivergent individuals often seek multiple tools in an attempt to self-regulate: planners, apps, routines, spiritual practices, and productivity methods.
While tools can help, too many tools create fragmentation.
Sacred simplicity asks a different question:
“What is the one practice that actually supports me right now?”
Not forever.
Not perfectly.
Just now.
One anchor provides stability. Multiple anchors pull in competing directions.
Simplification as Energetic Alignment
Energetically, simplification creates coherence.
When attention is divided across too many commitments, energy disperses. When focus narrows, energy concentrates.
This is not mystical abstraction—it’s observable in daily life:
Tasks feel less heavy
Follow-through improves
Emotional regulation stabilizes
Self-trust increases
Simplification aligns energy with intention.
Choosing One Thing Does Not Mean Choosing the “Right” Thing
A common fear is choosing incorrectly.
“What if I pick the wrong focus?”
“What if I regret it?”
“What if something better exists?”
This fear keeps people stuck.
The truth is that any one supportive focus is better than none, and most choices are reversible. Simplification works not because the choice is perfect, but because it reduces cognitive load.
Growth comes from engagement, not optimization.
How to Identify Your One Thing
Your “one thing” should meet three criteria:
It supports regulation, not just improvement
It is accessible on low-energy days
It feels meaningful, not obligatory
Examples might include:
A single daily grounding practice
One creative outlet
One area of life to gently prioritize
One spiritual discipline
If it requires constant willpower, it is not the right one.
The Role of Simplicity in Sustainable Change
Change that lasts is rarely dramatic.
It is quiet.
It is repetitive.
It is often unremarkable from the outside.
Simplification allows habits and insights to integrate into daily life rather than remain aspirational. Over time, one consistent focus reshapes identity more effectively than ten inconsistent ones.
When Simplification Feels Uncomfortable
Letting go of excess can surface discomfort.
You may notice:
Anxiety about missing out
Guilt about unfinished goals
Identity confusion
These reactions are normal. They reflect how much self-worth has been tied to doing rather than being.
Sitting with this discomfort is part of the work. Simplification reveals what has been masking underlying beliefs.
Spiritual Minimalism Is Not Aesthetic Minimalism
It’s important to distinguish between simplification as an internal process and minimalism as a lifestyle trend.
The spiritual power of simplification has nothing to do with owning fewer items or following a visual aesthetic. It is about clarity of attention.
You can live simply in a complex life. You can simplify without changing your surroundings.
This is an internal discipline, not a performance.
A Practical One-Thing Practice
Ask yourself:
“If I could only support myself in one way right now, what would it be?”
Write the answer down.
For the next few weeks:
Return to that one thing consistently
Release pressure to add more
Notice how your energy responds
This is not a restriction. It is an experiment in coherence.
“Simplification isn’t about doing less—it’s about choosing what actually holds you.” -- Michele Thompson
Closing Reflection
The spiritual power of simplification lies in its honesty.
It acknowledges that attention is finite.
That energy matters.
That depth requires space.
Choosing one thing is not settling for less; it's a deliberate decision. It is creating the conditions where meaning can take root.
In a world that constantly asks for more, simplification is a quiet act of wisdom.
And often, it is the beginning of real clarity.
In February, we’ll shift from understanding to application — exploring practical, evidence-based tools like cognitive behavioral strategies and self-hypnosis that support real action for neurodivergent minds.
