Why We Should Explore Crazy Ideas (+ a few of my crazy ideas)

Whenever I think, “wouldn’t it be crazy if …” I can’t help but smile. Now that I’ve explored several of my crazy ideas and know what happens when I see one through, a new crazy idea is always intriguing.

Before I got sick and answered my wake up call, and before we simplified our lives by paying off our debt and getting rid of clutter, I dismissed most crazy ideas. I stuck with the plan instead. Work hard, climb the ladder, made ends meet. A.K.A. Ignore what you really need and burn out trying to do it all.

Once we created more simplicity in our lives, we had space to consider the question, “Wouldn’t it be crazy if …” Here are a few examples:

Wouldn’t it be crazy if …

we sell our house? We did it and downsized to an apartment less than 1/2 the size with no storage space.

I quit my job? With a solid exit strategy that took 16 months to execute, I gave my notice and walked away from an almost 20 year career. Scary? YES! Worth it? So much more YES!

dress with 33 items or less for 3 months? I started minimalist fashion challenge Project 333 in 2010. October 1st marks 7 years of dressing with less. I can’t imagine how much money and time I’ve saved with this crazy idea. A new season starts October 1st.

I take my tiny wardrobe on tour? In January 2015 I committed to visiting 33 cities with my tiny wardrobe. I’ve been to 30 and there are 3 more to go. I’ll be in Des Moines on October 11th, and Boise and Scottsdale this November (dates coming soon). I’ve met the best people, explored new cities, and shared how dressing with less and simplifying my life has changed me in the best ways. The Tiny Wardrobe Tour has been one of my favorite crazy ideas.

we give up sugar for 30 days? Mark and I are in the middle of another Whole30. We learn more and more about ourselves and our relationship with food each time we spend 30 days without sugar, grains, alcohol, dairy and legumes (spoiler alert: legumes aren’t the problem).

I write a book? I’ve written short ebooks before, but writing a longer, more personal book with help from an editor, publisher, and full team felt a little crazy. Soulful Simplicity will be published December 26 by Penguin Random House. Next week I’ll be sharing some fun simplicity-inspired bonuses if you order the book early (if you already ordered — they will be available to you too).

Those are only a few of my crazy ideas and I know there are many more to come. Usually after I think, “wouldn’t it be crazy if …?” I think, “I could never do that.” As soon as the word never crosses my mind, I know I’m on to something. Whenever I think … “I could never” or “that’s crazy” I know I need more information, and that I’ve identified an area to grow and change.

I always challenge my nevers.

Whenever you say “never”, pay attention to your never statement.

Never can discount possibility, change, growth and ultimate happiness. Never robs us of better health, work, love and happiness. Never keeps us comfortable and complacent.

If your never is too scary to consider at first, write it down and come back to it.