We are obsessed with addition. In the gym we want to add more weight, more reps, more mass. This spills over to life as well. We think we need more to improve or make a bigger impact — more tasks, more goals, more exercises, more supplements. But when did you last try to solve your problems by doing less? As a young coach I suffered from a case of more. More study, more reps, more drills. My insecurity when my athletes struggled led to adding things rather than stopping to look at what the issue was in the first place. It often led to frustration on my part and no significant improvement on theirs. Can you relate?
Less is more
I read an article recently that has helped me understand this issue more fully. It said we’re hardwired to keep adding. It is in our nature. As a follower of Jesus, I would add that this is a byproduct of the fallen world. The article though went on to say that if we can learn to subtract from the pressures of daily life it can help us live healthier, more fulfilling lives. The key to improvement, then, is knowing when to subtract what you don’t need. Rather than continuing to add, we instead strategically look for ways and areas to do less. While some may see this as a minimalist approach, it rather speaks to being wise in the inputs of life.
What does the Bible say about this, though? Hebrews 12:1-2 says “since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
A new way of looking at a familiar passage
I’ve shared these verses a lot in the past with both athletes and coaches I’ve worked with. But I confess, I have not thought about it in the context of what we’re talking about here. Do you see the connection? Let us “throw off everything that hinders.” That is subtracting. That is lightening the load, or getting rid of excess baggage in life. When we subtract, when we simplify things, we are able to focus better (fixing our eyes on Jesus) and persevere since we have less things dragging us down. The less we carry, the more efficient we’ll be. There is a connection to doing more and sin as well. This can lead to distraction due to burden. A more simple life makes it easier to focus on God.
Living ‘less’
What does this look like? If you feel burdened by a life of addition, maybe it’s time to see what it feels like to remove the unnecessary. The key with addition by subtraction is understanding it’s not a black-and-white approach; it’s about finding the minimum effective dose of what delivers your desired outcomes and having a good sense of where you want to invest more of your time and energy. This takes prayer and also understanding what your ultimate goals and objectives are.
This doesn’t have to be a complex or formal process. You can start by looking at parts of your life that feel bloated. Whether decluttering your space, simplifying your training routine, or letting go of unnecessary commitments, subtraction can be the key to clarity and well-being. The key is being wise and intentional about what you are doing.
So, throw off the things that are hindering you by doing less addition and living through subtraction. When you do, you can run with endurance, fix your eyes on Jesus and find what a simpler life of contentment with space for God to speak to you.
