Less is More

Hello friend – it’s Miriam 👋🏻

Welcome to this week’s Ikigami Insider.

What if mental clarity isn’t about adding more, but about removing the excess?
And what if the key to big decisions isn’t thinking harder—but speaking them out loud?

Stay with me.

We often believe that the more we analyze, the closer we get to clarity. But sometimes, overthinking is just mental clutter. Real insight comes when we declutter our minds—by structuring our thoughts, removing the noise, and letting our intuition have a say.

Let’s dive in.

Intuition: Overthinking is Mental Clutter

Here’s a simple but powerful question:
When was the last time you said your thoughts out loud?

Not journaling. Not listing pros and cons. Literally saying them out loud.

It might sound strange, but here’s why it works:

• Your brain processes spoken words differently than silent thoughts.

• You hear yourself more clearly—without endless loops of analysis.

• The right answer often reveals itself the moment you say it.

Speaking Out Loud: A Tool for Instant Clarity

If you’re stuck in a mental loop, try this:

• Go outside. Walk in the woods, in a park, or just step away from your desk.

• Speak freely. No structure, no filter—just let your thoughts flow.

• Use ChatGPT. Open a chat, voice-record your thoughts, and let AI mirror them back to you. Then refine, clarify, and sharpen your thinking.

This method creates a perfect balance between free expression and structured reflection. You capture everything, filter later, and often find that your next step is already there—waiting to be recognized.

Intelligence: Decision-Making Is About Subtraction, Not Addition

Clarity isn’t about gathering more information. It’s about removing what’s irrelevant until only the essential remains.

A simple way to do this? The clarity list.

The table below is an example of how you can compare your current job with a new opportunity based on key factors like flexibility, career growth, energy levels, and long-term fulfillment. You can use this framework to evaluate your own career choices—or adapt it for other major life decisions.

The One-Question Test

Look at your list. Which side feels lighter, freer, more like you?

• If you had to choose based on feeling alone, what would your decision be?

• If you were advising your best friend, what would you tell them?

Often, the answer is already within you—you just need to trust it.

Integrity: Time Is Now. Make the Move.

Waiting for the perfect moment is an illusion.

"One day" never comes. The only real moment is now.

Ikigai teaches us that alignment happens in action, not in theory. If a choice is right, you’ll know by how it feels when you step into it—not by how much you analyze it.

Fast-Forward Your Life

• Imagine you’ve already made the change.

• How do you feel waking up in that new reality?

• What do you miss—if anything?

If something isn’t a full-body yes, is it really worth holding onto?

Reflection in Verse

You hold on,
but clarity is not in the grip.

It’s in the release.

In the space between words,
between breaths,
between fear and knowing.

Let go.
And listen.

Thumbnail Photo of Andre Frueh on Unsplash

Three Recommended Readings

• Essentialism by Greg McKeown – A masterclass in cutting the noise and focusing on what truly matters.

• The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli – A guide to avoiding common thinking traps that cloud our decisions.

• The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer – A powerful guide to quieting mental noise, breaking free from overthinking, and making decisions with clarity and inner peace.

Want to Go Deeper?

Clarity isn’t a one-time event—it’s a practice. The Ikigami Essentials Workbook is designed to help you refine your decisions, clear mental clutter, and align your actions with what truly matters.

It includes the Ikigai Hack Roadmap—a 7-week journey to realign your life step by step. If you start now, you’ll reach the final breakthrough on Easter Sunday—a perfect moment for your own kind of resurrection.

Get your copy for €19.90 and start your journey today:

Get the Ikigami Essentials Workbook

A Question for You

What’s one decision you’ve been overthinking—but deep down, you already know the answer?

Let me know—I’d love to hear.

With clarity and courage,
Miriam