Two weeks ago, I was on retreat with Rupert Spira, and it was a joyful experience. My fellow participants and I were unplugged, unhurried, unscheduled, and unfocused on the details of the outside world. This structure allowed participants to dive deeply into our Essence and the truth about our shared experience as humans. There was also a lot of laughter, creative expression, hikes, and intimate sharing with others.
We live in a world filled with constant noise, endless responsibilities, and an overwhelming pressure to do more, be more, and achieve more. But what if the secret to real happiness isn’t about adding anything at all—but rather letting go of adding anything at all?
A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a retreat with a Welsh teacher and my fellow participants and I were unplugged, unhurried, unscheduled, and unfocused on the details of the outside world. . For several days, we stepped away from our screens, our schedules, and our endless to-do lists. We weren’t focused on fixing or improving ourselves. Instead, we were invited to return to something more essential—our Being.
This kind of space—free from distraction—allows something truly powerful to happen: the ability to remember who we are underneath it all. It was a time of laughter, creativity, heartfelt conversations, and deep stillness. And in the middle of it, three words stood out like a compass pointing home:
Simple.
Love.
Being.
The leaders most recent book is titled You Are the Happiness You Seek: Uncovering the Awareness of Being. And he joked that sometimes, just understanding the title and subtitle of his books is all you really need. What if it really is that simple? What if happiness isn’t something to be chased or earned, but something we uncover by reconnecting with who we already are?
The Power of Three: Simple, Love, and Being
Let’s break these down—because these words aren’t just poetic. They’re practical. They’re tools you can use any time, anywhere, to reset your inner compass.
Simple
In a culture obsessed with hustle, simplicity is an act of rebellion—and self-respect. When we intentionally simplify, we cut through noise and stress. It might mean doing one thing at a time, saying no to unnecessary obligations, or simplifying your thoughts by letting go of perfectionism.
Love
Not the romantic kind, but the deep care you offer to yourself, your work, and the people in your life. Acting with love softens your edges. Asking “Am I being loving right now?” can shift a tense moment into a meaningful one.
Being
This isn’t about doing or fixing. It’s about allowing. Being is the place where your worth isn’t measured by output, but simply by existing. You don’t have to earn rest or prove anything to be enough. You already are.
Try This: Micro-Practices to Reconnect
You can bring these words into your daily life through affirmations or self-reflection:
- “I love simply being.”
- “Being simple brings love.”
- “Am I being myself?”
- “Am I keeping this simple?”
- “Am I being loving at this moment?”
These simple check-ins (or one of your own) take less than a minute, but they create powerful shifts. You can make one that speaks to you. They move you out of autopilot and back into connection—with yourself, your values, and your inner calm.
What Really Matters
None of us can escape life’s complexities. There will always be emails to send, relationships to navigate, and challenges to face. But when we regularly return to our core—to simple, love, and being—we find a kind of inner steadiness that doesn’t disappear when things get hard.
This isn’t about escaping reality. It’s about engaging with life from a more grounded and “enough” place. Whether you’re managing a team, raising a family, or navigating a life transition, you can draw on these words like a personal anchor.
As Rupert Spira so beautifully puts it:
“What we are is Being and Love,
In retreat, there is Abidance and Friendship,
And in the world, we bring Peace and Kindness.”
Let’s carry this message with us—not just during quiet retreats, but in the real world, with all of its messiness and vicissitudes.
