Three words that will change your life

Are you longing for simplicity and peace, some relief from the too-muchness of life? If so, I’ve got a simple question, just three little words, that will help you edit out a lot of noise and clutter: “Is it fabulous?”

At first glance, “Is it fabulous?” may seem to be a question as light and bubbly as a glass of champagne at a party. But if you answer it honestly, this question is a surprisingly ruthless and effective tool for editing your life. These three words will equip you to make decisions quickly and choose what is truly going to add value to your life.

When faced with a choice – of an obligation to take on, an invitation to accept, something to buy, something to eat, even a relationship to maintain – ask yourself if thing in front of you is fabulous. In other words, do you really love it? Is whatever you’re considering worth trading your money, time, energy or emotion for? Does it fit what you value? Do you think you’ll love it in the long run?

If the answer is no, walk away if you possibly can. Pursue what’s fabulous moment by moment, decision by decision, every day. Especially when life seems to spin out of control, choosing fabulousness in areas you can control can ease the chaos.

The world is abundantly full of things that are noisy, sparkly, cute, funny, clever, colorful, sentimental, imaginative, sexy and fun. When something captures my attention, I take a moment to consider its fabulousness. Is it worth making room in my life for it? Is it worth giving up space in my house or my closet? Do I really want to spend money on it? Is it worth adding to my schedule? How will it make my life better?

Since a friend first posed the “Is it fabulous?” question to me a couple of years ago, it’s become an important tool that’s helping me focus my life on what I want it to be. Seeking fabulous is helping me rethink what I eat, what I wear, what I want as a future career choice, who I follow in social media, how I spend my time, and how I use my money.

I can honestly tell you that – especially when I’m tempted to buy something that’s caught my eye – nine times out of 10 I decide the object is not fabulous, and I walk away.

Focusing on fabulous is more than a catchphrase; it’s a lifestyle. By editing out what I don’t truly love, I’m left with more of what I do love. So many demands and distractions bombard each of us, every day. I suspect we’d all be happier and more content if we could focus our energy, money, time and emotion on the people, causes, activities and things we value most, and edit out the rest. By focusing on the fabulous, we can spend less time being overextended, tired and guilty, and we can put more of our physical and emotional resources into what we cherish.

Focus on the fabulous, starting today.