The two questions that simplify life 

Modern life is noisy. News alerts ping our phones, inboxes fill with reminders, and social media never runs out of opinions. Add to that the ordinary demands of work, family, and money, and it’s no wonder so many of us feel stretched thin. Every day seems to demand a decision: Should I be doing more? Am I doing the right things? 

The truth is, most of us make life more complicated than it needs to be. When everything feels urgent, we lose sight of what’s truly important. But there’s a simple way to cut through the noise—two questions that act like a filter for your attention: 

• Does it matter? 

• Can I control it? 

At first glance, these questions seem almost too simple. But together, they form a robust framework for how we use our energy, our time, and even our money. 

Question 1: Does it matter? 

Much of what we worry about doesn’t really matter in the long run. We get caught up in small things – whether the neighbour bought a new car, whether we picked the cheapest grocery brand, or whether the market went down yesterday. 

The trouble is our brains treat every problem as if it’s equally important. That’s exhausting. Decision fatigue sets in when we can’t tell the difference between a trivial distraction and a genuine priority. 

Asking “Does it matter?” helps create perspective. It forces us to step back and weigh the long-term significance of what’s in front of us.  

A short-term dip in the share market probably doesn’t matter if you’re investing for retirement 20 years from now, but paying off high-interest debt? That matters. Spending time with your kids before they grow up? That matters. 

When you ask the question honestly, you’ll often find that much of the mental clutter falls away. 

Question 2: Can I control it? 

The second filter is just as important. There are endless things we can’t control – global markets, the weather, political debates, the next interest-rate decision from the Reserve Bank. Obsessing over these things only drains energy. 

By asking “Can I control it?” we acknowledge the limits of our influence. If the answer is no, then worrying won’t change the outcome. What you can do is shift focus to the choices within your control – how much you save, how you spend, how you invest, and how you react to events outside your reach. 

It’s a subtle but powerful shift. Instead of feeling like life is happening to you, you begin to feel more agency in the areas that matter most. 

Applying the questions to money 

These two questions are helpful in every part of life, but they’re invaluable with money. Personal finance is an area where people often feel overwhelmed by complexity and external forces. 

Consider a few examples: 

• Market swings: If the share market drops, does it matter? Not if your goals are decades away. Can you control it? No. What you can control is staying disciplined with your plan. 

• Daily spending: Does it matter if you grab a takeaway coffee every so often? Probably not. But does it matter if you consistently spend more than you earn? Absolutely. And that’s something you can control. 

• Superannuation rules: The government may change tax laws or retirement ages. Does it matter? Yes. Can you control the rules themselves? No. But you can control how prepared you are to adjust your strategy when the rules shift. 

Filtering financial decisions through these two questions reduces stress and builds clarity. You stop chasing every headline and start focusing on the habits that move you closer to your goals. 

Why simplicity works 

Behavioural research shows that too many choices make us unhappy. Psychologists call it the “paradox of choice.” The more options we face, the more likely we are to procrastinate or second-guess the choices we make. 

Simplicity, on the other hand, creates freedom. When you adopt clear filters, you no longer feel pulled in every direction. You spend less time worrying about things that won’t matter in five years and more time building the life you want. 

Putting it into practice  

Here are a few ways to use the two-question filter in your daily financial life: 

• Write down the five things that matter most to you and revisit them regularly. 

• Before reacting to news, pause and ask: “Does this truly matter to my situation?” 

• When stressed about money, list what’s in your control versus what’s not. Redirect your energy to the controllable side of the list. 

• Build rituals that reduce noise, such as checking your investments monthly instead of daily. 

The more you practice, the more automatic the filter becomes. Soon, you’ll find yourself worrying less and focusing more. 

And one more thing to remember 

Life will always be full of distractions. There will always be another headline, another opinion, another decision clamouring for your attention. But if you can pause and ask two simple questions: Does it matter? Can I control it? – you’ll discover that much of the clutter falls away. 

What remains is what truly deserves your energy. And that shift can simplify not just your financial life, but your whole life. 

Meet Thabojan at Rasiah Private Wealth Management or Find a Planner near you!

The Money & Life website is operated by the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA). The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not those of the FAAA. The FAAA does not endorse or otherwise assume responsibility for any financial product advice which may be contained in the article. Nor does it endorse or assume responsibility for the information.