The Eb & Flow of Clutter

Environment definitely plays a big part in my 100 day challenge. Pure indulgence requires a certain amount of staging and as pure indulgence washes it's way into the rest of my life I am brought back to my desk. To continue with the analogy of the ocean my desk seems to have an ebb and flow like the tide. I just reached down and I think there is actually some sand on it, probably moon sand, if you have small children you will know that doesn't mean I am an alien. Debris repeatedly shows up on my desk and seems to do so in a consistent manner. There are times at my desk when I feel completely in the flow, like during my morning routine when I write my blog, but there are other times when I feel like I am drowning as I look for a book or important phone number that has sunk to the depths.

As I work on my personal foundation I have been de-cluttering like a banshee. As with all of the personal foundation work, this too is a journey and the program is designed to hit things from lots of angles, to wear them down or sharpen them as the case may be, like the rocks that surround the coastline. I am literally reshaping and refining my life.

One of the lessons, getting clear of the past, is really resonating with me right now. It's as if I have unlocked a door and now suddenly all the old journals, cards and sentimental memorabilia are free to move out of my life. Perhaps it is because I have a clearer sense of my self, a stronger understanding about who I am, what's important and my core values. My new rule, in with the new out with the old, is a piece of cake to enforce. Boxes of clutter almost line up automatically at the door ready for the next phase of their journey. This is freeing up room to grow in my life...

but not on my desk!

Recently I have taken too removing the debris from my desk and placing it in boxes to enable me peace and tranquility to work. To restore order in a quick manner. Because of this I became aware of the eb and flow of my desk. More stuff just keeps showing up! It is a wonderful physical example that until you deal with something completely it will continue to wash up on the shore of your life.

So what is all this debris?

• Business cards and contact info of new people I meet
• Receipts and bills that need filing
• Notes I take
• Plans for the future
• Computer programs
• Resources I pull to work on or quote
• Resources I print from emails sent to me
• Flyer's and marketing materials I have or am creating
• Books I am reading
• Invitations and events that I am considering attending
• To-do lists and more notes

Now I could focus on creating systems to handle all of this paper in my life and that is an important part of the process but first it is important to look at the common theme. Unfinished projects, thoughts, responses to lots of different things or coming to the mecca of my desk, just like all the phones in my house and my husband is betting that the six pairs of glasses I spread around the house will too.

Each month in the Success Circles I facilitate, you can find out how to join one at www.motivatemyself.com, I set 3 priorities for the month, to focus on. This month one of those priorities is finishing unfinished projects.

So before I work on clearing the debris there are a few key questions I need to contemplate:

• Where is it coming from?
• Why is it on my desk?
• How can I handle it so that it does not come back for at least 5 years?
• Why is this process working for me right now? What benefit do I get out of it?
• What do I need to change to move forward on this?

By answering these questions I can see that putting everything on my desk allows me to have the calmness, order and peace in other areas of the house and my life. My car also seems to collect clutter but I think by handling my desk I can eliminate the clutter in that area of my life as well.

Each of our values has a ying and a yang to it. The pendulum can swing in both directions and the value at the route of this clutter for me is creativity. I am extremely lucky to have a wonderful ability and joy in creating but like the porridge pot that would not stop making porridge it can overflow into my life and cause a breakdown if swung too far. In order to stop the debris washing up on my shore I need to control the amount I create and to have space to work on the things I do create.

Seeing something through to the end and handling it right away is the mantra I will keep in mind. This will not be a fast process but in experimenting with this mind shift I will then impact my life in many more ways than if I just sat down and created systems to control the clutter. Getting to the root of the behaviour, habit or belife is what coaching is all about. It enables you to make huge shifts rather than small short term victories in you life. It is truly an investment I hope you have the pleasure to enjoy.