Make room for new resolutions
We often start a new year with a whole list of goals, resolutions and intentions. It is a great way of clarifying what would make us happier and healthier in our lives and work. What stops us from accomplishing these new things, however, is often that our minds, desks and homes are still cluttered with the remains of last year: piles of paper, unfinished projects, stuffed closets, messy finances and dust balls are everywhere. All this clutter leaves no room for new thoughts and projects, so we often we sabotage our own progress.
 What's the solution? Clean out!
I had a good experience with this a few years ago. Work had significantly slowed down at the end of the year and there weren't a lot of new client prospects popping up in early January. So instead of panicking and madly dialing around for work, I took some time off to do whatever I enjoyed doing. I read good books, and began taking yoga and pilates classes. I started working with a personal trainer, and felt my body grow lean and strong. I walked down to get a fresh latte at Peet's coffee every morning and slowly drank it while I read the paper at a local bakery. I cooked at home, and spent time cleaning out and organizing my house. I felt alive, energetic and creative. It set a positive pattern for the whole year, and I ended up losing 20 pounds without even really trying! When I was ready to work again, I was totally charged up to go, and it didn't take more than a couple of days to get a new project started.
I realize that not everyone has the luxury to take time off, but even small clean out projects will have immediate energizing effects on your life.
Why is cleaning out so important?
Wise people such as Fung Shui experts, Moms and Grandmas say that our outer environment is a reflection of our inner world. When your desk, kitchen, bedroom or finances are messy and cluttered, there is a good chance that you feel the same way in your mind. By cleaning your outside world, you let a fresh breeze into your mind and will find it takes a lot less effort to get things done.
What kinds of things are good to clean out?
Your home
Piles and boxes of things everywhere clutter your mind as much as they do your home. Our homes are living, breathing creatures that nurture and protect us when we nurture and protect them. Lovingly groom your house as you would yourself in a nice hot bath - enjoy the process and don't forget to wash behind the ears. Your home will really appreciate it, and you will be amazed at how good it feels to be in a clean and loved environment. If the thought of hauling a mop and dust cloth around makes you cringe, hire someone else to do it! The important thing is to get it done.
Your closet
My friend Elizabeth Kosich has a wonderful way of dealing with clothes. Whenever she gets something new, she always gets rid of something old. This way she only has clothes that feel good and that she looks great in. Her closet is never stuffed and overflowing. And she doesn't waste - she sells good quality clothes to a consignment shop, or donates to a worthy cause. For those of us mere mortals who are not as organized as Elizabeth, you can do seasonal or annual cleaning. A good way to do this is to take all of the clothes out of your closet and put them in a big pile. Then take each item and sort it into keep, toss, sell or donate piles. Only put back items in your closet that make you feel great when you wear them.
"Keep toss sell donate" is a great sorting technique for just about anything - we recently used it to clean out our garage, and it works for offices, books, toys and a host of other things. I learned the technique from my favorite organizing show Clean Sweep.
Your body
Have you been loading up with fast food? Stuffing yourself with huge piles of chocolate at the office and holiday parties? Are you full of stress and aches and pains? In whatever way that feels good, do something to clean out your body. Fast with water or juices for a day or two. Get a massage. Go for a hike or a long run. Cook meals at home and avoid restaurant meals for awhile. Take a steam bath or attend a sweat lodge.
Your wallet
Suze Orman, the financial diva who wrote 9 Steps to Financial Freedom shared a small tidbit in her book that made a huge difference for me: if you respect and organize the money in your wallet, you actually attract more money. She suggests first organizing cash in order of denomination (largest to smallest, all facing the same direction) I call this practice the "Feng Shui" of money. The first year I started this, my income doubled! I shared this little tip with my friend Beverly who I was working with last year. She just informed me that since she started doing it, her income multiplied six-fold! Coincidence? I think not!
When you respect and organize your money, the money floating out there in the universe is attracted to you. Just think- if you were a hundred dollar bill, where would you rather go? In a wallet stuffed with old movie ticket stubs, scraps of paper and crumpled bills all facing different directions, or in a neat and clean wallet? You decide.
Your mind
What thoughts are you keeping in your mind that are holding you back and creating anxiety? Often we let "tapes" of unhelpful thoughts influence our behavior. Things such as:
- I will never get organized
- I will never lose weight
- I will never find a loving relationship
- I am not worthy
- Whatever is new will be scary and cause anxiety
There are many ways to work these thoughts out of your brain, depending on your beliefs and approach to personal growth. Therapy, prayer, affirmations, or surrounding yourself with positive people who believe in you are all ways to make this happen. I personally like the ritual of writing down these thoughts on a piece of paper, and, when you are good and ready to let them go, burn them in your own private ceremony.
If you can't do it yourself - hire a professional organizer!
Many of you may be overwhelmed by the prospect of taking on these cleaning out tasks by yourself. Fear not! There is an entire industry of professional organizers. Like hiring any outside resource, go through a good screening process. A short search on Google led me to the National Association of Professional Organizers website: http://www.napo.net/.
If you find any other good resources, let me know! pcs@ganas.com
Make room for new resolutions
By doing any or all of these cleaning out activities, I hope you find yourself energized to take on your goals, resolutions and intentions for the new year. Good luck and enjoy the process!
Grow Get a Life in 05 - Refer a Friend!
Welcome all newcomers to Get a Life! If you know someone who needs to get a life, send them this link to sign up.
http://ganas.com/referral
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All the best,
-Pam
Pamela Stewart
Ganas Consulting
1155 S. Power Road, Suite 114
PMB 110
Mesa, AZ 85206
480-663-3252
pcs@ganas.com
© 2004 Pamela Stewart, All rights reserved. You are free to use material from the Get a Life eZine in whole or in part, as long as you include complete attribution. Please also notify me.
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