I`m surrounded, drowning in contents of up-ended bureau drawers and I`ve got a craving for leftover Chinese food that screams feed me NOW!

As I disengage and stumble away, I do my best to ignore the sweaters, tank tops, tights, winter and summer clothes spanning decades from vintage to modern as they blur into a pool of colour, texture and size ranges that all fit me beautifully once upon a time.  Yes, I’m actually tripping over piles of stuff, to go feed my face! 

So my question for you today is….Did you step up and actually tackle one tiny space?   OR did you read the lovingly written instructions for de-cluttering  and once again step over, look beyond or promise to get working on this project LATER?

Procrastination is the topic of the day.   Procrastination has been the biggest block in my life beyond not having the massive funds required to quit work and travel seeking adventure and romance in exotic places.  

I don`t know about you, but I always seem to get hungry when I get clutter challenged.  When I get hungry I seem to lose focus and wander away from the project at hand to take a much needed break for just a few minutes.   My few minutes stretch out and before you know it….I need a rest to recharge before I go back to the larger mess I have just created. 

After all this is my free time and why shouldn`t I enjoy it a little?    Yes, the sun is shining on this late November afternoon,  I should be outside enjoying the last of the best Fall weather, after all I do have the whole dark and gloomy winter to take care of this chore.   Right?

Then, when I finally settle down to reclaim a little space in my closet, I find that book I`ve been meaning to read.  As I leaf through it, everything around me begins to dissolve as I leave this reality for a science fiction fantasy full of magic, astral planes that call to me and romantic heroes.  The sun is setting and I’m getting hungry again. 

Well there is always next weekend, no wait I have that Seminar next weekend…Oh well, it has waited this long, I guess it can wait a little longer to make order in my closet. 

 

Procrastination is just another gremlin sitting on your shoulder holding you back from greatness. 

As you tackle one small piece of your Universe, reclaiming it for your own sense of balance and groundedness, remember to be kind to yourself by celebrating your wins, small as they are and going on to tackle other small projects one challenge at a time.   When you Journal about today’s adventure watch for unexpected clarity about the gremlin of procrastination and of course your magnificent win. 

Tomorrow, or maybe later today I might make another blog entry on other kinds of less messy de-cluttering.  Watch for it.   Blog with you later.  

Sue Rumack

Chaos, clutter, treasures…a practiced leap carried her across the sea of clothes, books, notes and take-out containers littering the floor between doorway and bed.

My kids used to seriously do this!   Scary when I think about it now.  Their rooms were unthinkable territory for a Mom who worked 27 hours a day to keep house, home and business together.  I didn’t have time to do more than cook, “sort of” clean the sight lines and bathrooms and make sure they had clean clothes for the next day.  A sight line was the view from the front door.  I didn’t know about open spaces and clear minds back then.  I didn’t know about calming effect of solid life foundation either.

Now,  I know how to create my really comfortable, breathable, safe and balanced spaces.  My adult daughters are sorting it out for themselves.  But here is the secret if you choose to start small, practice often and enjoy your wins….just follow the recipe below.    HINT:   Start small, practice often, enjoy your wins and get brave enough to tackle the clutter monster!!!

So here is the recipe for de-cluttering physical space:

Step #1   Physically feel the space as it is now and imagine HOW you want it to be.  Note the difference.

HOW TO:

1. Stand in your cluttered space, notice how your chest, abdomen, head feel.  WRITE  the physical sensation down as a marker for later.  (fuzzy head, tight chest, butterflies in belly???)

2. Next,  visualize the space de-cluttered…looking good!   Again notice how your chest, abdomen and head feel.   WRITE this down too for comparison later.

        There may be an open sensation  that is actually breathing room in your mind.  Notice other physical sensations of groundedness and balance.  

Step #2   MOTIVATION…. Getting clear on WHY it is important to YOU to de-clutter!

 ASK this all important question  and WRITE your answer in your journal (check Journaling posts Nov 09) :   

What will change when the physical confusion of stuff is gone and I can REALLY   move and breathe is this space?    

Choose the combination of options that work best for you.

             1.       visualization of the perfect space  

             2.       vision boarding with pictures and  motivational sayings

             3.       creating a graph with time lines, tasks, and specific dates

             4.       getting a buddy keep you on task

             5.       hiring a team of professionals to do the work    

Step #3  

A.      Decide how you will dispose of clutter and plan to do it as soon as stuff has been bagged or boxed  

B.      Gather all the tools you need before you begin – do not give yourself a reason to stop once you are doing the work  

C.      Create your action plan using the method that works best for you, visualization, vision boarding, timeline graph with dates and goals, hiring a team of professionals

D.      Use your people resources freely – others like to  feel included in your life

E.       Celebrate your wins frequently  

Be emotionally generous to yourself – every step forward is a win and deserves to be recognized  

NOTE:    Signficant body sensation may feel like lightness in your head, bubbly joy in your belly, openess in your chest.  Take note of what you are feeling, so that you can return to that feeling whenever you need motivation.    

Make it EASY… practice on a really small de-cluttering project first and refine your method and skills on a second small project immediately (within a day or two of successfully completing the first project) . 

Do something that won’t take more than 20 minutes.  Go through all the steps above, just do it quickly to get a feel for it.  When successful, go on to a slightly larger project and when you are ready to tackle THE ONE let me know.

Good luck,  check back tomorrow for the NO GUILT Disposal of Treasures.   If you need me, you know where to find me.   Oh yes, please pass this along to anyone who might enjoy a change.

Enjoy InJoy

Sue Rumack, life essence coach

I AM…Change from Within

416-596-9771 

 

The creeping menace is back… crowding, pushing, taking over and filling me with dread…

That little shredder for 20 bucks is looking really tempting.  Does that announcement, birthday card, or old bill really validate my existence?   These are questions I actually ask myself!

I admit it, I actually have mail from 1971, the year we got married.  For balance,  I also have the divorce certificate…I even have the envelopes!   Should I be sharing this?

Keep  or shred?   How do I discard my life, when I run out of space to keep all the stuff that validates my existence?  Over the years, that delightful clutter has become a weight that fills up way more than just physical space.   I find that the more ordered my home is, the more in control of the rest of my life feels.   Clear spaces, clear mind…it works for me and maybe it will work for you too.   Read on to learn the simple tips from a professional space organizer who knows a thing or two about getting de-cluttered.

Brenda Day, of Your Space Organizer, www.yourspaceorganizer.com  has some great ideas for simplifying the creeping menace…The Mail! 

Organize Your Mail

 When you read your mail follow these steps to ensure less paper build-up:

1. Open all envelopes and throw them out.  Don’t put the mail back into them only to have to open them again later.  
2. Staple any bills to the included reply envelopes.
3. Keep one place for mail that needs to be dealt with  i.e. bills, tickets, magazines to be read, invitations.     As you have time to tend to the pile, you can pay, file,  read, and throw out items.  As you pay bills, immediately file them.
4. Keep a cardboard file box for each year instead of a filing cabinet.   Once each year ends you can either shred or store the box and start a new one that coincides with the new year. 
5. Request a paperless bill by registering with www.epost.ca which is an online service operated by Canada Post that allows users to receive bills electronically in lieu of a paper copy being mailed.
6. Start to pay your bills online instead of having to mail out cheques every month.
7. Sort your mail over your garbage can or recycle bin. Immediately throw out any advertisements that are of little or no interest to you. If you have more advertisements in your daily mail, than actual mail, make a point to call the post office and request that your name is removed from any advertisement mailings.

If you have any favourite ways of organizing your mail and paper mountain, please be sure to leave your comments for all to learn from. 

If CLUTTER is stressing you out, check back tomorrow for more cool tools to de-clutter. 

 

I hid the little gold key in my undies drawer…

Welcome back

Yesterday we talked about how to Freeform Journal, today is about traditional Diary Journals,

And YES, I really did hid the little gold key to my bubble gum pink, pocket size teen girl diary in my undies drawer when I was 12 years old.    Every girl, back then had her diary.  She spoke her secret desires, her fears, her losses and her feelings for the boy who sat 2 rows over and 3 seats up from her in math class.   She liked the back of his neck…and how the hair curled round the tips of his ears….

The Diary Journal, is not that much different from the one I kept as a young teen.   This kind of journaling is more about logging everyday events, emotions that you restrict yourself from recognizing during the day, your hopes – future dreams, your regrets – the old stuff and musings about the “what if’s?”. 

Why even bother keeping a Diary style journal?  Well, I’ve found that sometimes it’s easier to slip into awareness, when I’m just talking about general stuff almost like gossiping with a girlfriend.  You know,  you start on a train of thought and then have an OMG moment when a new pathway to some blocked issue become crystal clear.   Some people call it an Ahaaa moment.   I can’t say it enough, writing stuff down brings you to those moments that open new doorways and they are so quick that they pop in and out and the thought is lost if it is just in your head.    So, write it down.   

Today, is about How to write a Diary Journal

The DAILY Journal

1. Write a daily log of the events in your life
   1. Choose to write about an event that happened today 
   2. Pinpoint the challenge, your action plan and the result
   3. Observe your strengths and challenges
   4. Observe what you might have done differently
   5. Search for what you learned about yourself, others or life in general from this event
   6. Ask how you can take this knowledge forward to improve your future life
   7. Be kind and non-judgmental to yourself,
   8. Discover compassion for others

The value of a Daily Diary is in learning to watch the ebb and flow of life around you and your reactions to it.  In the process you train yourself to become more than an all-consumed participant, you learn how to become an observer for the purpose of self knowledge and self growth.   

What to do with new awareness! 

1. observe with curiosity
2. ask yourself how it may impact daily life
3. release it
4. look for what you have learned in everyday events for the next week

Over time, you may see a pattern of thought, build a new compassion for yourself and others, become more gentle in how you forgive.  This a long and empowering process.  As they say, every journey begins with a single step. 

Your journal awaits.    Check back tomorrow for  How to Write a Memories Journal. 

Enjoy InJoy

Sue Rumack,  the life essence coach

Living in the Moment is tough when old memories mess with your head right now!

Journaling reframes memories into empowerment.

To me, journaling is a purely personal expression of my inner journey.  Some  might say it is living in the past, but I have found it to be so freeing.  I believe journaling actually documents my process of living in the moment!

Is a journal where you  tell the story of the moment?    The story might be about a past event BUT that old story is messing with your head right now.  So we could think of Journaling as a way of creating a storage bin for old memories.  Funny thing is, you get to watch your own progression in transforming from being in a stuck place to creating fresh wide open space to breathe.  Try it for awhile and see for yourself if you get unstuck.  

3 Different Journaling Styles

1. 1.   Freeform Journal
2. 2.   Daily Journal
3. 3.   Memories Journal

 Whichever form of journaling you choose is exceptionally valuable…you figure yourself out holistically as you go along.  Be spontaneous, throw away the rules and mix it up.  Personally, I have done them all, loved them all and truly grown from playing with journalling.  I’ve been known to fill tiny pocket journals, e-files, the back pages of books I’m reading, fancy decorated diaries and even scrapbooks.   The journal is your creative space and there is only one rule.

 RULE #1     BE AN OBSERVER OF YOUR TEMPORARY REALITY, BE KIND AND NON-JUDGEMENTAL IN SIMPLY NOTICING THE EVENTS.  

Today’s  Lesson 

The FREEFORM Journal

1. Write your thoughts  as a stream of consciousness
   1. Plan to write without stopping for 10 minutes every day
   2. Write freeform whatever comes into your mind
   3. Release the need for correct grammar, punctuation, or even logic
   4. do not edit

The value of Freeform Journaling is that a random thought will lead you deeper into other subconscious issues that may lead you to awareness of a hidden emotional blockage.  Voila,  less stuck….

 What to do with new awareness! 

1. observe with curiosity
2. ask yourself how it may impact daily life
3. release it
4. look for what you have learned in everyday events for the next week

Over time, you may see a pattern of thought, build a new compassion for yourself and others, become more gentle in how you forgive.  This a long and empowering process.  As they say, every journey begins with a single step. 

Your journal awaits.    Check back tomorrow for  How to Write a Diary Journal. 

Enjoy InJoy

Sue Rumack,  the life essence coach

TWITTER, BLOG..DIARY..JOURNAL.. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE AND DO I REALLY CARE?

1983 DEAR DIARY, MAY 5     TODAY MARY ELLEN DID THE UNTHINKABLE, HATE HER & BARB, MY LIFE IS RUINED! THE END!!!

2009 JOURNAL MAY 5      TODAY MY WORLD MAY HAVE CHANGED FOREVER, I THINK MY BEST FRIEND HAS BETRAYED MY TRUST WITH MY HUSBAND….

2009 TWITTER, FACEBOOK & BLOG MAY 5       LIFE SUCKS BIG TIME…. ANYBODY OUT THERE CARE?

15 YEARS AGO, I LEARNED THAT SLEEPLESSNESS AND CHEWING OVER EVERY GRITTY DETAIL ABOUT MY DIVORCE AT 4 AM COULD BE CLEANSING WHEN I STARTED WRITING DOWN MY THOUGHTS.   NO GREAT NOVEL, NOTHING TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD, JUST A PLACE TO DEPOSIT MY PAIN, FEAR AND NEWLY EMERGING SELF AWARENESS.   A SIGH OF RELIEF AND THEN SLEEP.   JOURNALING BECAME A HABIT BEFORE BED THOUGH SOMETIMES I WOKE IN THE NIGHT, WROTE AND WENT BACK TO SLEEP.

LOOKING BACK ON THOSE JOURNALS I SEE A PROGRESSION OF SELF AWARENESS, COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS.   JOURNALING WAS MY PORTAL TO SELF AWARENESS AND FREEDOM FROM THE PAST.   THIS WAS MY REASON TO JOURNAL.

WHY JOURNAL?   I WRITE ABOUT MY VISIBILITY, CLARITY AND VALIDATION. CAVEMEN HAD ROCK PAINTINGS, EGYPTIAN PHARAOHS HAD TOMB WALLS, THE VICTORIANS HAD THE DUBIOUS PRIVACY OF LIFETIME DIARIES.    WE HUMANS SEEM TO BE COMPELLED TO TELL OUR STORIES, ONLY NOW WE BROADCAST VIA BLOG, TWITTER, AND FACEBOOK WHAT WE HAVE FOR BREAKFAST AND KEEP ADDING TO IT EVERY HOUR OR SO.   WE HAVE REDISCOVERED THE POWER OF TRACKING HOW WE FEEL ABOUT OUR JOURNEY.   VISIBILITY WITH A FACE AND A VOICE IN A WORLD OF BILLIONS!

SO WHO AM I TO SPEAK ABOUT LIFE SPINNING IN AND OUT OF CRISIS, FEELING POWERLESS AT BEING DRAGGED ALONG LIKE DEBRIS IN THE SURF?   I AM EVERY PERSON, JUST LIKE YOU, SO MY STORY, MY LEARNING HAS VALUE.    THIS BLOG IS MY PUBLIC JOURNAL, A LEARNING CIRCLE.

EVER ASK WHY? EVER PICK OVER YOUR ANSWERS AND DECIDE THERE IS SOMETHING OF VALUE THERE?   THE AHHHA MOMENT OF CLARITY, PURITY, KNOWING, GRATITUDE, APPRECIATION, COMPASSION, FORGIVENESS, POSSIBLY JOY IN THE MIDDLE OF WHATEVER HAS JUST SHAKEN YOUR WORLD!

KEEPING TRACK OF “IN THE MOMENT” EXPERIENCES, FEELINGS AND CHALLENGES IS YOUR JUMPING OFF POINT FOR LIVING IN THE MOMENT, WITHOUT JUDGMENT.   OVER TIME YOU LEARN TO OBSERVE AND CLARIFY WITHOUT JUDGING.   I KNOW THAT SOUNDS WEIRD, BUT GETTING THE STORY WRITTEN DOWN SOMEWHERE, SOMEHOW OPENS AN AWARENESS PORTAL TO SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR LIFE.   YOU GOTTA TRY IT TO BELIEVE IT, BUT IT IS A LONG TERM EXPERIMENT, A TEST OF PERSEVERANCE.

WHY JOURNAL?  HOW TO JOURNAL FOR YOUR BEST LEARNING?  IS THERE A SHORT CUT TO JOURNALING?

WHY JOURNAL…5 REASONS TO JOURNAL
1.    IT IS A PRIVATE PLACE TO UNLOAD YOUR FRUSTRATION, DESIRES, DREAMS, WINS AND CHALLENGES.
2.   IT`S A PRIVATE PLACE TO DREAM OF POSSIBILITY AND TO PLAN FOR SUCCESS.
3.   IT IS A NON-JUDGEMENTAL PLACE TO HONE YOUR SKILLS OF OBSERVATIONS OF LIFE
4.    THE JOURNAL IS A SLOW PORTAL TO SELF AWARENESS!

COME BACK TOMORROW TO LEARN HOW TO JOURNAL FOR YOUR OWN GREATEST LEARNING!

Change is the Real Deal

Change is wild energy in the Universe!   “Dog’s breakfast or golden egg”, sometimes we aren’t in control of what we get!   Gigantic opportunity hides in a “dog’s breakfast” life change.   Sometimes, utter defeat is hiding inside the golden egg!   It’s all in HOW we choose to accept the experience.   Who knew…YOU did!  So did I!

I know this sounds like you are about to get hit with a dose of  sweet positivity hiding behind the message in this post but I challenge you to go a little deeper.    

Ever been laid off from a job and wondered why a team of psychologists had boxes of tissue piled up waiting to process each newly jobless person?   ANSWER:  We spin out energetically when sudden change challenges our balanced life.   We also spin out, when Lotto pays out millions to our almost empty bank account.  Who knew?

My challenge to you is to visit the bedrock of your life foundation…check out:

1. which strengths support you in good and bad times
2. which values you base your decisions on
3. how solidly embedded you are to withstand change
4. Commit to write down what you notice in a journal you start today
5. Notice patterns and question them!

If you can’t seriously explain to yourself,  your top 3 strengths and how you use them every day, or if you haven’t a clue about your deepest values and when you call them to make important decisions, then I invite you back to this page to learn how. 

These posts will speak to everyday strengths and values to help you get solid in your life so “dog’s breakfast” changes will  move you to successful opportunities AND you may learn how you get to keep the millions Lotto just sent your way. 

Your comments are the life’s blood of this blog.  Please join the dialogue!

Enjoy InJoy

Sue Rumack,   the life essence coach