After hitting a wall yesterday with my tolerance for external clutter in my life and interior fog in my brain, I spent some time trying to claim some order. It was my hope that by organizing the visible areas in my home that were being overrun by chaos, I would clear my mind. I was not entirely successful in stopping the mental spin, but I do feel better about finding (and addressing) all the unopened mail on my desk and finally doing the dishes to save myself the need to hit up IKEA for a clean fork.
today's view of my CLEAN kitchen
I’m inching my way toward a huge, life-altering decision within the next month or so. I know I can’t possible have any clarity about which direction to take if I disappear under a pile of junk and disarray.
today's view of my CLEAN desk
In decluttering my home, I’m reminded of how powerfully, and successfully, procrastination and fear incapacity me.
Why is inaction so much easier than action? And why is HAVING good intentions so much more common than ACTING on good intentions?
I can’t seem to shake a pervading and powerful desire to be saved by some fairy godmother or knight in shining armour – saved from my head, my dishes, my clutter, my questions, my fear.
I think I’ll just blame everything on Walt Disney. That’ll fix it. Yep.
Or I could keep cleaning, take some baby steps, complete one action, wake up, and breathe… really, deeply, truly breathe.
What do you do for clarity?
Alana
/ March 12, 2010The deep breathing definitely helps me. Wanna come back and help with our desk again? Perhaps we can help with (or distract from) your big decision. Can’t wait to see you in person!
.-= Alana´s last blog ..Sunshine =-.
emmajames
/ March 17, 2010Alana: Need some very deep breathing of my own!
Dian Reid
/ March 14, 2010journaling works wonders for me. i can see on paper all the meanderings of my mind, and simply pulling them all together to spill out on paper (or e-paper) creates clarity like no other.
another thing i do for clarity…i talk to my coach. it’s not even that she says anything brilliant, but the simple act of speaking what’s inside…articulating the clutter, seems to make sense of it. another person asking me the same question i just asked myself suddenly turns into the brilliant question that created a wealth of clarity. perspective is a beautiful thing.
.-= Dian Reid´s last blog ..Note To Self =-.
emmajames
/ March 17, 2010Dian: I haven’t journaled in a while, but I definitely need to pick it up again. Thanks for the reminder.
molly
/ March 15, 2010Since I’m playing catch up, I didn’t get the chance to wish you luck on the before, but I must say congrats on the after pics! It looks great!
I constantly battle with procrastination. It’s weird too because I LOVE organizing.
Baby steps is truly the key in my opinion. I’ve found setting a 15 min. timer helps when I’m overwhelmed. I’m always amazed at how much I get done in that short period of time.
.-= molly´s last blog ..slacker sunday: revisited. =-.
emmajames
/ March 17, 2010Molly: Thanks so much! I actually love cleaning and organizing, when I get around to it. It’s the getting around to it that is a feat.
Sean
/ March 15, 2010Congrats on the clean up! To clear my head I really like to wander around the city. I think the combo of personal time and a low key physical activity helps the thinking process. It works especially well at night, and super especially well on warm nights.
.-= Sean´s last blog ..Methadone Mary =-.
emmajames
/ March 17, 2010Sean: I, too, love to wander the city, particularly when I can escape into the hills and commune with nature. Somehow, everything falls into place, or at least doesn’t feel as catastrophic. Welcome to PN, btw!
gail
/ March 16, 2010I’m totally on board with blaming walt disney. Trouble is, I’ve been doing it for years, and so far it hasn’t had any beneficial effect in my life . . . I think it’s that terrible comfort trap. Inaction and indecision lead me to a known result — the life I already have — while action leads to something new and unimaginable. Even though the new sounds wonderful in my head, my fear of the unknown battles to win every time.
.-= gail´s last blog ..Another prize! =-.
emmajames
/ March 17, 2010Gail: Yay! And I’m sooooo with you! Love seeing you here, btw! Stick around
Ally
/ March 19, 2010Your desk area looks so nice!
I agree that dismantling external clutter can clear the way for so many other things. I have had issues with letting things pile up and dealing with them far later than I should. I’ve found I go in and out of living in integrity with myself (my actions matching my values), but I’m getting closer to sticking with it.
And I hear you about fear and procrastination taking hold. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking action rather than sitting around and thinking about it.
emmajames
/ March 24, 2010Ally: So true! Yet, I still spend so much time doing the sitting around and thinking part. Working on it, though, definitely working on it. Glad I’m not alone with the challenge!