| Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens. If you have them, you have to take care of them! There is great freedom in simplicity of living. It is those who have enough, but not too much, who are the happiest. -Peace Pilgrim 1908-1981 (An American teacher and spiritual leader) LOSING THE EXCESS While standing in the supermarket checkout line, take a few minutes and peruse the supply of magazines. You will invariably see several articles on how to lose weight fast and easy. These same magazines are filled with articles on how to get organized. Lets combine these two concepts weight loss and organization and explore the elimination of excess. In other words, instead of losing pounds, think of disposing of all that stuff you have hidden in crowded closets and drawers, clearing off the shelves piled high with unread books and magazines, and sorting through the papers on the desk, in the file cabinets and on the counters. And, if that is not enough, think about all those metal sheds in almost every communitythe self-storage facilities. Why would anyone want to own so much stuff and continually pay monthly storage fees just to hide it all away? Before you can even begin to lose weight, you must understand why you put on the weight. In order to simplify and organize you must also understand the underlying cause of your accumulation. Is it simply the fact that it is available, so therefore you buy? Are you the recipient of hand-me-downs from friends and relatives? Did Madison Avenue advertising create a powerful want? The buffet table is laden with choices. The supermarket shelves display every fruit and vegetable the world can produce. Electronic stores exhibit a technological show far beyond our wildest imagination. Fashion gurus dictate what colors and styles we should wear every season. So many choices bombard our senses, and we just have to have it all. Consequently, our immediate surroundings are crowded by the choices we make every day. Identify where your excess comes from and then decide if these possessions are nurturing you or creating stress. DIETING Now that you have looked around your home or office, face the fact that you are looking at environmental obesity. Experts tell us that the top New Years resolutions are to lose weight and to get organized. Are these your resolutions, too? Let me caution you about environmental dieting dangers. When you go on a cleaning frenzy, you grab some garbage bags and start tossing. You feverishly work to create some breathing space. However, at some point, you become overwhelmed and end up with a worse mess than when you started. Are you really dieting (purging and organizing) or just rearranging? Do you remember the story of the race between the rabbit and the turtle? The rabbit starts at top speed, cruising right along. Eventually he looks back and realizes he is way ahead and winning is a snap. Running at this pace is tiring and he thinks that a nap is just what he needs. While the rabbit is snoozing away, the turtles slow steady steps carry him to the finish line. Are you the rabbit or the turtle? Did you allot a Saturday morning to finally organize the front hall closet and in the process got sidetracked with the laundry, had to straighten the back door area for the leftover hats and mittens, and then had to clean out a spot in the garage for the sports equipment? Did you lose focus on the front hall closet? Does cleaning really mean getting organized? No way! Cleaning is a process to maintain the condition of an item or area. Organization is being able to find what you want when you want it. Let your mantra be, Enough, but not too much. There are dangers in dieting and running full speed ahead without an action plan. Breakdown large projects into bite-size pieces, set a timer for 15-30 minutes, stay focused on the project, and win the race one small step at a time. CHALLENGE There is no sense in organizing everything you own, especially if what you own is hidden in the back of the closet, in junk drawers, in the attic, basement or garage, and in self-storage facilities. Take time to purge and then organize those items that are truly important to you. Get in the habit of questioning why you own something. Do you use it? Does it add value to your life? Is it a treasure that brings beauty into your home? Remember, hoarding means no one is using it not you or anyone else! Map out an action plan, take it one step at a time, and you will weigh less, have more breathing space, and your overall well-being will be enhanced. These are the simple steps to abundant living. In the Journey of Success and Abundant Living article - (http://ezinearticles.com/?id=94719), I introduced you to the concept of like attracts like. You can also say, Junk attracts junk. Be careful that abundance does not lead to overabundance. Strive for enough, not too much. Of course, like any worthwhile endeavor in life, you may experience some set backs along the way. This is normal. When you find yourself waylaid, just start again! Set that timer for another 15-30 minutes and tackle a small portion of the larger project. You will achieve your goal eventually. Remember, one small step at a time. SUMMARY Purge first, and then organize. Start with one small area, determine the purpose of that space and have a plan for the excess. Continue the process at the next closet, drawer, or overflowing area. The results will be less to clean and maintain, less to insure, less to worry about, and less to hunt through when you are looking for something. Enjoy your treasured possessions, dont hide them. |
