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What Does Clutter Cost You?
Most people do not start out
having a goal to create clutter, or do they? An office can become piled with clutter
very quickly with so much information available to us now than ever before If what we create is by our beliefs and our intensions, then
what is the driving belief that creates clutter? Is it the belief that
"holding on"
will give us a feeling of security and control? We know this is a misnomer
because when clutter builds up, most people find it difficult to find and do
things efficiently. When clutter occurs it often causes the user to become
stuck. There is another belief shared by many, "Anything worthwhile is
gained through hard
work". Having clutter certainly makes life harder, resulting in tasks
becoming more time consuming, and effective follow-through more difficult;
therefore sabotaging us. Success comes from taking action, not necessarily
actions that are difficult for us. In fact, what comes easy to us is in
alignment with our gifts and as we take action in areas that we do well and
enjoy, life becomes easier and things fall in place.
Clutter complicates our
life. Why would someone want a complicated life? Maybe because if a phone
number is misplaced they can avoid making that dreaded phone call, or start
the project that needed that one important piece of information before
implementing. Clutter can be a self-sabotaging behavior to hamper
success. How about having an excuse to not leave the office, or to
avoid going home at night stating, "I have so much work to do, just look at
my desk, I do not know how I will ever catch up." With that statement, more
clutter and less time is created!
Don't be too hard on yourself. Understand that if you are not doing what
you love, clutter can build up. Clutter tends to indicate an avoidance to
something. People who are clear about their goals and what they want to
achieve in their lives, understand where they are going and what they need
in order to get there. They are able to let go of what no longer serves
them easily. When we are confused about our direction in life, there is a
tendency to hold onto more because we do not know whether it will be needed
in our next job. Once we have clarity about where we want to go, whether it
is to a new home or a new business, or a total career change, then it
becomes clear to us what needs to be released, donated, or thrown out, and
what we want to keep. If you were planning to move to California from the
east coast you might want to donate the winter overcoats and snow boots,
unless you were planning to make several trips back during snow season.
So the first step in clearing clutter is to be clear about where you are
going, and what you plan to accomplish.
Have you ever said to yourself, "If I file it I will never find it"? Or
worst yet, "If I get rid of the information I may need it later."?
Somewhere this person may have seen or felt some regret about decisions they
have made in the past and now no longer trust themselves to make the best
decisions in the future. Or, "I can't trust someone else to clean and file
for me, because I may never find it after they file it." That is a trust
issue. What about "I am just starting my business, and I have so many
expenses, how can I make enough money to pay myself and an assistant to help
me file?" That is a belief about lack and never having enough. Or the
belief that we have to do everything ourselves. Boy, I know that one. The
days of the "super mom" are over! The wise business owner delegates!
Behind the clutter may
be one or a number of driving beliefs. Once you discover what that belief
is, then you can change the belief and your experience will also change.
That is why when people clear the clutter, they are also clearing old
beliefs that no longer serve them.
Have you heard the statement, "Life is an illusion"? Once you believe there
is enough, or you can trust yourself, or you decide you deserve to have life
be fun and easy, then your experiences change as well. In fact, change your
belief and watch your experience change immediately! It is that simple! If
you are thinking the following thoughts and have these beliefs, how do you
think your life would change?
"I have so much time, everything is easy to find, and life unfolds in a
perfect flow of events for me."
"I have an abundance of time and everything gets done quickly with time left
over to play."
"The more I delegate the tasks I do not like, the more money I make doing
the things I enjoy and do well."
"The people, information, and experiences come to me easily and always at
the perfect time for my support.
"I feel good having a clean work space and get more done quickly."
"I trust that I attract the support I need to help me put everything in the
perfect place."
So how do those statements feel to you when you read them? Did you
experience any resistance when you read them? If so that is the belief you
will need to work on. Most successful business owners and managers think
those types of thoughts. They value themselves and their time. If our
words are creative and powerful, then what are you saying about your life,
and the clutter?
For some, clutter
brings attention, or sympathy and can give the illusion you have more work
to do than you really do. When you feel overwhelmed by clutter, do you also
feel that you are important with lots to do, or more deserving of the
success? Often we like to think we have worked hard for what we have
earned,
so clutter helps give us a feeling of greater effort, and actually makes our
life harder. What might you think if things came easy to you. Would you
appreciate the success as much? Is it important to work hard so you can
receive the extra pat on the back for more effort? Clutter can sometimes
give you a false sense that you are creating more than you are.
Throughout history we
have been shown that working hard for something is the noble thing. When
you feel overwhelmed by clutter, do you also feel that you are more
deserving and have worked hard for what you are receiving? What if letting
go of clutter actually makes your life easier? Would you be able to enjoy a
life
that is easy, fun, exciting, and uncomplicated? You might be surprised to
learn that many of us resist the simple way of life, and feel more
successful when things have been hard in coming. Our forefathers had a
desire to create an easier life than previously experienced and because of
their intention, we are now living a much more abundant life filled with
many more blessings. I am choosing to realize that life can be easy, and to
be grateful for all the abundance I have, and clutter does not serve me. I
love how great my offices feels when it is clean. Let's clear the space and
enjoy a life of fun!
In light of the Movie
"The Secret" which is spreading like wildfire throughout the media, recently
featured in Newsweek Magazine, the bottom line is, if you believe anything
is overwhelming then it will be, and if you believe it can be fun and easy
to achieve then that will be your reality.
For those of you who are ready to have a fun and simple life and want an
easy way to clear the clutter, here are 3 simple steps to make it happen
easily for you!
3 Simple Steps to Clearing
Clutter...
1. Start by gathering up all the papers on
your desk. Put them in one pile.
Remove all other papers from your desk, except a stack about 4" high,
putting extra papers in a basket or box for the moment.
2. Next start at the top of the pile and spend only 10-20 seconds on the
first
sheet. Place a post-it on the paper and write the name of the file you
feel you
would best find it later. Write the file name on the post-it and then
put
the paper in a "finished by you" stack. Your work is done,
because the rest
will be up to your assistant to make the files and file them for you!
Simple!
3. If you cannot decide after 20 seconds where to file something,
put the paper
in a "to be decided later file" and go to the next piece of
paper and repeat step 2.
Once you have gone
through the 4" stack of papers, if you have more papers to sort, bring out
another 4" pile from your box and begin labeling each sheet with a post-it
as described in Step 2.
Any papers you cannot make a decision on place in a file for later.
If you have names and phone numbers to be put in your contacts do
not stop sorting, just put them in a contact pile to be entered
later and go to the next sheet of paper.
This is a quick way to make decisions easily and get the filing done! Then
hire someone to come into your office and make files for all your papers
that you have already labeled. This will be easy for them to do and you
will be able to find everything because you gave it a file name. If you
want you can have your assistant make a list on your computer of all the
files created before placing the files in your filing cabinet.
 Make
sure your workspace is adequate. Allow yourself plenty of room. A "U"
shape workspace
is my favorite with files behind easily accessible and providing additional
workspace if needed.
Your workspace needs to be clean, spacious, with good files to gain easy
access. Never sit with your back to the door or with a person facing you
from behind. When you are in a small room, make sure the large pieces of
furniture and files are the same color as the walls or carpet to make the
room appear larger.
Remove most of the knick knacks on your main desk work area to avoid clutter
and distractions. Make sure you are looking at something that pleases you;
a window view outdoors, or a picture of your desires in a collage above your
desk. (My collage of things I want to attract is just above my computer
monitor so it is easy to glance up regularly at pictures of my dreams.) The
subconscious creates by visualizing pictures. I am pleased I paid to have
help with my filing. With a cleaner space, I look forward to being in my
office.
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Pat Sendejas, Author, International Speaker, and Radio Show Host, connects
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Pat Sendejas,
Owner of: Speaker 4 Change
(805) 523-8488
E-mail: Pat@Speaker4Change.com |
