The ART of Letting Go ~ Inspiration
Inspiration ā the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions!
As defined by the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, getting inspired means to get the intellect or emotionĀ moving! We often hear people say, āIām lazy so I donātā¦ clean out my purse, clean out the garage, clean off the kitchen counter, organize the linen closetā¦ā We want to reframe this. We believe itās because these things just arenāt inspiring in and of themselves. However, once they are done, the space and fresh flowing energy gets our brains, hearts and bodies fired up! This opens us up to spend time and energy where we really want to. Now thatās inspiring!
Encouragement comes in many forms:
- creating a vision of what you most want
- reframing negative thoughts to positive ones
- the support of a trusted loved one
- a picture in a magazine
- hearing stories of others accomplishments
- sitting with how it willĀ feel when you reach a desired outcome
Find what really lights up your entire being!Ā Here are 3 ideas to get you going:
1 ā Look for affirmation of the feeling you want on the other side of clearing the clutter. One great resource is Clutterers Anonymous and here are a couple from their site.Ā As I declutter my life, I open up space to receive the support and comfort that I need ā or āĀ As I let go of what is insignificant to me, I am better able to enjoy those things that are important to me.
2 ā Find stories of people that have released clutter that you resonate with. One of our favorite story tellers is family man Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist. Not only does he share about his familyās journey on his website, but he regularly shares guest posts in his newsletter.
3 ā Print a picture or create a Pinterest board that inspires you let go of the stuff that is not adding value to your life or your space. We are always inspired by visual.
The ART of Letting Go is Marlaās ebook about taking that inspiration and then following the steps within The Clear & SIMPLE Systems to clear the clutter. Download this sweet and simple, yet powerful little book today as our free gift for yourself and others. Please feel free to share with your loved ones.
Simply Share
Share your hope, your insights, your fear, your gratitude, and your love Share what is in your heart as well as whatās in your head. Kate Fehr From Kateā¦ As someone who thrives on being outdoors and socially connected face-to-face, the quarantining and social...
Organizing Tips for a Smooth Move!
Moving can be one of the most stressful things we go through. Whether you are a single person, a family or a business, it can be overwhelming and chaotic. As a professional organizer for 19 years, Marla has seen the pain her clients go through.Ā She also sees how often the boxes are still unpacked months or even years later!
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TIP 1 ā Clear the clutter FIRST! Start a couple months before the move. Schedule a couple hours at a time, or a whole weekend, to go through and clear the layer of stuff you know you no longer need or want. You donāt have to do it all but everything you release saves you money. Get help from a friend, family or a professional organizer. Get help from our eBook The ART of Letting Go. You can download it on www.clearsimple.com/art.
TIP 2 ā Create a simple plan for each area of the old home and the new.Ā Go to google to find wonderful checklists!
TIP 3 ā Get the right TOOLS:
- Use the real moving boxes.Ā They are extremely affordable. They make the move easier because you have the sizes you need, they can stack easily, they have handles where you need them, you can reuse or recycle them when done.
- Get moving labels that make it easier to identify what it is the box. I love the ones that are a different color for each area. You can go to Amazon to see a variety of options,
- Get the packing tape and tape guns to get the job done quickly.
TIP 4 ā Hire professionals to pack and to move you. It will save you stress and money in the end.Ā However, be picky and interview different companies until you find a great fit for you. Often times professional organizers are less by the hour than moving companies and they do a much more organized job.Ā They can also help you put your home together on the other end.
Text your email address to 801-463-9090 and type āmoveā or email info@clearsimple.com to get a free digital version of our Organize Your Move Book. I want you to get organized and have fun doing it.
Make this next move the one you celebrate because it is smooth and has much less stress. The Clear & Simple Team.
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Clutter Clear Your Travel
Time to clear your travel bags! He who would travel happily must travel light. Antoine de Saint-Exupery Many of us Ā long to travel. We want the adventure, the freedom and the escape from our everyday lives. Travel can spark new ideas and connect us with different...The ART of Letting Go ~ Acceptance
All change begins with ACCEPTANCEā¦
The first step in letting go is accepting the story your clutter tells. All clutter tells a story and everyone has clutter in some area of his or her life. Accept that your environment is simply a reflection of your life up until now, a reflection of whatās happened to you and whatās going on inside you. Thereās no shame or blame in looking at this picture; that would only keep you in the role of a victim. In order to step into the power of change and growth, you must be willing to open your eyes and see it. There is no healthy payoff in focusing on the clutter itself, on staying locked up in guiltānot for you or for others. However, great power is arises when you accept that you are the creator of your life and of your environment. Your old things, your old patterns, your old relationships reflect who you have been and what you have built or what you have avoidedāit is YOUR PAST!
By accepting the full story in front of you, you can step into present time. There is a famous line in the Alcoholics Anonymous book that says āAcceptance is the answer to all my problems today.āĀ I believe this is true. Acceptance is the beginning of any change. Acceptance brings peace. Acceptance opens the door for support to come in.
Here are some simple exercises to support you in coming to a place of acceptance:
Answer the following questions:
ā What am I having a hard time accepting?
ā Why am I having a hard time accepting where I am today?
ā What am I telling myself about why I am stuck?
ā What is the story I want to get out before I can move on?
ā Am I willing to accept what is in front of me?
Acknowledge your feelings:
ā I accept that I am scared.
ā I accept that I feel hopeless.
ā I accept that I have created this situation.
ā What would acceptance feel like?
Then answer:
ā Where can I begin my acceptance?
ā If I accept what is in front of me, how will I be set free?
ā By accepting my situation, what can I let go of that is dragging me down or holding me back?
ā What would acceptance look like?
Another method for getting out and accepting your old story is to tell it out loud. The key is to find a person you trust who is willing to listen with heart and attention. I have found many people hold on to their stuff because they feel they need it in order to share their life story with another human being.
This is an excerpt from Marlaās book The ART of Letting Go, which you can download now as a gift from her.
Organize Your Road Trip
Collect your maps. Relive the adventures. Ā We get to experience more of the journey when we feel prepared. Ā – Marla Dee We want you to start with some clutter clearing of the small stuff. It’s surprising how the little things can drive us crazy on the...Organize Your Digital Files
Digital Files pile up just like paper. Take some beginning steps to calmly and comfortably manage them. āA computerĀ once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kickboxing.ā Ā ā Emo Philips Anybody else ever feel like drop kicking their devices off a cliff?!...Simplifying PROJECTS
One PROJECT at a timeā¦
Constantly telling yourself āI have to get through with this clutter and get organizedā is stressful.Ā Here are TWO SIMPLE TIPS that could empower you to get the projects done!
ONE ā Choose only one project per season
ā For each season, choose one clutter clearing or organizing project and just do that one.Ā There is a different energy for each of the seasons and aligning with that helps tremendously. When you are finished,Ā your only job is to enjoy the rest of the seasonĀ by creating something new, spending time with loved ones, taking a class or justĀ taking inĀ the extra space to breathe.
Here are some examples:
Mind Mapping for SIMPLE Planning!
Your Right & Left Brain can now work together!
āWhen sitting down to create a mind map all you need are two things; an idea and a brain. You put your idea in the centre and let your brain do the rest.ā Andrea Leyden
Mind Mapping is our favorite tool for the MAP IT.Ā Ā©Ā Step. Remember MAP IT.Ā Ā© stands for Make-a-plan. But often this is confusing and overwhelming. Mind mapping to the rescue!! āWhenever I get STUCK in my day or any project, I whip out paper and do a mind map. It has become an essential tool. I also go to this tool first when planning any new project orĀ for my week and day.ā Marla Dee
WHY ā No matter what the project or the size, mind mapping makes it simple. And whether you are a left brain list maker or a right brain artist, mind mapping will work for you.Ā You can use mind mapping for planning out:
- Your year, month, week or day
- Any size project, large or small
- A paper, report or any writing project
- A creative project such as a website
- Creating to do or task lists
- An upcoming trip or event
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HOW ā Here are some simple tips and resources for learning how so you can use this tool all the time.
- The ideal size paper is 11Ć17 but 8Ć11 works just fine ā grab printer paper.
- You can use pictures, words or a combination of both.
- Draw or write your main image or project at the center of the page.
- Then ask what parts come to mind that are part of this project and draw them around your central theme.
- One by one as the thoughts come to you, expand on each element.
- Keep going until you have dumped out everything in your brain related to your theme.
- If there is one part that turned into a loaded area, you can do a separate mind map just on that.
- You can also do this joyfully and easily on the COMPUTER. There are all kinds of digital mind mapping software; both FREE and PAID. These are just examples. A quick internet search will bring up a lengthy list of options.
Make-a-Mind-MapĀ click here for detailed step-by-step instructions that make it simple! You will also see some great TIPS.
Have fun with this. Make it a ritual that is supportive and rewarding to you.Ā Please share your stories with us!
Marla, Kate & Team
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