Clear Your Cluttered Mind and Make Space for What Matters Most
“The way a person does one thing is the way they do everything.” ~ Maria Connolly’s motto
Do you often forget things? Do you feel like you’re going nowhere fast? Is your to-do list getting longer and your stress level rising? Does it seem like you spend all your time taking care of your things, rather than them serving you? Are your relationships strained because you have too much to do or you ‘just can’t handle one more thing’? All of these may indicate that you have a cluttered mind. Because when your mind is at peace and rest, these life stressors won’t get to you so easily.
I’ve always liked an orderly and uncluttered physical space. I remember my mom was adamant about cleaning and putting things away, as I was growing up. I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about, as a kid. But now that I’m an adult, I appreciate how my surroundings affect my mood and well-being. If I keep it clean and orderly, I feel so much better and I get more accomplished.
Living an uncluttered life may not come naturally to you. It’s not unusual for Americans to collect house and office clutter. We also tend to hold onto mind-cluttering beliefs and thoughts that get in the way of living fully and joyfully. Parting with clutter is painful for many people, because of the emotions and sentiment attached to it. Physical and mental clutter becomes comfortable, because it’s familiar.
It’s easy to accumulate things that don’t serve us now — physically and emotionally — although they might have done so in the past. Why not join me in a little End-of-Year Cleaning and clear out the clutter that’s holding you back, whether the clutter is in the office or in the mind!
If you want to make considerable progress, your present mindset will require an adjustment. As Albert Einstein is credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.” Expect to do things differently, as you clear that mental clutter first. Here are a few ideas to get you started…
- Mindfully assess whether a thing, belief, or habit is helping you. Grab a cup of tea and a journal, go to a quiet place, and reflect on how you want your life to be and what it will take to get you there. Specifically think about why you’ve been holding on to mental clutter and how it benefits you to clear it out.
- Forgive yourself. The first step to letting go is acknowledging that you did the best you could in the past, and that’s good enough. Yes, you may have paid money for an object — now let someone else enjoy it. Yes, that fear in the past kept you safe — now you can let it go because you’ve gained mindful wisdom that serves you more powerfully.
- Forgive others. Did someone give you an object and you feel guilty with discarding it? Hold on to the love that motivated the gift (take a picture and write about it in your journal) and let the object go. Did someone hurt you? Clear the turmoil in your mind, by letting go of the resentment and pain.
- Ask for forgiveness if you’ve wronged someone. If you can remember the wrong, it’s time to set it right and move on.
- Clarify your focus. Make a total commitment to the things that really matter. Say “No” to everything else. Focus on creating extraordinary outcomes for others, and that will motivate you to remove clutter.
- Take responsibility. Own it that only you can put things on your to-do list or take them off. If you’ve promised to do something and can’t do it, have an open conversation with the person and renegotiate. If you can do it, get firm with yourself and do it! When others are counting on you, take it seriously and do your best.
- Trust others. Micromanaging adds to mental clutter unnecessarily. When you assign a task to someone, dignify them by letting them do it!
Before we can lead others, we must first lead ourselves. Clearing out mental clutter gives your brain the space and energy it needs to do its best work. It frees you from living a so-so life to living an excellent life.
Would you like to take clearing your cluttered mind to a higher level? Please contact me and schedule an “Unlocking Your Potential” 30-minute complimentary consultation (in-person, by phone or via Skype). Let’s talk about the self-leadership skills that will enhance YOUR happiness, peace and fulfillment.