Featured article by Caleb George
In my desire to guide and support others in living clear, calm and focused, I have recently been investing more time in clearing out physical clutter, and helping others take the first steps to clear their personal space. My husband and I had a weekend unexpectedly open up, and took advantage of that time. The crawl space of our home, had collected items over the years that made opening the door to the space difficult, leaving each of us feeling drained and frustrated that our home was unnecessarily congested. It was as if, our home had a “cold” — stagnant energy continued to rise from the basement because we left this space unattended.
I am happy to share, that after that weekend, the crawl space to our home is now organized and clear. It is like an open tree lined path that helps the mind and spirit feel calm, clear and focused!
The impact on daily living is measurable: each time I walk down to get something, or do the “laundry”, my space is so open, I can actually feel my shoulders relax and my mind calm down. It is a joy to do the “laundry ” task – because I am no longer stepping over items, or moving them out of the way while carrying clothes!
If you find yourself tense from brooding on problems, distract yourself. Try this… Set a timer for 30 minutes and do one of these:
– Clear out a closet or drawer
– Sort out a shelf of books
– Weed your garden
– Clean your car
– Sort your mail – bag all the recycling and remove it from your home
Bring your full attention to each action and allow your body to let go. Notice how you feel when the timer goes off. Do you feel a bit lighter? Accomplished? Successful?
[Tweet “Immediate gratification is an amazing tool to rejuvenate the spirit and juice up your creative energy. “]I find this strategy extremely effective in feeling centered and calm, especially as I am in control of the outcome. It can help you relax as you shift your energy and experience a sense of achievement, if simply for a few moments. Immediate gratification is an amazing tool to rejuvenate the spirit and juice up your creative energy. This simple strategy reduces your stress level and enhances sleep too!
If the task seems too big, check out these resources:
www.cluttercrashers.com
10 Ways to Fight Clutter
http://www.aarp.org/home-family/your-home/info-2014/declutter-tips-for-home.html
Smart Ways to Clear Clutter From Your Life:
http://bit.ly/1ACKewp
What about you? Is there clutter in your home? Are you feeling stagnant? If your project is too big for you, or you simply would rather have help, ask for it!
Identity Magazine is all about empowering women to get all A’s in the game of life — Accept. Appreciate. Achieve.TM Every contributor and expert answer the Identity 5 questions in keeping with our theme. As a team, we hope to inspire and motivate ourselves and inspire you to get all A’s.
What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally? What are you still working on accepting?
I have accepted that I am a very busy and diverse woman, and I would not be happy without a variety of interesting responsibilities. Many people ask me how I accomplish what I do, and I no longer feel the need to explain it. I truly accept, that I will be involved in many different arenas, and that simply sitting is not who I am. Even though at times, I wish I could be different.
What have you learn to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally? What are you still working on to appreciate?
I appreciate that my husband and I, after 30 years of marriage, continue to be open and able to have the hard conversations, even when I would rather crawl into my book and read. I am fascinated with our relationship, that after so many upheavals, long term stress, and joyful experiences, we continue to challenge each other in loving, and not so loving ways.
What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? What makes YOU most proud? What goals and dreams do you still have?
Celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary this past July! There is so much to say, about long term relationships, and the twists and turns that arrive during the journey……….. my goals are to bring sunshine and light into the next decade of our marriage!
We all have imperfections, so we think. The truth–we are all perfectly imperfect. What are your not-so-perfect ways? What imperfections and quirks create who you are–your Identity?
I have accepted that I can be very opinionated, which at times results in feeling awful that I have created an argument, when I was simply trying to express my thoughts. Mentally, I feel drained when this occurs, and physically, I want to disappear. I accept, that I continue to work at this difficult element of who I am, knowing my intention is always from a loving space.
How often do you take the time out during the day to verbalize what you love about yourself? Do you experience more negative self talk than positive self-talk?
I catch myself in my negative self-talk, look in the mirror and smile. Then I find something to be grateful for in the that moment, and reframe the words. This is certainly one of the most challenging habits to change!
“I Love My…” is an outlet for you to express and appreciate all the positive traits that make you…well… YOU! Sharing what you love about yourself will make you smile, feel empowered, and uplift your spirit and soul. (we assure you!)
Identity challenges you to complete the phrase “I Love My…?”
I love my tattoo — my tree of life, representing my focus and perspective in choosing to live each day. It has taken me many years to take this “plunge”. This past June, My closest friend passed. Not only do I think about her each day, I feel her in my body. When I look at my beautiful Tree of Life, I remember that I am here, living and she is part of my emotional strength.
