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Are You Accountable For Your Clutter?

Are You Accountable For Your Clutter?

One morning I was in the office before usual business hours getting ready for my day ahead, when my telephone rang.  Detecting a sense of worry from the caller, I listened to her until her anxiety subsided.

I then asked her a question, which I believe became the turning point for her, which was;

“What part of the clutter are you willing to take ownership of ?”

 

Are You Accountable For Your Clutter?

It is not uncommon when someone is faced with insurmountable amounts of clutter to place blame on everyone or anything, as long as it isn’t them.  The reason being, I believe, is it can be very painful to accept (until we are ready) that we could be the source of own downfall.

From my experience, I have witnessed countless times, clients who try to maintain control over their clutter, failing to recognize that they are powerless over something that is virtually bigger than them.  Until their level of denial is penetrated, excuses will continue. It is when a person can accept the reality of what their clutter is about; a by-product or symptom of something else, the clutter will then cease.

There have been critical times, right before work will commence or a contract needs to be signed, that a person will reject or find fault with something in order to stay still in there mess.  The manifestation of their clutter is far more comforting then the prospect of clearing out the chaos.

This is the time that understanding and patience is required.  It is not always easy, if I do say so myself, especially when hours of time have been invested before hand, but never the less, it is in the client’s best interest not to pursue action, since it will only lead to unsuccessful attempts. 

One of the ways to break this cycle is to participate in support groups, sign up for workshops and engage in coaching programs that have an emphasis on clutter education.  This way, a foundation has been set and groundwork is complete before entering into a formal commitment of the de-cluttering process. 

As I have always maintained, baby steps are the way to changing behavioral patterns.  It is also important to recognize that celebrating your victories, no matter how small, is key for success.

In the end, the person who can maintain accountability for their actions will triumph over the clutter.

To learn more – check it out here: 

Tuesday’s Tips – 4/5/11 – What’s Your EQ?

What’s Your EQ?

Join us in this week’s Tele-Class

Are You Emotionally Intelligent?

April 5, 2011 – 6:oo PM – 7:00 PM Eastern Time

Here’s the buzz about EQ and why I am offering this class.

First let me begin by saying that over the years, it has been my experience that 99.9% of my clients can get organized…once taught.

This means, getting organized is a skill set that can be learned – at any age, any time.

If my clients were struggling before we met, it was usually due to one or two reasons:

1)  They were never exposed to the skill set adequately and therefore felt insecure in their ability

or

2)  They just didn’t want to do it because of a belief system they integrated into their life.

Regardless of either reason, the client did not feel good about their emotional intelligence.

I have found that once they were exposed to EQ, they had better self-esteem, more confidence, the ability to get organized and feel more in control over their life.

And it is for this reason I am offering this class – I want more people to feel better!

Register Now!

Clearing Out The Clutter on Blog Talk Radio…

Keep It Simple Now Getting Excited For Tonight’s Talk Show – Check It Out!THE ATTITUDE SHIFT w/ Patricia Diesel 3/24/2010 – The Broke Wives Club on Blog Talk Radio
www.blogtalkradio.com
Professional organizing coach Patricia Diesel of Keep It Simple Now LLC joins the ladies in putting our lives through the car wash and emptying the ashtray of the buts in our lives so to speak.

Are You Buried Alive?

This Friday, Larry King Live will feature guests from TLC’s Buried Alive at 9:00 PM ET on CNN!

DO YOU NEED HELP?

You don’t have to suffer alone. Millions of people are affected by clutter and hoarding. It takes an experienced professional to support you with compassion and empathy, to keep you accountable and committed for successful results.

I have been helping people virtually and in-house nationwide and globally, and I can help you too! It’s not too late to begin – it’s just the first step in the right direction to allow the process to unfold.

If you are experiencing an overwhelming amount of stress due to your own clutter or from a loved one, I urge you to get support.

Please let me know how I may assist you. Please visit my website @ www.keepitsimplenow.com for a wealth of information on this subject. Also, stay tuned for an upcoming show on LifetimeTV where I discuss this subject matter.

Until then, I wish you well!

Sincerely,

Patricia Diesel

5 Questions to Ask Yourself About Clearing Your Clutter

So often I hear clients say they would do just about anything to stop the harassing effects of their clutter.

After countless attempts trying to purge and being defeated, some people associate their lost battles with a feeling of being assaulted. All they know at this point is they want the chaos of the clutter to stop.

Introducing a list of questions at this point helps put things into perspective about not only their current circumstances but also about how the clutter came to be and what is needed to make it go away.

It’s more appealing to look at de-cluttering as a fun and enlightening concept rather than another grueling task. The goal is to de-clutter in a fashion that feels comfortable and natural.

If your clutter is having an emotional impact on you, begin by asking yourself the following questions. Allow yourself the luxury of taking the necessary time to answer completely and honestly, you may be surprised what your answers reveal.

What has prevented me from de-cluttering in the past?

  • Time
  • Motivation
  • Energy
  • A plan
  • Commitment
  • Distractions
  • Other

What do I find is the hardest thing about de-cluttering?

  • I don’t trust myself
  • Insecure with my decisions
  • I double-check myself
  • I remember what I like
  • Fear of letting go
  • Afraid I can’t get it back
  • I may need it
  • Don’t want to deal with it
  • Other

What would make it easier for me to de-clutter?

  • To know it’s OK to let it go
  • The idea that I can find it again
  • Someone to help me
  • A reward system
  • A plan I can follow
  • Thoughts of being clutter free
  • Other

How much time am I willing to commit to de-cluttering?

  • One day
  • One week
  • One month
  • Six months
  • One year
  • However long it takes
  • Other

What does de-cluttering represent to me?

  • Freedom
  • Simplicity
  • Excitement
  • Work
  • Exhaustion
  • Confusion
  • Other

After reviewing the answers to the questions above, you can easily begin to see what you need to put into action in order to begin taking action toward living an organized life. The easiest way to begin making organization part of your routine is to begin incorporating changes slowly. Create small wins for yourself so you can easily feel a sense of accomplishment and treat yourself to celebrate your win. This will begin creating a positive behavior pattern. In time, organization will become a part of your life, not something that overwhelms you.

-Patricia Diesel
Keep It Simple Now