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It’s Time To Take A Look At Things

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It’s Time To Take A Look At Things

Wouldn’t you agree that purging our “things” lends us to ask certain questions?

Questions such as:

Do I like this?
Do I love this?
Do I want this?
Do I need this?
Do I…?

Should I keep this?
Should I toss this?
Should I donate this?
Should I sell this?
Should I …?

And when we ask these questions, wouldn’t you agree that it prompts us to take a more serious look at our life?  I think it does.  In a sense, purging encourages us to “let go” of whatever is no longer serving us, as much as it enables us to see what we truly value.

In my upcoming event, Fall Into Life, (a 6 week coaching program) we will take a deeper dive into some of these questions and a more serious look at how you want to live your life.

I hope you will consider this event, especially if you have been “thinking” about “things” for a while.  Now is your time to take action.

Learn more here…

Ready, Set, Go! (January 10th Tel-Class)

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So the New Year is here…and resolutions were made.

Now the hard part comes into play – how to honor your commitment by staying true to your word.

It would be great if we could achieve our goals without a lot of effort, but we know this is not true.  Setting out to accomplish something means we have to finish what we started – and that means, starting at the beginning and following all the way through to fruition.

It appears that most people get frustrated with their resolutions and give up because they feel they will never get to the end – the final hooray where they can celebrate their victories.  But what most neglect to see is that in order to finish what you started you have to first get the right mind set.

So what do I mean by this?  Well for starters, once you make the conscious decision to make a resolution, it’s time to stop thinking and start acting on it.

Do It Today

Why is it so important to start today? It’s important to start today because putting things off just means that you’re feeding the cycle of making excuses. You can’t actively take part in your life while passively waiting for things to happen for you. Waiting doesn’t accomplish anything, at least not when you’re looking to change your life.

Plus, why would you want to waste even another moment if you can get started on your new and improved life today?

Sometimes we argue that our lives “really” don’t need improvement and that our resolution is  just a “pie in the sky” dream.   Usually we make these excuse when we are not willing to do the work.    Don’t allow complacency and stagnation to take over and destroy your personal advancement.

One of the best ways to get the ball rolling is by starting with a list of the things you want!

  • Maybe you always wanted to take a dance or art class.
  • Maybe you wanted to travel to a specific place or learn another language.
  • Maybe you want to declutter your home or office and get organized.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or depressed, you may want to start with things that would have an immediate impact on your self-esteem which will help boost your confidence level.  Anything that allows you to actively take a step further towards the person you want to be, while making you feel good about the fact that you’re taking action, is a worthwhile activity to engage in.

Set reasonable goals for yourself  and start slowly.  For example:

  • Clean off your desk as the first step rather than organizing the entire office.
  • Purge your dresser drawers first rather than revamping the whole room.
  • Walk around the block to start rather than trying to run a mile.

There’s an old saying – “Good things  come to those who wait.”  But guess what, “Good things come to those who take action.”

Good luck – I know you can do it!

Want to learn more on how to fulfill your 2012 goals – register for this amazing tel-class HERE!

Date:  Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Time:  6:00 – 7:00 PM Eastern Time


The New Year Buzz

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It’s almost time to “ring in” the New Year…

and the most popular buzz that’s humming around town for a resolution is:

“To live a simpler lifestyle.”

Now I knew it would only be a matter of time before this idea caught on, and I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am for anyone who is considering reducing their stress level.  I am a firm believer that by living a simpler lifestyle you can reap many benefits, such as overall health and wellness.

But unfortunately most people have misconceptions about how to go about this and end up overwhelmed, thus causing them to break their goal for the New Year.

Living simply can be implemented once you have a simpler state of mind – which can begin with a fresh perspective on considering the lifestyle you want to live.

One mantra in particular I found helpful for awareness is “less is more.”   Try thinking about how to apply this in all aspects of your life and then choose something small to begin building on.

Sometimes purging areas of your life can be the catalyst to living a simpler lifestyle!

Why I Chose My Winners To Get Simplified!

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To say the least, Melissa and Tammy wooed me!

They made me feel something for them…

And for me, that translated into wanting to help them.

Check out what they had to say and you will see why it wasn’t difficult for me to select these Two Amazing Women as My Winners!

 

 

 

               Melissa’s Story

 

 

Hi Patricia,

The clutter and disorder in my life has become my biggest obstacle. I ran across your contest on the internet and it inspired me to do something about the heaviness that is preventing me from becoming all I can be.
So….. 3 Good Reasons Why I Want To Get Organized. 

(How will getting organized benefit my life?)

Reason #1: Getting organized will allow me the freedom to live my life, to focus and achieve my goals.

I am an over achiever with a dirty little secret. To the outside world I seem the confident, pulled together career woman, able to handle anything that is thrown at her.  At home I am exhausted and unable to relax, completely overwhelmed with stuff. Lots of stuff. Old stuff, new stuff….stuff that should have been thrown out years ago…stuff that makes no sense….stuff that is smothering me….stuff that is stopping me…holding me back….occupying my shelves, my life and my mind.  I am stuck…unable to move.

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about it….how to manage it…where to pile it, put it, stack it, fold it, categorize it, store it….in case…I need it.

All this thinking about stuff just makes me feel heavy…and nothing ever gets done about it. Something is always more important… I am at a complete stall.

Every plan I have for myself begins with these thoughts….”As soon as I get organized..”, “When I finally have the time to organize….”, “If I could only GET ORGANIZED!”

I keep telling myself I need time to accomplish this…and it never happens.

I have tried to analyze why I do this…why I buy things I don’t need, that don’t fit….that I don’t even LIKE…and why I hold on to everything I buy and have bought…unwilling to part with it….in case I need it….in case it fits some day. In case it comes back in style….like clogs…..I mean..that proves my point…doesn’t it?

Is it because my parents lived through the great depression? “Save everything…it cost you hard earned money..don’t you dare throw money away like that….”

My father collected tools, nuts and bolts…tiny little things in piles…all over the garage…my mother collected paper, books, memorabilia….I still have all of her things…in a storage unit…because she will not part with them.

As I sit here on Thanksgiving night…drinking a chocolate martini…writing this contest entry…amidst piles of paper…bags, books, boxes,dishes in the sink…while my two cats run amok…I can’t for the life of me figure out where to start….

When I have a day off…I think…wow! Today is the day…I can begin! ….It never happens. Perhaps…I am afraid.

I want to break the pattern, I want to lighten the load…shake my wings free and soar! I want to start my own business and free my space, as well as my mind from clutter…so…I can focus. I want to make a difference.

Reason #2. Getting organized will allow me more time to dedicate to loved ones.

Aside from holding down a demanding career, I am a full time caregiver to an ailing parent. Along with managing my mother’s daily needs (diet restrictions, cooking, bathing, laundry etc) I am constantly shuffling around clutter.  Because I am constantly moving things around and rearranging things…I am unable to spend time with my mom that is worthwhile. At the end of a long day, when I finally sit down, it is either past midnight and she is asleep or I find myself exhausted and too short tempered to talk….not very good company to someone who has just spent the day alone with no one to talk to.

I have help with the house cleaning…although…the cleaning lady can’t really do much…because it is impossible to move around the stuff. My house is never dirty…it is just a cluttered disaster! I am embarrassed to have friends and family over. If I do host an event I spend days going on a painful hide and clean binge. It is like being bulimic….buy,pile, HIDE as opposed to eat and purge!  The first floor will be spotless and sparkling:) the upstairs bedrooms and basement will look like Beirut! I have even gone so far as hiding the cats…along with their kitty litter in my mother’s bedroom!

If I was able to simplify my life, I would have more time for my mother and a cleaner, safer environment for her. I could host a party and spend quality time with my guests without feeling like I fought a war!

Reason #3 Getting organized will allow me to sell our home and finally live with my husband!

My husband, is in the military and is currently serving in Afghanistan. He is away from home for many months…sometimes a year at a time. This leaves the business of running the household and managing our affairs to me. When he is home…he works and lives in Washington DC, we spend weekends together. We are unable to live together because our house in NJ needs to be renovated before we can sell it. I would like to complete the project before my husband returns home from his tour in the spring. I don’t want to disappoint him.

We live in a very old farm house (circa 1920)…I have undertaken several renovation projects and now have to tackle the upstairs rooms in our home. The accumulation of clutter (especially upstairs)makes this job ten times harder than it should be. I am embarrassed to take the contractors up to look at the job because of the mess. My husband wants me to get the house ready for sale so that we can finally live together in one place! I just can’t seem to step back and come up with a plan that works.

I would like to have a comfortable place for my husband to come home to. I don’t want to allow the clutter to stop us from living together as a family.

3 Good Reasons:  Why I Want To Work With Patricia

(How will the quality of my life improve by working with Patricia?)

Reason #1:
I need someone to help me find a path!
I can not do this alone! I am not a person who asks for help easily. As a matter of fact my typical mantra is…”I can do this! I don’t need help…I can make this happen on my own.”  Well…this time I can’t. By admitting this I am already improving my life. As much as I don’t want to say it…I need help. I am at my wits end! I need assistance, I need a strategy, I need some sort of a push to get out of this stall pattern and hit this thing hard. I am sick of living like this. I am tried of crying in the shower and feeling overwhelmed!

Reason #2:
I need to be able to get up in the morning and out of the door without feeling like I have put in a full days work.
I can never seem to find anything to wear…my bedroom looks like Filene’s Basement after an explosion. I don’t even know what I have. Although it can be fun to hang out in my room and dig through all of the cool, funky clothes (never, ever bought at full price!)…like the purple faux Persian lamb cape coat….evening gowns..every color ..some never worn with the tags still on them…red and white,candy striped, peep toe, spike heels with bows…(thought they would be cool while lounging by the cabana…WHAT cabana????), I cannot seem to find one single outfit that fits my body shape and size TODAY that is suitable for work. So….after preparing mom’s breakfast and taking it to her…. after packing her lunch….after feeding the cats….after doing the dishes…throwing in a load of laundry….making a cup of coffee….I enter my bedroom and begin the mad Dig and Dash.

I frantically begin the search through one of 6 areas that I store (or semi-store) my clothes in. The guest bedroom has become a place to pile clothes and throw shoes…there are also two closets in this room full of clothes and shoes….I have three closets in my bedroom…along with a rolling clothes rack and another closet in the bathroom…another rolling rack in my entry foyer, stuffed with clothes… and another closet on the first floor…supposedly for coats….although I am no longer really sure WHAT is in there. Most of my clothes are dry clean only…so there is a ton of plastic over the clothes making it difficult to see where anything is.

I begin by tearing off plastic…trying on things that don’t fit and piling them on to an ironing board. After about a half an hour of digging and trying on, and discarding and repeating…I look at the clock…panic, yell goodbye to my mother, trip over one of the cats and run out the door….late for work…again. Sometimes…unable to make a decision, I throw a second pair of shoes into a bag and bring them with me….in case I want to change them
before entering the office. I leave behind a pile of clean clothes…that will just grow bigger as the week progresses.

As much as the paragraph above might have made you laugh…the next will be sobering.

I am tired of living like this. There is no reason for this stupid excess. I should know better. My husband spends a lot of time in third world countries, where people have nothing but the clothes on their backs. I am ashamed of what I am doing and I want and need to stop. I need someone to set me straight and remind me of this.

Reason #3
Clutter and disorganization has stalled my (and our) life, and I want it back.
My husband and I wanted to adopt…we have dreamed of having a family. We talk about it , but there never seems to be a right time.  I have all of the paper work…we even began the home study before he left…but I have never been able to complete all of the documentation required. I am getting older and I fear that the opportunity may have passed. It is sad to think that the clutter in my life has prevented me and my husband from sharing our love with a child. I don’t want the clutter to stop us from doing what is important to us. I hate that I spend so much time with this disorder that I can’t enjoy my life with my husband.  Our marriage is strong…but I am not sure any marriage could withstand this burden over time. I fear that, without help, I will lose everything that is important to me and be left with only regret. I have not been able to make this happen on my own. I need someone that I trust in my corner to help me keep the gloves on. I need a coach.
I want to win this fight.

Sincerely,

Melissa Williams

 

 

 

    Tammy’s Story

 

 

Dear Patricia,

I’m so excited to join your contest!

I didn’t hesitate to list my three good reasons why I want to live an organized life.  I absolutely know why!!!

1)    I am ready, r e a d y, READY!!!!!  I’m beyond ready!  I’m mental, physically and spiritually ready to get it right.  (It’s the off season in my business right now so I am not only ready, but willing and able.)
Mentally I need this to help me cope, physically I’m going to be 50 soon and can’t just keep plowing through & spiritually I want the peace in my life to focus on the most important things. Let’s go!!!!

2)    I have no choice.  I HAVE to get a system because my life is sooooo full.  I can’t see my way clear to cultivating the right system on my own.  I’ve seen a lot, read some, listened to those who ARE organized.  I desire it….but I need HELP!  I want to put my efforts into something worthwhile.  I’m afraid to pick the wrong thing, because then, I may not pick something successful and will end up further behind with more wasted time and less of a chance to try again.  Like a failed diet!  No choice.  I HAVE to do this.

3)  My girls.  I have a 10 and 14 year old girls.  I don’t want to have them live in and perpetuate my chaos.  I want to teach them how to balance their lives properly.  I see some of my bad influence in them now and I see them struggle.  I wish I knew how to help them.  Please!  Help me so I can in turn help my own girls improve the quality of their lives too.  My husband, I and my girls all benefit.  It would improve the quality of the life in my family beyond words!

Three reasons why I need YOU!

1)  No fanny patting… I want the BEST!  If I’m going to give it 100% I want someone who is THEE authority on the subject; Someone whom I admire and can truly learn from;  Someone who calms me and helps me complete a thought!  That’s YOU, Patricia!  I’ve spoken with you and have longed to partner up together.  I know I could be a great student!

2)  I’ve wanted to have a session with you forever.  I think I’ve been trying for two years now and with a new business and paying for the girls to go to Christian school…I just have not been able to budget myself in, even though I know the value of it.

3)  My health.  I don’t know how to do this on my own.  If I could of, I would of by now.  NO ONE would be able to understand my life like you.  I’m working only 76 hours a week now (off season!), am an assistant leader in 4H and active in the Christian school as well as a mom and wife.  I keep myself pared down to only important things and keep downtime at home a priority.

I don’t want to run, run, run….so I don’t; but…and it’s a big BUT….I don’t know how to turn down the pressure in my own life.  My business is a convenience store, with gas pumps, liquor store, laudrymat and full pizzeria/deli.  I’m BUSY!!!!  I’ve done good.  People always tell me they don’t know how I do it….but I probably could do it with much less effect on my health and family if I had your help!

Thanks for your consideration!

Tammy Schack and Family

Are You Working With Passion?

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Martin Luther King said – “Whatever your life’s work, do it well.”

He went on further to explain that – “A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.”

I believe the point he was trying to stress is that your work should be aligned with your life’s purpose. 

Doing your work “well” is easy if you believe in the value of your occupation and you continue to seek work that you find meaningful.

Unfortunately some of us settle into jobs that we dread waking up each morning to; thus leaving us unhappy and unfulfilled.

Yes, I understand that in these economically challenging times, most of us are fortunate to be working, but I want to challenge you to take that labor of work and turn it into a labor of passion.

Ask yourself;  What can you do right now to gain a new perspective on what you are doing that will bring about passion for you?

Seeking out passion in your current position can provide you with a fresh perspective and clear out the cob webs of confusion.  Your new found passion can create sparks for future creativity, which can ultimately lead you closer to your life’s work. 

 

Join Me In The Present

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It’s true …

We may regret the things we do at times, but most of us regret what we didn’t do!

As I witness and experience family struggles with my mother’s debilitating Alzheimer’s disease, I can’t help but contemplate my own life and yes, mortality.

I think about things now, that if I am honest with my feelings, were only fleeting moments of thought in the past.

Now, more than ever, I realize how precious life is and how important it is to live in the present time.

Someone very wise told me that learning how to live in the “present” is the greatest gift you can give yourself – that is why they call it a “present.” You become more consciously aware – there becomes a true “presence” about you and life becomes fuller and richer.

A Simple Gift

I came across an article recently that revealed the top 5 things people regret, and I thought about how this intertwines with my philosophy of living simply.

It fascinates me, even to this day, that we as humans work so hard to get ahead in life so we can afford to do the things that we “think” we want, only to find out later, when we are faced with our own mortality, our perspective changes.

What once was so important, no longer rates high or even exists for that matter.

Check out what most people say:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Simplifying our lives allows us the opportunity to focus on what’s really important to us. I view it as a revitalized life purpose plan – because after all, what is life without a true purpose anyway?

Creating more space in our lives – whether that means physical, emotional or mental space affords us the opportunity to be happier and healthier.

What about you? Are you ready to keep things simple and let go of what is no longer serving you well?

Having the courage to be true to ourselves, by exploring our feelings and acknowledging them, may be one of the best gifts we can give to ourselves.

Won’t you join me in the present?

How Clutter Will Travel

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HOW CLUTTER WILL TRAVEL
Organizing Expert Takes Her Show On The Road

Organizing Expert Is Helping People Door to Door Reclaim Their Lives. 

Patricia Diesel, Founder & CEO of Keep It Simple Now, a professional organizing and life coaching business continues to make ground-breaking efforts to help people get organized.  Diesel says – “Clutter is on the rise and within each state there are many cluttered souls that need help.”  

People are continually inviting Diesel into their homes to help them “let-go” of their stuff and regain control over their lives.  “Clutter is a very personal and private affair” says Diesel – “It is an honor and a privilege to be able to help and assist people get their lives back in order.”

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From Arizona to Maryland, Diesel assesses each client with compassion and empathy, but make no mistake, this organizing expert doesn’t “mess” around.  “I’m there to help my clients fight back and reclaim their homes and their lives – I teach them how to jump in and win the battle over their clutter.” Diesel states.

Diesel has made guest appearances on TLC, GMA, Lifetime and other networks, but she claims there is nothing more fulfilling than actually working with a client step-by-step, from beginning to end.  “Going through the process with them and celebrating their success is what keeps me passionate about my business.  I just love it.” Diesel concludes.

One Man’s Treasure Is Another Man’s “Stuff” (Not Junk)

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It can be so confusing and overwhelming my clients tell me. 

All these thoughts circle around their head such as:

  • What should I keep?
  • What do I get rid of?
  • What things are of monetary value?
  • What if I need it someday?
  • What do I do with the stuff I inherited?
  • And on it goes…

Your “things” that you have collected over the years, can have an alluring appeal about them. They make you think things other than what they really appear to be. Sometimes your things are just things and hold no value in the real world – however your “idea” of what your things are may tell you otherwise.

There is no doubt about it – your “treasures” tell a story and you want to be sure that you are making the right decision when it comes to keeping or letting go.  This is understandable.

However, it has been my experience that all of this “thinking” ahead of time can create a lot of anxiety and worry – which sometimes can end up paralyzing you.

So the answer here is to get some of the facts on:

  • What to do
  • How to do it
  • When to do it

Everyone’s treasures are different and unique – but the process of “letting go” generally falls around this theme:

  • I am ready to move on with my life
  • I am ready to release the things that used to hold me back

Which simply means, you no longer wish to live in the past amongst the things that you were clinging on to.

You realize you can still hold onto the memories of what the things represent and make room for new memories to come.

And most importantly – you will let go without fear or worry and feel good about your decisions –

Now that is what constitutes …

“One Man’s Treasure From One Man’s Stuff”

So ask yourself now –

  • Are you ready to take action?
  • Are you ready to dig deep and let go?

Real Estate and Clutter – The Time Is Now!

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Real Estate and Clutter…
Are you allowing your stuff to reduce the net worth of your home?

Most of you know me as the Organizing Expert or the De-Cluttering Woman, but what you probably don’t know is that for over 15 years I have been in the Real Estate business.

Over the years, I have successfully marketed some of my client’s homes to help them fulfill their dreams of downsizing, relocating or upgrading.

In this recent economic climate, I have noticed that people who are experiencing financial and emotional duress are allowing their physical clutter to manifest in extreme degrees, thus creating their property value to drop.

Regardless if you are considering your options to rent, sell or stay put, your home needs to be clutter free and maintained to maximize your greatest return.

If you feel you need some help letting go of your stuff, de-cluttering, or anything else that will make your home more appealing to a potential buyer, please feel free to contact me.

I urge you to consider your options and not wait until it becomes too overwhelming and costly.

I hope the following tips help you!

Don’t Lose The Value

The two most important rooms in your home are the kitchen and bathroom.  Do you need to repair any plumbing issues?  Replace faucets or appliances?  Keeping your counters clutter free and a deep cleaning of these rooms will certainly make a huge difference.

Consider what needs to be refreshed and repaired to spotlight your home:

  • Windows that won’t open
  • Roof that’s leaking
  • Dripping faucets
  • Doors that won’t close
  • Painting of interior/exterior
  • Windows that need cleaning
  • Replace carpets
  • Landscaping

Remember – Less is More

Now is the time to learn how to let go of emotional attachments to your stuff to maximize your return.  De-cluttering is your best friend here.

Think of it this way – if it’s unappealing to you, what do you think a potential buyer or renter will think?

Play “friend, stranger, acquaintance”

Things that bring you joy and happiness and are truly essentials, are your friends – keep it.

Anything that is questionable, consider it an acquaintance and donate, give away or sell.

Strangers, that’s easy – just dump it!

Be Yourself …

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“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you everybody else means to
fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”

– E.E. Cummings

With so many outside influences it’s easy to get distracted and receive mixed messages.  We are constantly running here and there and juggling so many tasks.  The hardest battle is to stay true to who you are and what is important to you.  What quality of life are you seeking and how to maintain this lifestyle of simplicity.

Stay well my friends, stay well!