Unclutter Your New Year

Clutter is one of those things that happens while you're doing something else. Inner and outer clutter walk hand-in-hand. If one is cluttered, so will the other be.

A clutter coach gets called when a person's life, home, or office environment gets so disorganized, the person no longer functions as efficiently as they'd like. The process involves elimination of what no longer serves the individual, creation of an organization system that suits the person's needs, and a decision to practice clutter management from that point on. This process easily fits the personal life, as well.

One way we clutter our lives is if we don't look after our best interests. Sure, we may do this for ourselves most times, but there's often one or several areas of our lives where we falter in that regard. We may feel guilty if we don't put others before ourselves. Perhaps we forget that honoring boundaries causes us to recognize who's responsible for what. There's always a way to involve the spirit of cooperation or collaboration and not sacrifice the self.

There are occasions when we feel something is off about our lives. We may take the position that if we wait, the situation will balance itself. Or, we push against a metaphorical brick wall. These are times when we need to ask ourselves what we feel or think, as well as what we'd like to do to correct it. If we peeled away the layers of bad feelings that happen when life is not going the way we'd prefer, we'd find at the core that when we don't look out for our best interests, we enter a state of self-rejection.

Self-rejection clutters our minds and lives quicker than anything. Consider all the thoughts, feelings, and actions that might be attached to self-rejection. We practice this when we fear cutting our losses. Have you ever stayed in a situation longer than you should have? If you attempted to restore balance and it didn't work, do you know why you didn't move on? Many don't choose to make a move until it becomes more painful to stay where they are than make a change.

A new year, like a new day, offers the promise of a fresh start. Unclutter your life by giving conscious attention to what is in your best interests. I'm talking about conscious best interest, not the ego-selfish kind. Always choose to honor yourself, and do so from a place of personal integrity. You don't need to be rash in your decisions, nor angry or aggressive. If you need to make a plan, do so, then take needed action. Unclutter your mind and heart through your commitment to make your life one of quality and fulfillment. Don't be afraid to cut your losses if something doesn't work. On the other side of that decision is a field of potential and opportunities.

My wish and hope for all of us through this holiday season and the new year is that we honor who we are and remember to treat others as we should treat ourselves. With just a bit more conscious thought, we could unclutter quite a bit in our world.

May you have a wonderful new year and a new year filled with wonder.