Cold Blooded On Clutter

Are you drowning in useless doo-dads? Can you see the top of your desk?It's great to have the human touch… to be understanding, loving and kind. But save that for people because that’s not the approach that wins with clutter.

With clutter you have to be cold blooded, unemotional and strict. It's so easy to accumulate things…and so hard to let them go. I might wear it. I might need it. It might come in handy. It has sentimental value. Emotions drive you to hang on, keep this, keep that. As a result clutter builds, silently compounding, never going away.

So what’s the problem? 

Clutter eventually kills. It's an enemy. It kills your space, it kills your room to move. It crowds out the more important things. Clutter has to go.

Eventually you realize you must eliminate it

 …eliminate the unnecessary to have plenty of room for the important.  But its so hard because you are emotionally attached. So get your emotions under control. Be cold blooded, unemotional and ask yourself…

• Have I worn these in the last year? 
• Have I used this in the last year?
• Haven’t I kept this useless Christmas or birthday present around long enough?
• If I really need one of these couldn’t I just go down to the store and get one?

It gets easier

Soon you’ll find it easier and easier to toss things as your rational mind starts to  evaluate how really important these things really are.

Here’s a trick I use. Throw things out in stages.

Something you couldn’t bear to part with last week will be easier to toss this week. Make this a steady and regular part of your routine so it doesn’t build up again.

You are constantly bringing things into your house aren’t you? Well, it will fill right back up again if you don’t regularly throw things out.  There’s a lot of pride in having the trash all taken out, so do the same with clutter.

And remember, the less clutter, the more room for some more new good stuff!

How do you keep clutter under control? 

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 To next post, "One Hopes, One Fights"

Everybody Feels Sorry For Themselves

Of course we do...

We can understand when we get out of sorts, that we occasionally start to feel sorry for ourselves.
That’s normal. You get sick, have an accident, have money problems, relationship problems and you get down.  You start thinking everyone has it better than you and for at least a little while, you get down.
But surely not the super successful.

How could they?
They have fame and the adulation of millions. Everyone loves them. They make insane amounts of money. They live a protected and luxurious life. Vacations anywhere in the world for as long as they want and whenever they want. They are friends and on first name basis with all the other famous people.

That’s great, but it doesn’t help when you feel overwhelmed. Listen to Sylvester Stallone...

The Whine

When you're on top and you lead the parade, everyone's there throwing lilies and lilac water on your head. But when those parades have gone by and there's a storm in your heart, there are very few people that are going to sit there and listen to you bemoan life.

The Response
“Of course not Sly! Grow up! If you need a friend—GET A DOG! Don’t expect me to ever feel sorry for someone making millions and living a dream fantasy life like you!”

Isn’t that what you’d like to say to him?
That’s probably what the needs to hear, but maybe in a kinder way. You probably would be right, but here’s the point... Regardless of their success, wealth and fame, they have the same emotions as everyone else.
Inside everyone is dealing with the same issues. Regardless of how successful they seen to you, how above the cares of life they may appear...Inside, they are just like everyone else.

As shocking as it may seem, when it comes to emotions…They are just like you.