Status Updates From How to Be Organized in Spit...

Ultimately, you are the only one with the power to make your life work for you. This may require an attitude adjustment on your part, but it's an. Essential one if you're going to opt for real happiness. How many of us set boundaries that are too limited because we perceive our worlds in certain predictable ways and forget the boundaries we see around us are very often the ones we put there. Break free!

Know where to focus your energy and attention. Unfortunately, some people spend more time sorting their laundry than sorting out their thoughts. Remember, it's of no use to do something perfectly that doesn't need to be done at all, and, conversely, it can be dangerous to ignore those sides of you that need to be expressed. Take time to listen so you know what to do next.

Define Your Personal Mission 1. List your talents and interests as fully as you can. 2. Write down what you consider to be your most closely held beliefs and underlying values. 3. Think about possible ways these talents, interests, values, and beliefs can be combined in service act. or projects. 4. Keep in mind your current commitments and select a project that excites you. 5. Write down the steps you need to take.

Once you're conscious of your purpose, however, you develop perspective and problems become "just things to handle".

Every one of us has a purpose for living and a personal mission to contribute something positive to our small or large community through being who we are. When people aren't aware of their mission - what it is that they're uniquely qualified to contribute - they focus instead on their problems and the ways in which they are limited by those problems.

How You Can Be Where You Are - and Feel Balanced Most of us have a perspective that either beats us up or builds us up. Here are ways to build yourself up, no matter where you are. > Don't fight reality. Deal with it. > It's possible to learn how to be happy without changing very much except your outlook. Look at what is right in your life instead of centring primarily on what's wrong or not working.

It has been said that the past is history, the future a mystery, and this moment a gift. That's why it's called the present.

The "Things You Love" Exercise Sit down with a pen and paper and make a list of 100 Things That Bring You Pleasure from the small ("watching my son sleep") to the large ("mountain climbing"). Keep writing without stopping, until you reach 100 even if you have to repeat entries several times. After a while you'll notice that you're starting to come up with ideas that surprise you.

Happiness Seminar Invites you to explore what will bring you happiness and satisfaction so you can put more of that into your daily life. It helps people define the elements that bring them the most pleasure - yet seem to be absent from their lives. 1. Be Who You Are 2. Be Where You Are 3. Take Care of Yourself 4. Give Something Back

Regardless of your style, the more satisfied you are with your surroundings, the more you'll be encouraged to perform at your best.

You don't have to be a Polyanna to look for the bright side of a bad experience. Actually, it's a necessary survival technique to be able to bounce back from disappointment and failure. If you spend too much time feeling hurt, embarrassed, or angry, you're bound to miss an opportunity to improve the situation.

Find what you have. Use what you have. Enjoy what you have. Remind yourself of the eventual rewards of having more free space, fewer possessions to clean or keep track of, and the feeling of liberation that comes with the knowledge that you're in control of your belongings and not the other way around.

Use the "just-moving-" technique. Whatever mess or unfinished projects they find belonged to the people who were there before them, and therefore are not the clients' fault. With the guilt removed, Pack Rats are in a much better position to make decisions related to their current thinking and style of living. They have a wholly new perspective from which to reorganise.

If you're hanging onto things because you think they might come in handy someday, keep your accumulations from getting out of hand by designating a "handy drawer/box". When it is full, make yourself take something out before you put something else in.

Too much nostalgia in your home or office encourages disorganisation and diminishes the pleasure of individual treasures.

Menu Clipping Mentality: The problem is, they look at their collections and feel they're becoming gourmet cooks when they've actually never cooked a single meal. In no way is cutting something out of the paper the same as cooking it. The idea is to use what you've clipped. So don't clip and save more than you plan to read and use - and once you've cut things out, act on the material within specific time frames.

Your accumulations are your security blankets

Pack rats who are captives to their belongings can become exhausted from the mental energy used to make decisions about (1) where something is, (2) when they last used it, and (3) whether it needs to be cleaned or fixed.

New items: 1. Will I really use. It? 2. Do I want it badly enough to care for it? 3. Am I prepared to get rid of something I already own to make room for it? 4. Where exactly will I put it? Assign everything you own fa practical place and get in the habit of returning things where they belong.

If you have real trouble unloading yesteryear's "treasures", take a picture of them. In this way you'll have their memories - and they won't take up storage space. Keep only the clothes that meet the following criteria: 1. Do they make you feel and look good? 2. Do they reflect the personality and the image you'd like to project? 3. Are they in good condition/repair? 4. Do they fit well?